Cancer Epidemiology Unit

About: Cancer Epidemiology Unit is a based out in . It is known for research contribution in the topics: Population & Cancer. The organization has 669 authors who have published 1725 publications receiving 93979 citations.

The role of a Mediterranean diet on the risk of oral and pharyngeal cancer

Abstract: The Mediterranean diet has a beneficial role on various neoplasms, but data are scanty on oral cavity and pharyngeal (OCP) cancer. We analysed data from a case-control study carried out between 1997 and 2009 in Italy and Switzerland, including 768 incident, histologically confirmed OCP cancer cases and 2078 hospital controls. Adherence to the Mediterranean diet was measured using the Mediterranean Diet Score (MDS) based on the major characteristics of the Mediterranean diet, and two other scores, the Mediterranean Dietary Pattern Adherence Index (MDP) and the Mediterranean Adequacy Index (MAI). We estimated the odds ratios (ORs), and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CI), for increasing levels of the scores (i.e., increasing adherence) using multiple logistic regression models. We found a reduced risk of OCP cancer for increasing levels of the MDS, the ORs for subjects with six or more MDS components compared with two or less being 0.20 (95% CI 0.14–0.28, P-value for trend <0.0001). The ORs for the highest vs the lowest quintile were 0.20 (95% CI 0.14–0.28) for the MDP score (score 66.2 or more vs less than 57.9), and 0.48 (95% CI 0.33–0.69) for the MAI score (score value 2.1 or more vs value less 0.92), with significant trends of decreasing risk for both scores. The favourable effect of the Mediterranean diet was apparently stronger in younger subjects, in those with a higher level of education, and in ex-smokers, although it was observed in other strata as well. Our study provides strong evidence of a beneficial role of the Mediterranean diet on OCP cancer.

Incidence of haematological malignancies by ethnic group in England, 2001-7.

Abstract: The aetiology of most haematological malignancies is largely unknown. Studies of migrant populations can provide insights into the relative importance of genetic and environmental risk factors for these diseases. This study compares incidence rates in British Indians, Pakistanis, Bangladeshis, Black Africans, Black Caribbeans, Chinese and Whites in England from 2001 to 2007. We analysed 134,302 haematological cancer registrations with ethnicity obtained by linkage to the Hospital Episodes Statistics database. Mid-year population estimates from 2001 to 2007 were used. Incidence rate ratios adjusted for age, sex and income were calculated, comparing the six ethnic groups to Whites and to each other. Whites had the highest rates for most subtypes. However, Blacks experienced more than double the incidence of plasma cell and mature T-cell neoplasms compared to other ethnic groups. There were also significant differences in incidence between Indians, Pakistanis and Bangladeshis for Hodgkin lymphoma and mature B-cell neoplasms and between Black African and Black Caribbeans for mature B-cell and other lymphoid neoplasms (all P < 0.001). Our results show that the risk of haematological cancers varies greatly by ethnic group, including within those groups that have traditionally been grouped together (South Asians and Blacks) with many of these differences not explicable by known risk factors.

Cigarette smoking and risk of histological subtypes of epithelial ovarian cancer in the EPIC cohort study

Abstract: New data regarding a positive association between smoking and risk of epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC), especially the mucinous tumor type, has started to emerge The purpose of this study was to examine the association between different measures of smoking exposures and subtypes of EOC in a large cohort of women from 10 European countries The European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) cohort is a multicenter prospective study initiated in 1992 The questionnaires included data about dietary, lifestyle, and health factors Information about cigarette smoking was collected from individuals in all participating countries We used Cox proportional hazard regression models to estimate hazard ratio (HR) of EOC overall and serous, mucinous, and endometroid histological subtypes, with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) associated with different measures of smoking exposures adjusting for confounding variables Altogether 836 incident EOC cases were identified among 326,831 women The tumors were classified as 400 serous, 83 mucinous, 80 endometroid, 35 clear cell, and 238 unspecified Compared with never smokers, current smokers had a significantly increased risk for mucinous tumors [HR = 185 (95% CI 108-316)] and those smoking more than 10 cigarettes per day had a doubling in risk [HR = 225(95% CI 126-403)] as did those who had smoked less than 15 pack-years of cigarettes [HR = 218 (95% CI 107-443)] The results from the EPIC study add further evidence that smoking increases risk of mucinous ovarian cancer and support the notion that the effect of smoking varies according to histological subtype

Blood Metabolic Signatures of Body Mass Index : A Targeted Metabolomics Study in the EPIC Cohort

Abstract: Metabolomics is now widely used to characterize metabolic phenotypes associated with lifestyle risk factors such as obesity. The objective of the present study was to explore the associations of body mass index (BMI) with 145 metabolites measured in blood samples in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) study. Metabolites were measured in blood from 392 men from the Oxford (UK) cohort (EPIC-Oxford) and in 327 control subjects who were part of a nested case-control study on hepatobiliary carcinomas (EPIC-Hepatobiliary). Measured metabolites included amino acids, acylcarnitines, hexoses, biogenic amines, phosphatidylcholines, and sphingomyelins. Linear regression models controlled for potential confounders and multiple testing were run to evaluate the associations of metabolite concentrations with BMI. 40 and 45 individual metabolites showed significant differences according to BMI variations, in the EPIC-Oxford and EPIC-Hepatobiliary subcohorts, respectively. Twenty two individual metabolites (kynurenine, one sphingomyelin, glutamate and 19 phosphatidylcholines) were associated with BMI in both subcohorts. The present findings provide additional knowledge on blood metabolic signatures of BMI in European adults, which may help identify mechanisms mediating the relationship of BMI with obesity-related diseases.

Lung cancer and occupation: A new zealand cancer registry‐based case–control study

Abstract: Background There are many proven and suspected occupational causes of lung cancer, which will become relatively more important over time, as smoking prevalence decreases. Methods We interviewed 457 cases aged 20–75 years notified to the New Zealand Cancer Registry during 2007–2008, and 792 population controls. We collected information on demographic details, potential confounders, and employment history. Associations were estimated using logistic regression adjusted for gender, age, ethnicity, smoking, and socio-economic status. Results Among occupations of a priori interest, elevated odds ratios (ORs) were observed for sawmill, wood panel and related wood-processing plant operators (OR 4.63; 95% CI 1.05–20.29), butchers (OR 8.77, 95% CI 1.06–72.55), rubber and plastics products machine operators (4.27; 1.16–15.66), heavy truck drivers (2.24; 1.19–4.21) and workers in petroleum, coal, chemical and associated product manufacturing (1.80; 1.11–2.90); non-significantly elevated risks were also observed for loggers (4.67; 0.81–27.03), welders and flame-cutters (2.50; 0.86–7.25), pressers (5.74; 0.96–34.42), and electric and electronic equipment assemblers (3.61; 0.96–13.57). Several occupations and industries not of a priori interest also showed increased risks, including nursing associate professionals (5.45; 2.29–12.99), enrolled nurses (7.95; 3.10–20.42), care givers (3.47; 1.40–8.59), plant and machine operators and assemblers (1.61; 1.20–2.16), stationary machine operators and assemblers (1.67; 1.22–2.28), food and related products processing machine operators (1.98; 1.23–3.19), laborers and related elementary service workers (1.45; 1.05–2.00), manufacturing (1.34; 1.02–1.77), car retailing (3.08; 1.36–6.94), and road freight transport (3.02; 1.45–6.27). Conclusions Certain occupations and industries have increased lung cancer risks in New Zealand, including wood workers, metal workers, meat workers, textile workers and drivers. Am. J. Ind. Med. 54:89–101, 2011. 2010 Wiley-Liss, Inc.