International Agency for Research on Cancer

About: International Agency for Research on Cancer is a government organization based out in Lyon, France. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Cancer & Population. The organization has 2989 authors who have published 9010 publications receiving 929752 citations. The organization is also known as: IARC.

Meta‐analysis of social inequality and the risk of cervical cancer

Abstract: Previous studies of the relationship between socio-economic status and cervical cancer have been mainly based on record linkage of routine data, such as cancer registry incidence rates and regional measures of social class based on census data. These routine data are liable to substantial misclassification with respect to socio-economic status. Previous reports are also primarily from developed countries, whereas the major burden of cervical cancer is in developing countries. We have therefore pooled the data from previously reported case-control studies of cervical cancer or dysplasia, which contain individual-level information on socio-economic characteristics to investigate the relationship between cervical cancer, social class, stage of disease, geographical region, age and histological type. Based on 57 studies, we found an increased risk of approximately 100% between high and low social class categories for the development of invasive cervical cancer, and an increased risk of approximately 60% for dysplasia, including carcinoma in situ. Although the difference was observed in all countries, it was stronger in low/middle income countries and in North America than in Europe. No clear differences were observed between squamous cell carcinoma and adenocarcinoma, or between younger and older women. These results indicate that both cervical infection with human papillomavirus, which is linked to both female and male sexual behaviour, and access to adequate cervical cancer screening programmes are likely to be important in explaining the large cervical cancer incidence rates observed in different socio-economic groups, and that the importance of these factors may vary between different geographical regions.

Circulating adiponectin and endometrial cancer risk.

Abstract: Circulating levels of adiponectin, a hormone with insulin-sensitizing properties, are decreased in conditions related to obesity and hyperinsulinemia, which are recognized risk factors for endometrial cancer. Eighty-seven cases with incident, histologically confirmed endometrial cancer and 132 controls admitted for acute, nonneoplastic diseases were interviewed in northeastern Italy between 1999 and 2002, and blood samples were collected. Levels of adiponectin were evaluated in samples by means of a RIA. An inverse association with endometrial cancer risk emerged for plasma adiponectin levels [odds ratio (OR), 0.42; 95% confidence interval, 0.19-0.94] when comparing the highest vs. the lowest tertiles. Similar results emerged for serum adiponectin (OR, 0.30; 95% confidence interval, 0.14-0.68). The association was stronger in pre- than in postmenopausal women, but no significant heterogeneity was observed across strata of body mass index (BMI) or parity. BMI and adiponectin showed independent effects on the risk of endometrial cancer according to a multiplicative model (OR, 6.45 in the highest level of BMI and in the lowest one of adiponectin).

Risk factors for thyroid cancer: an epidemiological review focused on nutritional factors

Abstract: The present review summarizes epidemiological evidence on risk factors for thyroid cancer (TC), in particular, nutritional factors. Searches of articles on the issue were conducted using MEDLINE. Exposure to ionizing radiation, particularly during childhood, is the best-established risk factor for TC. There is also a strong association with history of benign nodules/adenoma or goiter. Iodine deficiency may induce an increasing incidence of benign thyroid conditions, but very high iodine intake also affects thyroid function and, possibly, TC risk. Among dietary factors, fish—the major natural source of iodine in human diet—is not consistently related to TC risk. High intake of cruciferous vegetables shows a weak inverse association with TC. Among other food groups, vegetables other than cruciferous are the only food group showing a favorable effect on TC, with an approximate 20% reduction in risk for subjects with the highest consumption. No effect on TC risk of alcohol, coffee, or other food-groups/nutrients emerged. Height and weight at diagnosis show a moderate positive association with TC risk. At present, the only recognized measures for reducing TC risk is to avoid ionizing radiation and iodine deficiency, particularly in childhood and young women, and to increase vegetable consumption.

High‐temperature beverages and foods and esophageal cancer risk—A systematic review

Abstract: Coffee, tea and mate may cause esophageal cancer (EC) by causing thermal injury to the esophageal mucosa. If so, the risk of EC attributable to thermal injury could be large in populations in which these beverages are commonly consumed. In addition, these drinks may cause or prevent EC via their chemical constituents. Therefore, a large number of epidemiologic studies have investigated the association of an indicator of amount or temperature of use of these drinks or other hot foods and beverages with risk of EC. We conducted a systematic review of these studies and report the results for amount and temperature of use separately. By searching PubMed and the ISI, we found 59 eligible studies. For coffee and tea, there was little evidence for an association between amount of use and EC risk; however, the majority of studies showed an increased risk of EC associated with higher drinking temperature which was statistically significant in most of them. For mate drinking, the number of studies was limited, but they consistently showed that EC risk increased with both amount consumed and temperature, and these 2 were independent risk factors. For other hot foods and drinks, over half of the studies showed statistically significant increased risks of EC associated with higher temperature of intake. Overall, the available results strongly suggest that high-temperature beverage drinking increases the risk of EC. Future studies will require standardized strategies that allow for combining data and results should be reported by histological subtypes of EC.