Agent Orange exposure increases lymphatic cancer risk
VA Research News Briefs

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(08/27/2025) Researchers from Tibor Rubin VA Medical Center and the University of California, Irvine reported Agent Orange exposure increases lymphatic cancer risk by 60%, a risk similar to those with a genetic predisposition. While Agent Orange exposure and genetic predisposition each increase the risk of lymphatic cancers such non-Hodgkin lymphoma, the risk was not higher in individuals with both risk factors. The researchers used data from the VA’s Million Veteran Program to analyze the records of more than 250,000 non-Hispanic White Veterans, making it the largest study ever to examine Agent Orange exposure and lymphatic cancers. The findings suggest genetic risk and Agent Orange exposure independently increase the risk for lymphatic cancers, and both should be evaluated when assessing risk. (JAMA Network Open, Aug. 1, 2025)