title: Role of medical history and medication use in the aetiology of upper aerodigestive tract cancers in Europe: the ARCAGE study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The study aimed to investigate the role of medical history (skin warts, Candida albicans, herpetic lesions, heartburn, regurgitation) and medication use (for heartburn; for regurgitation; aspirin) in the aetiology of upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) cancer.
  
  
  METHODS
  A multicentre (10 European countries) case-control study [Alcohol-Related CAncers and GEnetic susceptibility (ARCAGE) project].
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 1779 cases of UADT cancer and 1993 controls. History of warts or C. albicans infection was associated with a reduced risk [odds ratio (OR) 0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68-0.94 and OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.60-0.89, respectively] but there was no association with herpetic lesions, heartburn, regurgitation or medication for related symptoms. Regurgitation was associated with an increased risk for cancer of the oesophagus (OR 1.47, 95% CI 0.98-2.21). Regular aspirin use was not associated with risk of UADT cancer overall but was associated with a reduced risk for cancer of oesophagus (OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.28-0.96), hypopharynx (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.28-1.02) and larynx (OR 0.74, 95% CI 0.54-1.01).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A history of some infections appears to be a marker for decreased risk of UADT cancer. The role of medical history and medication use varied by UADT subsites with aspirin use associated with a decreased risk of oesophageal cancer and suggestive of a decreased risk of hypopharyngeal and laryngeal cancers.
authors.affiliation: School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Aberdeen, Aberdeen, UK. Tatiana.Macfarlane@abdn.ac.uk
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authors.lastname: Macfarlane
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mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001241:Aspirin / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use; D002177:Candidiasis / Q000150:complications; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000209:etiology*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D005060:Europe; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D006356:Heartburn / Q000150:complications; D006566:Herpesviridae Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D057045:Laryngopharyngeal Reflux / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012307:Risk Factors; D014860:Warts / Q000150:complications; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001241:Aspirin