Studies From National Institutes Of Health Have Provided New Data On Head And Neck Cancer Risk Factors

NewsRx.com

October 15, 2009

Data detailed in 'Total exposure and exposure rate effects for alcohol and smoking and risk of head and neck cancer: a pooled analysis of case-control studies' have been presented. "Although cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption increase risk for head and neck cancers, there have been few attempts to model risks quantitatively and to formally evaluate cancer site-specific risks. The authors pooled data from 15 case-control studies and modeled the excess odds ratio (EOR) to assess risk by total exposure (pack-years and drink-years) and its modification by exposure rate (cigarettes/day and drinks/day)," investigators in the United States report (see also Head and Neck Cancer Risk Factors).

"The smoking analysis included 1,761 laryngeal, 2,453 pharyngeal, and 1,990 oral cavity cancers, and the alcohol analysis included 2,551 laryngeal, 3,693 pharyngeal, and 3,116 oval cavity cancers, with over 8,000 controls. Above 15 cigarettes/day, the EOR/pack-year decreased with increasing cigarettes/day, suggesting that greater cigarettes/day for a shorter duration was less deleterious than fewer cigarettes/day for a longer duration. Estimates of EOR/pack-year were homogeneous across sites, while the effects of cigarettes/day varied, indicating that the greater laryngeal cancer risk derived from differential cigarettes/day effects and not pack-years. EOR/drink-year estimates increased through 10 drinks/day, suggesting that greater drinks/day for a shorter duration was more deleterious than fewer drinks/day for a longer duration. Above 10 drinks/day, data were limited," wrote J.H. Lubin and colleagues, National Institutes of Health.

The researchers concluded: "EOR/drink-year estimates varied by site, while drinks/day effects were homogeneous, indicating that the greater pharyngeal/oral cavity cancer risk with alcohol consumption derived from the differential effects of drink-years and not drinks/day."

Lubin and colleagues published their study in American Journal of Epidemiology (Total exposure and exposure rate effects for alcohol and smoking and risk of head and neck cancer: a pooled analysis of case-control studies. American Journal of Epidemiology, 2009;170(8):937-47).

For additional information, contact J.H. Lubin, National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Rockville, MD 20852 USA..

The publisher of the American Journal of Epidemiology can be contacted at: Oxford University Press, Great Clarendon St., Oxford OX2 6DP, England.

Keywords: United States, Rockville, Head and Neck Cancer Risk Factors, Clinical Trial Research, Epidemiology, Head and Neck Cancer, Head and Neck Neoplasms, Oncology.

This article was prepared by Disease Risk Factor Week editors from staff and other reports. Copyright 2009, Disease Risk Factor Week via NewsRx.com.

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