Adult height and head and neck cancer: a pooled analysis within the INHANCE Consortium.

Several epidemiological studies have shown a positive association between adult height and cancer incidence. The only study conducted among women on mouth and pharynx cancer risk, however, reported an inverse association. This study aims to investigate the association between height and the risk of head and neck cancer (HNC) within a large international consortium of HNC. We analyzed pooled individual-level data from 24 case-control studies participating in the International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology Consortium. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated separately for men and women for associations between height and HNC risk. Educational level, tobacco smoking, and alcohol consumption were included in all regression models. Stratified analyses by HNC subsites were performed. This project included 17,666 cases and 28,198 controls. We found an inverse association between height and HNC (adjusted OR per 10 cm height = 0.91, 95% CI 0.86-0.95 for men; adjusted OR = 0.86, 95% CI 0.79-0.93 for women). In men, the estimated OR did vary by educational level, smoking status, geographic area, and control source. No differences by subsites were detected. Adult height is inversely associated with HNC risk. As height can be considered a marker of childhood illness and low energy intake, the inverse association is consistent with prior studies showing that HNC occur more frequently among deprived individuals. Further studies designed to elucidate the mechanism of such association would be warranted.

Oral health and risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck and esophagus: results of two multicentric case-control studies.

Poor oral health has been reported as a risk factor in the etiology of head and neck cancer. Data on oral health were ascertained as part of two multicenter case-control studies comprising 924 cases and 928 controls in central Europe and 2,286 cases and 1,824 controls in Latin America. Incident cases of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (oral cavity, pharynx, larynx) and esophagus, as well as age (in quinquennia)- and sex frequency-matched controls, were enrolled from 1998 to 2003. Poor condition of the mouth (central Europe: odds ratio (OR) = 2.89, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.74, 4.81; Latin America: OR = 1.89, 95% CI: 1.47, 2.42), lack of toothbrush use (Latin America: OR = 2.36, 95% CI: 1.28, 4.36), and daily mouthwash use (Latin America: OR = 3.40, 95% CI: 1.96, 5.89) emerged as risk factors for head and neck cancer, independent of tobacco use and alcohol consumption. Missing between six and 15 teeth was an independent risk factor for esophageal cancer (central Europe: OR = 2.84, 95% CI: 1.26, 6.41; Latin America: OR = 2.18, 95% CI: 1.04, 4.59). These results indicate that periodontal disease (as indicated by poor condition of the mouth and missing teeth) and daily mouthwash use may be independent causes of cancers of the head, neck, and esophagus.

Renal cancer risk and occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and plastics.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and certain plastic monomers increased renal cell carcinoma (RCC) risk. METHODS: Unconditional logistic regression was used to calculate RCC risk in relation to exposure. RESULTS: No association between RCC risk and having ever been occupationally exposed to any polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons or plastics was observed. Duration of exposure and average exposure also showed no association with risk. Suggestive positive associations between RCC risk and cumulative exposure to styrene (P-trend = 0.02) and acrylonitrile (P-trend = 0.06) were found. Cumulative exposure to petroleum/gasoline engine emissions was inversely associated with risk (P-trend = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS: Results indicate a possible association between occupational styrene and acrylonitrile exposure and RCC risk. Additional studies are needed to replicate findings, as this is the first time these associations have been reported and they may be due to chance.

Occupation and risk of lung cancer in Central and Eastern Europe: the IARC multi-center case-control study.

OBJECTIVE: We sought to evaluate the role of occupation and industry in lung carcinogenesis in six countries in Central and Eastern Europe. METHODS: This multi-center case-control study included 2,056 male and 576 female lung cancer incidence cases diagnosed from 1998 to 2001 and 2,144 male and 727 female controls frequency-matched for sex and age. Unconditional regression models were applied to calculate the odds ratios after controlling for potential confounders including age (5-year groups), study center (15 centers), and tobacco pack-years. RESULTS: Elevated odds ratios (ORs) were found for men employed as production workers (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.22-1.72), bookkeepers and cashiers (1.81, 1.03-3.24), general farmers (1.67, 1.08-2.60), livestock workers (2.54, 1.09-5.88), miners (2.17, 1.47-3.23), toolmakers and metal patternmakers (2.56, 1.34-4.94), glass formers (2.55, 1.18-5.50), dockworkers, and freight handlers (1.49, 1.04-2.12). Industries with elevated risk among men included mining (1.75, 1.20-2.57), manufacture of cement, lime, or plaster (3.62, 1.11-12.00), casting of metals (2.00, 1.17-3.45), manufacture of electric motors (2.18, 1.24-3.86). For women, elevated ORs were found for medical, dental, veterinary doctors (2.54, 1.01-6.31), librarians and curators (7.03, 1.80-27.80), sewers 3.63 (1.12-10.23). CONCLUSIONS: This study identifies new areas for further, explanatory analyses, especially in production work, and indicates new possible sources of exposure to cancer risk for women.