Malignant epithelial tumours in the upper digestive tract: a dietary and socio-medical case-control and survival study.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to elucidate the influence of social, dietary and environmental factors on the incidence of malignant epithelial tumours in the upper digestive tract and on the prognosis of patients with these cancers.


METHODS
A population-based case-control study was carried out, and the patients in the study were included in a survival analysis.


METHODS
The study was carried out at the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.


METHODS
In the case-control study, 84 patients and 89 controls were included. Only the patients were included in the survival analysis.


RESULTS
Smoking showed the highest odds ratio (OR) for morbidity (OR = 29). The patients had in general a lower social status, and a higher alcohol intake (OR = 6.6). For both beta-carotene and vitamin C, the ORs decreased with increasing intake (OR = 0.2 and 0.3, respectively). Increased ORs were associated with low values for haemoglobin, iron, TIBC, folic acid, magnesium and especially for albumin (OR = 14), and with high values for ferritin, vitamin B12 and thiocyanate (a marker for smoking). Stage of the disease was an important prognostic factor. The relative risk (RR) of dying for disseminated vs localised tumours being 3.2. A poorer prognosis was linked to higher age, to smoking vs no smoking (RR = 2.3), and to lower levels of haemoglobin, albumin, magnesium and thiocyanate.


CONCLUSIONS
Strong beer, liquor, consumption of milk and table fat, low social status and smoking seemed to have a negative impact on both disease and survival. Fruit and vegetables might, however, reduce the risk. Whereas low serum albumin, iron and magnesium indicated a high OR for cancer, vitamin C and beta-carotene had the opposite implication. No significant implications on survival could be detected in blood chemistry beyond the stage of disease.
Freng
A
A
Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Ullevål University Hospital, Oslo, Norway.
Daae
L N
LN
Engeland
A
A
Norum
K R
KR
Sander
J
J
Solvoll
K
K
Tretli
S
S
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D001205:Ascorbic Acid / Q000008:administration & dosage; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004032:Diet; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004067:Digestive System Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000401:mortality; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009664:Norway / Q000453:epidemiology; D011379:Prognosis; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D012923:Social Class; D016019:Survival Analysis; D019207:beta Carotene / Q000008:administration & dosage
D004041:Dietary Fats; D019207:beta Carotene; D001205:Ascorbic Acid