Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and pancreatic cancer risk: a nested case-control study.
BACKGROUND
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use has been linked with pancreatic cancer risk; however, findings from epidemiological studies are inconsistent.


METHODS
A nested case-control study was conducted within the UK General Practice Research Database. Cases (n=1141) had a diagnosis of primary cancer of the exocrine pancreas between January 1995 and June 2006. Controls (n=7954) were matched with each case on general practice site, sex and year of birth. Conditional logistic regression analyses were used to generate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) associated with NSAID use compared with non-use.


RESULTS
Any use of NSAID in the 5 years before the index date or since entry into the database (excluding the year before diagnosis) was not associated with risk of pancreatic cancer; OR 0.96 (95% CI, 0.84-1.10) and 1.03 (95% CI 0.89-1.19), respectively. Exposure to NSAIDs for > 773 days, in the 5 years pre-diagnosis, was associated with a reduced risk of pancreatic cancer OR 0.78 (95%CI 0.62-0.97). There was evidence of reduced pancreatic cancer risk with long-term use (5 years or more) of lower doses of NSAIDs OR 0.70 (95% CI 0.49-0.99).


CONCLUSIONS
Long-term exposure to NSAIDs may be associated with a reduction in risk of pancreatic cancer.
Bradley
M C
MC
Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Research Group, Centre for Public Health, Queen's University, Mulhouse Building, Royal Victoria Hospital, Belfast BT12 6BJ, Northern Ireland, UK.
Hughes
C M
CM
Cantwell
M M
MM
Napolitano
G
G
Murray
L J
LJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D019992:Databases as Topic; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015233:Models, Statistical; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010190:Pancreatic Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000453:epidemiology; D006113:United Kingdom / Q000453:epidemiology
D000894:Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal