Citation
Negri, Eva; Boffetta, Paolo; Berthiller, Julien; Castellsague, Xavier; Curado, Maria Paula; Dal Maso, Luigino; Daudt, Alexander W.; Fabianova, Eleonora; Fernandez, Leticia; & Wünsch-Filho, Victor, et al. (2009). Family History of Cancer: Pooled Analysis in the International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology Consortium. International Journal of Cancer, 124(2), 394-401. PMCID: PMC3711193Abstract
Alcohol and tobacco consumption are well-recognized risk factors for head and neck cancer (HNC). Evidence suggests that genetic predisposition may also play a role. Only a few epidemiologic studies, however, have considered the relation between HNC risk and family history of HNC and other cancers. We pooled individual-level data across 12 case-control studies including 8,967 HNC cases and 13,627 controls. We obtained pooled odds ratios (OR) using fixed and random effect models and adjusting for potential confounding factors. All statistical tests were two-sided. A family history of HNC in first-degree relatives increased the risk of HNC (OR = 1.7, 95% confidence interval, CI, 1.2-2.3). The risk was higher when the affected relative was a sibling (OR = 2.2, 95% CI 1.6-3.1) rather than a parent (OR = 1.5, 95% CI 1.1-1.8) and for more distal HNC anatomic sites (hypopharynx and larynx). The risk was also higher, or limited to, in subjects exposed to tobacco. The OR rose to 7.2 (95% CI 5.5-9.5) among subjects with family history, who were alcohol and tobacco users. A weak but significant association (OR = 1.1, 95% CI 1.0-1.2) emerged for family history of other tobacco-related neoplasms, particularly with laryngeal cancer (OR = 1.3, 95% CI 1.1-1.5). No association was observed for family history of nontobacco-related neoplasms and the risk of HNC (OR = 1.0, 95% CI 0.9-1.1). Familial factors play a role in the etiology of HNC. In both subjects with and without family history of HNC, avoidance of tobacco and alcohol exposure may be the best way to avoid HNC.URL
http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ijc.23848Reference Type
Journal ArticleYear Published
2009Journal Title
International Journal of CancerAuthor(s)
Negri, EvaBoffetta, Paolo
Berthiller, Julien
Castellsague, Xavier
Curado, Maria Paula
Dal Maso, Luigino
Daudt, Alexander W.
Fabianova, Eleonora
Fernandez, Leticia
Wünsch-Filho, Victor
Franceschi, Silvia
Hayes, Richard B.
Herrero, Rolando
Koifman, Sergio
Lazarus, Philip
Lence, Juan J.
Levi, Fabio
Mates, Dana
Matos, Elena L.
Menezes, Ana M.
Muscat, Joshua E.
Eluf-Neto, Jose
Olshan, Andrew F.
Rudnai, Peter
Shangina, Oxana
Sturgis, Erich M.
Szeszenia-Dabrowska, Neonila
Talamini, Renato
Wei, Qingyi
Winn, Deborah M.
Zaridze, David
Lissowska, Jolanta
Zhang, Zuo-Feng
Ferro, Gilles
Brennan, Paul
La Vecchia, Carlo
Hashibe, Mia