Abstract

Although alcohol is an established risk factor of head and neck cancer (HNC), insufficiencies exist in the literature in several aspects. We analyzed detailed alcohol consumption data (amount and type of alcoholic beverage) of 811 HNC patients and 940 controls to evaluate the association between alcohol and HNC by HNC sites and by genotypes of ADH1B and ALDH2. Alcohol was associated with an increased HNC risk in a dose-response relationship, with the highest risk observed for hypopharyngeal cancer, followed by oropharyngeal and laryngeal cancers. Liquor showed a stronger positive association with HNC than beer and wine. The highest HNC risk occurred in individuals with the slow ADH1B and slow/non-functional ALDH2 genotype combination. In our study population, 21.8% of HNCs, 55.7% of oropharyngeal cancers, and 89.1% of hypopharyngeal cancers could be attributed to alcohol. Alcohol accounted for 47.3% of HNCs among individuals with the slow ADH1B and slow/non-functional ALDH2 genotype combination. The HNC risk associated with alcohol became comparable to that of never/occasional drinkers after ten or more years of cessation from regular alcohol drinking. In conclusion, alcohol use is associated with an increased HNC risk, particularly for individuals with slow ethanol metabolism. HNC incidence may be reduced by alcohol cessation.

Details

Title
Investigating the Association between Alcohol and Risk of Head and Neck Cancer in Taiwan
Author
Cheng-Chih Huang 1 ; Jenn-Ren Hsiao 1 ; Wei-Ting, Lee 1 ; Yao-Chou, Lee 2 ; Chun-Yen, Ou 1 ; Chan-Chi, Chang 1 ; Yu-Cheng, Lu 1 ; Huang, Jehn-Shyun 3 ; Tung-Yiu Wong 3 ; Ken-Chung, Chen 3 ; Sen-Tien Tsai 1 ; Sheen-Yie Fang 1 ; Wu, Jiunn-Liang 1 ; Yuan-Hua, Wu 4 ; Wei-Ting Hsueh 4 ; Chia-Jui Yen 5 ; Shang-Yin, Wu 5 ; Jang-Yang, Chang 6 ; Chen-Lin, Lin 7 ; Yi-Hui, Wang 8 ; Ya-Ling Weng 8 ; Han-Chien, Yang 8 ; Yu-Shan, Chen 1 ; Chang, Jeffrey S 8 

 Department of Otolaryngology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan 
 Division of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery, Department of Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan 
 Department of Stomatology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan 
 Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan 
 Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan 
 Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan; National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan 
 Department of Nursing, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan 
 National Institute of Cancer Research, National Health Research Institutes, Tainan, Taiwan 
Pages
1-13
Publication year
2017
Publication date
Aug 2017
Publisher
Nature Publishing Group
e-ISSN
20452322
Source type
Scholarly Journal
Language of publication
English
ProQuest document ID
1957860406
Copyright
© 2017. This work is published under http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/ (the “License”). Notwithstanding the ProQuest Terms and Conditions, you may use this content in accordance with the terms of the License.