Smoking and drinking in relation to cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus in northern Italy.

TLDR

A hospital‑based case‑control study in Northern Italy (1986‑1989) enrolled 157 oral cavity, 134 pharyngeal, 162 laryngeal, and 288 esophageal cancer cases and 1,272 male inpatient controls. Current cigarette smoking was associated with markedly elevated odds ratios for oral cavity (11.1), pharynx (12.9), larynx (4.6), and esophagus (3.8) cancers, with risk rising with cigarette quantity and duration and falling with later smoking initiation or longer cessation; pipe and cigar use further increased risk for oral cavity and esophagus, while heavy alcohol consumption—particularly wine—also significantly raised risk across all sites.

Abstract

A hospital-based case-control study of upper aerodigestive tract tumors was conducted between June 1986 and June 1989 in Northern Italy. One hundred fifty-seven male cases of oral cavity cancer, 134 of pharyngeal cancer, 162 of laryngeal cancer, and 288 of esophageal cancer, and 1272 male inpatients with acute conditions unrelated to tobacco and alcohol were interviewed. Odds ratios for current smokers of cigarettes were 11.1 for oral cavity, 12.9 for pharynx, 4.6 for larynx, and 3.8 for esophagus. For all 4 sites, the risk increased with increasing number of cigarettes and duration of smoking habits and, with the exception of esophageal cancer, decreased with increasing age at the start of and years since quitting smoking. Smokers of pipes and cigars showed a more elevated risk of cancer of the oral cavity and esophagus than did cigarette smokers. Significantly increased risks emerged also in heavy drinkers (odds ratio greater than 60 versus greater than or equal to 19 drinks/week = 3.4, 3.6, 2.1, and 6.0 for oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus, respectively), deriving predominantly from wine consumption.