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.

A prospective pilot study of antibodies against human papillomaviruses and cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma nested in the Oxford component of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition.

Abstract: In a prospective pilot study nested in the EPIC-Oxford cohort, we examined the seroprevalence of antibodies against the L1 antigen of 38 human papilloma virus (HPV) types among 39 cases of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) for whom plasma was collected prior to diagnosis (incident) and 80 controls. Fifteen cases having already developed SCC at blood collection (prevalent) were also tested. There were no statistically significant differences in the seroprevalence of antibodies against any of the HPV types examined between incident cases and controls, nor was there a difference in the seroprevalence of multiple infections. However, consistent with results from published case-control studies, the seroprevalence of many beta-HPV types was higher among prevalent cases than among either incident cases or controls. For example the seroprevalence of antibodies against HPV-8 was 20% (16/80) in controls, 23% (9/39) among incident cases and 40% (6115) among prevalent cases. Among the incident cases only, the seroprevalence was 16% (5/32) among those for whom blood was collected 18+ months prior to diagnosis, but 57% (4/7) among those for whom diagnosis was within 18 months of blood collection, a pattern seen for many of the HPV types. This might suggest that if HPV is involved in the aetiology of SCC, the process occurs close to the time of diagnosis, or that the antibody response observed in people with SCC is a consequence of tumor formation. Further and larger prospective studies are needed to clarify the role of HPV in the aetiology of cutaneous SCC. (C) 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

CYP1A1, GSTM1, and GSTT1 Polymorphisms, Smoking, and Lung Cancer Risk in a Pooled Analysis among Asian Populations

Abstract: To evaluate the roles of CYP1A1 polymorphisms [ Ile462Val and T6235C (MspI) ] and deletion of GSTM1 and GSTT1 in lung cancer development in Asian populations, a pooled analysis was conducted on 13 existing studies included in Genetic Susceptibility to Environmental Carcinogenesis database. This pooled analysis included 1,971 cases and 2,130 controls. Lung cancer risk was estimated as odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) using unconditional logistic regression model adjusting for age, sex, and pack-year. The CYP1A1 6235C variant was associated with squamous cell lung cancer (TC versus TT : OR, 1.42; 95% CI, 0.96-2.09; CC versus TT : OR, 1.97; 95% CI, 1.26-3.07; P trend = 0.003). In haplotype analysis, 462Val-6235T and Ile-C haplotypes were associated with lung cancer risk with reference to the Ile-T haplotype (OR, 3.41; 95% CI, 1.78-6.53 and OR, 1.39; 95% CI, 1.12-1.71, respectively). The GSTM1 -null genotype increased squamous cell lung cancer risk (OR, 1.36; 95% CI, 1.05-1.77). When the interaction was evaluated with smoking, increasing trend of lung cancer risk as pack-year increased was stronger among those with the CYP1A1 6235 TC/CC genotype compared with those with TT genotype ( P interaction = 0.001) and with the GSTM1 -null genotype compared with the present type ( P interaction = 0.08, when no genotype effect with no exposure was assumed). These results suggest that genetic polymorphisms in CYP1A1 and GSTM1 are associated with lung cancer risk in Asian populations. However, further investigation is warranted considering the relatively small sample size when subgroup analyses were done and the lack of environmental exposure data other than smoking. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2008;17(5):1120–6)

Physical activity, sedentary behaviour and colorectal cancer risk in the UK Biobank

Abstract: Observational studies have shown that physical activity levels are inversely, and sedentary behaviours are positively, associated with colorectal cancer risk; however, whether these relationships are consistent across anatomical subsites is uncertain. We investigated the associations between colorectal cancer and physical activity (metabolic equivalents (METs)-hours per week), and indicators of sedentary behaviour (television watching time and time spent using computers) among 430 584 men and women enroled in the UK Biobank. Multivariable hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using Cox proportional hazards models. After a median follow-up time of 5.6 years, 2391 incident colorectal cancer cases were recorded. High (⩾60-MET-hours per week) vs low (<10-MET-hours per week) total physical activity was associated with a lower colon cancer risk (HR=0.84, 95% CI: 0.72–0.98; p-trend=0.04), with comparable relationships observed for proximal and distal colon tumours, but no association for rectal cancer. Higher levels of television watching time were associated with greater colon cancer risk (HR for ⩾5 h per day vs ⩽1 h per day=1.32, 95% CI: 1.04–1.68; p-trend=0.007). Time spent using computers was not associated with colorectal cancer risk. Higher levels of physical activity were associated with lower colon cancer risk, with no heterogeneity by colonic subsite. Sedentary behaviour (television watching) was associated with elevated colon cancer risk.

Comparison of the site distribution of melanoma in new zealand and canada

Abstract: A comparison of the site distribution of cutaneous malignant melanoma in New Zealand and Canada was performed. This series deals with 41,331 incident cases registered between 1968 and 1990 and is the largest to date to evaluate the influence of age and gender on the site distribution of melanoma. Site-specific, age-standardized rates per unit surface area and relative tumour density were assessed by gender and country and differences compared with statistical techniques adapted to this context. The age-standardized rates for all sites were higher in New Zealand than in Canada, the ratio being 3.2 for men and 3.8 for women. Occurrence of melanoma was denser for chronically than intermittently exposed sites in both New Zealand and Canada. The highest incidence rate per unit area was for the ears in men which was more than 5 times the rate for the entire body in each country. For each gender, melanomas were relatively commoner on the trunk and the face in Canada, and on the lower limbs in New Zealand. The variations in the site distribution were similar in each country and consistent with the effect of differential patterns of sun exposure between genders. Our results show that the levels of risk of melanoma between phenotypically comparable populations exposed to different amount of UV radiation vary in a site-specific manner, especially for intermittently exposed sites. This suggests that both environmental conditions and lifestyle factors influence the site distribution of melanoma in these two populations.

Twin Membership and Breast Cancer Risk

Abstract: Pregnancy estrogens are substantially elevated in twin pregnancies and are likely to be more so in the case of dizygotic twins. If levels of pregnancy estrogens were positively related to breast cancer risk in the offspring, female twin members would be expected to be at slightly higher risk. Data from an international case-control study were utilized to assess this hypothesis. The analysis was based on 870 cases with breast cancer and 2,641 hospital controls from two sites: Glamorgan, Wales (1965-1967), and Boston, Massachusetts (1965-1966). Seventeen cases were members of twin pairs, and 8 of them had a twin brother; 33 controls were members of twin pairs and 14 had a twin brother. Among all women, the odds ratios for breast cancer were as follows: for twins with brothers, 1.54 (95% confidence interval (CI) 0.64-3.71); for twins with sisters, 1.30 (95% CI 0.58-2.92); and for all twins, 1.40 (95% CI 0.77-2.55). The odds ratios were higher among premenopausal women. These findings are not conclusive, but they are compatible with the hypothesis that pregnancy estrogens may affect the risk of breast cancer in the offspring.