title: Family history of cancer, its combination with smoking and drinking, and risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus.
abstract: We analyzed the association between history of cancer in first-degree relatives and the risk of squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus (SCCE) using data from three case-control studies conducted in Italy and Switzerland on 805 incident, histologically confirmed SCCE, and 3,461 hospital controls. The alcohol- and tobacco-adjusted odds ratio (OR) for a family history of esophageal cancer was 3.2 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.7-6.2], and the OR was higher when the affected relative was a brother or was diagnosed at age <55 years. Compared to subjects without family history of esophageal cancer, non-current smokers, drinking <49 drinks per week, the OR was 2.9 (95% CI, 1.1-7.5) for family history alone, 15.5 (95% CI, 11.7-20.5) for current smokers drinking > or = 49 drinks per week without family history of esophageal cancer, and 107.0 (95% CI, 13.0-880.2) for current smokers drinking > or = 49 drinks per week who also had a family history of esophageal cancer. The risk of SCCE was also increased in subjects with a family history of cancer of the oral cavity/pharynx (OR, 3.7; 95% CI, 1.5-9.0) and stomach (OR, 2.0; 95% CI, 1.1-3.6), but not of other cancers, nor for a family history of any cancer (OR, 1.0; 95% CI, 0.8-1.4). These data show that, as for many other epithelial cancers, the risk of SCCE is increased in subjects with a family history of the disease, and that--in Western countries--avoidance of alcohol and tobacco is also the best way to prevent SCCE in subjects with a family history of the disease.
authors.affiliation: Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Via Eritrea 62-20157 Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: Werner
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Garavello
authors.forename: Eva
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Negri
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Talamini
authors.forename: Fabio
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Levi
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zambon
authors.forename: Luigino
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Dal Maso
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bosetti
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Franceschi
authors.forename: Carlo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: La Vecchia
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics* / Q000517:prevention & control; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010375:Pedigree; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*