title: The aetiology of upper aerodigestive tract cancers among young adults in Europe: the ARCAGE study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The incidence of cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) is increasing throughout the world. To date the increases have been proportionally greatest among young people. Several reports have suggested that they often do not have a history of tobacco smoking or heavy alcohol consumption.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To determine the contribution of lifestyle factors to the etiology of UADT cancers occurring in those aged less than 50 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  A case-control study was conducted in 10 European countries. Cases were cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx, larynx and esophagus, and hospital or population controls were age and sex matched.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 356 cases younger than 50 years and 419 controls. Risk was strongly related to current smoking [odds ratio (OR) 5.5 95%; confidence interval (CI) (3.3, 9.2)], and risk increased with number of pack-years smoked. Risk was also related to alcohol consumption for both current (OR 1.8; 0.97, 3.3) and past (OR 3.4; 1.6, 7.4) drinkers, and risk increased with number of drink-years. Persons frequently consuming fruits and vegetables were at significantly reduced risk.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Risk factors already identified as being important for UADT cancers in adults are also important influences on risk in younger adults. The implication of these results is that the public health message in preventing UADT cancers remains the same to young and old alike.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Aberdeen, Polwarth Building, Foresterhill, Aberdeen AB25 2ZD, UK. Tatiana.Macfarlane@abdn.ac.uk.
authors.forename: Tatiana V
authors.initials: TV
authors.lastname: Macfarlane
authors.forename: Gary J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Macfarlane
authors.forename: Richard J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Oliver
authors.forename: Simone
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Benhamou
authors.forename: Christine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Bouchardy
authors.forename: Wolfgang
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Ahrens
authors.forename: Hermann
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Pohlabeln
authors.forename: Pagona
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Lagiou
authors.forename: Areti
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Lagiou
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Castellsague
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Agudo
authors.forename: Franco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Merletti
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Richiardi
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kjaerheim
authors.forename: Alena
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Slamova
authors.forename: Miriam
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Schejbalova
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Canova
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Simonato
authors.forename: Renato
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Talamini
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Barzan
authors.forename: David I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Conway
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: McKinney
authors.forename: Ariana
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Znaor
authors.forename: Raymond J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Lowry
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Thomson
authors.forename: Claire M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Healy
authors.forename: Bernard E
authors.initials: BE
authors.lastname: McCartan
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marron
authors.forename: Mia
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hashibe
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Brennan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004938:Esophageal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D005060:Europe / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009062:Mouth Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D015337:Multicenter Studies as Topic; D010610:Pharyngeal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology*; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult