Liver cancer in Thailand. II. A case-control study of hepatocellular carcinoma.
Potential risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma were investigated in a case-control study among inhabitants of north east Thailand. Sixty-five cases from 3 hospitals, with matched controls, were included. Infection with hepatitis-B virus was the major risk factor-chronic carriers of HB surface antigen had an estimated relative risk of 15.2. Infection with hepatitis-C virus appeared to be rare. No increase in risk was found with recent aflatoxin intake, as estimated by consumption of possibly contaminated foods, or by measuring aflatoxin-albumin adducts in serum. Regular use of alcohol (2 or more glasses of spirits per week) was associated with a non-significant elevation in risk (o.r. = 3.4, 95% c.i. 0.8-14.6), but the number of regular drinkers in the population was small. The meaning of an apparent protection conferred by certain food items is uncertain, but a possible role of betel nut in the aetiology deserves further investigation.
Srivatanakul
P
P
National Cancer Institute, Bangkok, Thailand.
Parkin
D M
DM
Khlat
M
M
Chenvidhya
D
D
Chotiwan
P
P
Insiripong
S
S
L'Abbé
K A
KA
Wild
C P
CP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000428:Alcohol Drinking; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001114:Areca; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002648:Child; D003710:Demography; D004032:Diet; D005260:Female; D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010946:Plants, Medicinal; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand
D006514:Hepatitis B Surface Antigens