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.

Risk factors for oesophageal cancer in northeast China.

Abstract: A hospital-based case-control study of oesophageal cancer was carried out in the Heilongjiang Province, a low-risk area for oesophageal cancer in China From May 1985 to May 1989, 196 histologically confirmed cases and 392 controls with other (non-neoplastic) diseases were personally interviewed in the wards of 5 major hospitals Information was obtained about usual consumption in the early 1980s of 32 major contributors to the diet in the province, socio-demographic status, smoking and alcohol consumption Odds ratios (OR) were obtained from logistic regression models, and confounding was controlled by means of multivariate models Smoking and alcohol consumption were major risk factors for oesophageal cancer in this population Smokers of handmade cigarettes exhibited a particularly high risk A near multiplicative synergism was found between smoking and alcohol consumption There was a significant inverse dose-risk trend for combined consumption of vegetables and fruits; a 300-g increase per day lowered risk by 35% Vitamin C intake was negatively associated with risk; a 100-mg increase per day lowered risk by 39% Our data suggest a modifying effect of vitamin C and beta-carotene on risk associated with smoking, but the power of analyses was low Salt, salt-preserved foods and pickled vegetables were not associated with increased risk High temperature of meals and drinks was a strong risk indicator in this population The strength of tea and overall tea consumption were independent determinants of the risk

Survival of European adolescents and young adults diagnosed with cancer in 2000–07: population-based data from EUROCARE-5

Abstract: Summary Background Data from EUROCARE have consistently shown lower survival for adolescents and young adults (AYAs; aged 15–24 years) than for children (0–14 years) for most cancers that affect both groups, and modest survival improvements up to 2000–02. AYAs have longer survival than that of adults for most cancers. We used the latest definition of AYAs (aged 15–39 years) and provided estimates of 5-year relative survival for European AYAs with cancer diagnosed in 2000–07, compared with children and adults (40–69 years) with cancer, and assessed survival improvements over time. Methods We analysed data from population-based cancer registries of 27 European countries participating in EUROCARE-5. We used the so-called complete method to estimate 5-year, population-weighted relative survival for 19 cancers affecting AYAs and children, and for 27 cancers affecting AYAs and adults. We assessed relative-survival differences between children versus AYAs, and between AYAs versus adults, using the Z test. We used the period approach to estimate 5-year relative survival over time for children and AYAs, and used a generalised linear model to model survival time trends (1999–2007) and to assess the significance of changes over time. Findings We analysed 56 505 cancer diagnoses in children, 312 483 in AYAs, and 3 567 383 in adults. For all cancers combined, survival improved over time for AYAs (from 79% [95% CI 78·1–80·5] in 1999–2002 to 82% [81·1–83·3] in 2005–07; p Interpretation Notwithstanding the encouraging results for some cancers, and overall, we showed poorer survival in AYAs than in children for the eight important cancers. Recent European initiatives to improve outcomes in AYAs might reduce the survival gap between children and AYAs, but this reduction can only be verified by future population-based studies. Funding Italian Ministry of Health, European Commission.

Energy balance and cancer: the role of sex hormones.

Abstract: Energy balance can affect the risk for hormone-related cancers by altering sex hormone levels. Energy intake and expenditure are difficult to measure in epidemiological studies, but a chronic excess of intake relative to expenditure leads to a high BMI, which can be accurately measured. In premenopausal women obesity has little effect on the serum concentration of oestradiol, but causes an increase in the frequency of anovular menstrual cycles and thus a reduction in progesterone levels; these changes lead to a large increase in the risk for endometrial cancer. but little change, or a small decrease, in the risk for breast cancer. In post-menopausal women oestradiol levels are not regulated by negative feedback, and obesity causes an increase in the serum concentration of bioavailable oestradiol; this factor causes increases in the risk for both endometrial cancer and breast cancer. The development of ovarian cancer appears to be related more strongly to the frequency of ovulation than to direct effects of circulating levels of sex hormones, and BMI is not clearly associated with the risk for ovarian cancer. In men, increasing BMI has little effect on bioavailable androgen levels, and any effect of obesity on prostate cancer risk is small.

Changes in Prevalence of Asthma and Allergies Among Children and Adolescents in Italy: 1994–2002

Abstract: BACKGROUND. Several studies conducted during the 1990s indicated an increase in the prevalence of symptoms of asthma; more recent investigations suggest that the trend is stabilizing or may even be reversing. OBJECTIVE. We compared 2 cross-sectional surveys conducted in 1994 and 2002 in 8 areas in northern and central Italy, to evaluate prevalence changes for asthma, allergic rhinitis, and eczema. METHODS. The International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood methods and questionnaires were used to investigate 6- to 7-year-old children (16115 and 11287 questionnaires completed by parents in 1994–1995 and 2002, respectively) and 13- to 14-year-old adolescents (19723 and 10267 questionnaires completed by adolescents in 1994–1995 and 2002, respectively). In each phase, the overall response rate was >90%. Prevalence changes were calculated as the absolute difference between the prevalence recorded on the 2 occasions. RESULTS. The prevalence of wheeze (past 12 months) increased slightly among children (change: 0.8%; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.0% to 1.6%) and was rather stable among adolescents. Symptoms of allergic rhinitis (children: change: 5.2%; 95% CI: 4.0% to 6.4%; adolescents: change: 4.1%; 95% CI: 1.9% to 6.3%) and symptoms of atopic eczema (children: change: 4.4%; 95% CI: 3.6% to 5.2%; adolescents: change: 2.1%; 95% CI: 1.2% to 3.0%) increased clearly in both age groups. There was some heterogeneity across the centers among adolescents, especially for allergic rhinitis, with larger increases seen in the 3 metropolitan areas. The changes observed paralleled profound family changes, ie, better parental education, higher rates of maternal employment, and lower rates of exposure to parental smoke. These factors, however, do not explain all of the observed changes in prevalence. CONCLUSIONS. The results indicate that the epidemiologic features of asthma and allergies in Italy are changing rapidly, although the causes are still uncertain.