title: Helicobacter pylori infection of the larynx may be an emerging risk factor for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Several studies have implicated Helicobacter pylori as a risk factor in laryngeal cancer, but other studies disagree. It is fundamental that the relationship between Helicobacter pylori and laryngeal cancer be verified in order to provide evidence of ways to prevent the initiation and development of this carcinoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  In total, 81 patients with laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma and 75 control subjects were enrolled in a case-control study. Semi-nested polymerase chain reaction techniques were applied to detect Helicobacter pylori in the laryngeal mucosa and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays were used to detect serum antibodies against Helicobacter pylori. Risk factors associated with laryngeal carcinoma were analyzed using logistic regression models.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The presence of Helicobacter pylori in the larynx was higher in patients with laryngeal cancer than in control subjects (71.6 vs. 25.3 %, p < 0.001). Among patients with laryngeal carcinoma, rates of Helicobacter pylori infection were higher in normal laryngeal tissues than in tumor tissues. After adjusting for confounding factors, regression analysis indicated that the microbe was an independent risk factor for laryngeal cancer (OR = 7.15, 95 % CI [3.29, 15.53], p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study suggests that Helicobacter pylori is present in the mucosa of the larynx. The microorganism may be an independent risk factor for laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma. The laryngeal mucosa thus provides a reservoir for the bacteria possibly, and is a likely staging place for its transmission to other areas.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology, Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital, Fudan University, Shanghai, China. gonghongli2008@yahoo.cn
authors.forename: Hongli
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gong
authors.forename: Yi
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Tao
authors.forename: Yong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.forename: Wenjun
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cheng
mesh_terms: D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016481:Helicobacter Infections / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology; D016480:Helicobacter pylori; D006801:Humans; D007822:Laryngeal Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000473:pathology; D016015:Logistic Models; D012307:Risk Factors