Risk of gastroesophageal cancer among smokers and users of Scandinavian moist snuff.
Although Scandinavian moist snuff ("snus"), no doubt, is a safer alternative to smoking, there is limited evidence against an association with gastroesophageal cancers. In a retrospective cohort study, we investigated esophageal and stomach cancer incidence among 336,381 male Swedish construction workers who provided information on tobacco smoking and snus habits within a health surveillance program between 1971 and 1993. Essentially complete follow-up through 2004 was accomplished through linkage to several nationwide registers. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models estimated relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Compared to never-users of any tobacco, smokers had increased risks for adenocarcinoma (RR = 2.3, 95% CI 1.4-3.7) and squamous cell carcinoma (RR = 5.2, 95% CI 3.1-8.6) of the esophagus, as well as cardia (RR = 2.1, 95% CI 1.5-3.0) and noncardia stomach (RR = 1.3, 95% CI 1.2-1.6) cancers. We also observed excess risks for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (RR = 3.5, 95% CI 1.6-7.6) and noncardia stomach cancer (RR = 1.4, 95% CI 1.1-1.9) among snus users who had never smoked. Although confounding by unmeasured exposures, and some differential misclassification of smoking, might have inflated the associations, our study provides suggestive evidence for an independent carcinogenic effect of snus.
Zendehdel
Kazem
K
Department of Medical Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden. kazem.zendehdel@ki.se
Nyrén
Olof
O
Luo
Juhua
J
Dickman
Paul W
PW
Boffetta
Paolo
P
Englund
Anders
A
Ye
Weimin
W
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012537:Scandinavian and Nordic Countries; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects*; D013274:Stomach Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D014030:Tobacco, Smokeless / Q000009:adverse effects*