Role of Genetic Factors in the Etiology of Squamous Cell Carcinoma of the Head and Neck

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To determine the role of genetic predisposition in the etiology of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma. DESIGN: Retrospective study. SETTING: The outpatient clinics of the departments of otorhinolaryngology and maxillofacial surgery. PATIENTS: First-degree relatives of patients with new head and neck cancer, with first-degree relatives of the patients' spouses as controls. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE: Occurrence of cancer of the respiratory and upper digestive tract in relatives of patients with head and neck cancer and controls. RESULTS: First-degree relatives (n = 617) of 105 patients with head and neck cancer had 31 cases of cancer of the respiratory and upper digestive tract vs 10 cases in the control group (n = 618) (relative risk, 3.5; P = .0002). This higher rate of cancer was even larger in siblings (16 vs 2, relative risk, 14.6; P = .0001). CONCLUSIONS: Genetic predisposition is an important risk factor for squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck.