Scott M Langevin

Publications (21) View all

• Article: Periodontal disease and mouthwash use are risk factors for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma.

  Melissa N Eliot, Dominique S Michaud, Scott M Langevin, Michael D McClean, Karl T Kelsey
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  ABSTRACT: PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine associations between oral hygiene, including history of periodontal disease and mouthwash use, and risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). METHODS: We measured history of oral hygiene and dental care on 513 HNSCC cases and 567 controls from a population-based study of HNSCC. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI). RESULTS: Periodontal disease was associated with a slightly elevated risk of HNSCC (OR = 1.09, 95 % CI: 1.02, 1.16). Using any type of mouthwash at least once per day was associated with increased risk compared to never using mouthwash (OR = 1.11, 95 % CI: 1.02, 1.20). HNSCC was associated with frequent use of non-alcoholic mouthwash compared to using any kind of mouthwash rarely or never (OR = 1.24, 95 % CI: 1.05, 1.47). CONCLUSIONS: Our results support an association between periodontal disease and HNSCC. Our data suggest that mouthwash use is associated with HNSCC, but we noted no difference between the effects of alcohol-containing and non-alcoholic mouthwashes.
  Cancer Causes and Control 04/2013; · 2.88 Impact Factor
• Article: The fate is not always written in the genes: Epigenomics in epidemiologic studies.

  Scott M Langevin, Karl T Kelsey
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  ABSTRACT: Cost-effective, high-throughput epigenomic technologies have begun to emerge, rapidly replacing the candidate gene approach to molecular epidemiology and offering a comprehensive strategy for the study of epigenetics in human subjects. Epigenome-wide association studies (EWAS) provide new opportunities for advancing our understanding of epigenetic changes associated with complex disease states. However, such analyses are complicated by the dynamic nature of DNA methylation. In contrast to genomic studies, where genotype is essentially constant across somatic cells, EWAS present a new set of challenges, largely due to differential DNA methylation across distinct cell types, particularly for studies involving heterogeneous tissue sources, and changes in the epigenetic profile that occur over time. This review describes potential applications of EWAS from the viewpoint of the molecular epidemiologist, along with special considerations and pitfalls involved in the design of such studies. Environ. Mol. Mutagen., 2013. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
  Environmental and Molecular Mutagenesis 02/2013; · 3.71 Impact Factor
• Article: Smokeless tobacco and risk of head and neck cancer: Evidence from a case-control study in New England.

  Jiachen Zhou, Dominique S Michaud, Scott M Langevin, Michael D McClean, Melissa Eliot, Karl T Kelsey
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  ABSTRACT: Current studies suggesting that smokeless tobacco use increases the risk of head and neck cancer are hampered by small numbers. Consequently, there remains uncertainty in the magnitude and significance of this risk. We examined the relationship between smokeless tobacco use and head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in a population-based case-control study with 1,046 cases and 1,239 frequency-matched controls. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI), adjusting for age, gender, race, education level, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption. A nonsignificant elevated association between having ever used smokeless tobacco and HNSCC risk (OR = 1.20, 95% CI: 0.67-2.16) was observed. Individuals who reported 10 or more years of smokeless tobacco use had a significantly elevated risk of HNSCC (OR = 4.06, 95% CI: 1.31-12.64), compared to never users. In an analysis restricted to never cigarette smokers, a statistically significant association was observed between ever use of smokeless tobacco and the risk of HNSCC (OR = 4.21, 95% CI: 1.01-17.57). These findings suggest that long-term use of smokeless tobacco increases the risk of HNSCC.
  International Journal of Cancer 09/2012; · 5.44 Impact Factor
• Article: Regular dental visits are associated with earlier stage at diagnosis for oral and pharyngeal cancer.

  Scott M Langevin, Dominique S Michaud, Melissa Eliot, Edward S Peters, Michael D McClean, Karl T Kelsey
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  ABSTRACT: Oral and pharyngeal cancer patients diagnosed at an advanced stage experience increased morbidity and mortality relative to those with localized disease. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of dental insurance status and regularity of dental visits on early detection of oral and pharyngeal cancer. We examined the relationship of dental insurance and frequency of dental visits with stage at diagnosis among 441 oral and pharyngeal cancer cases from a population-based study of head and neck cancer. Ordinal logistic regression models were used to assess the association with stage, and tumor (T) and nodal (N) classification. Never or rarely going to the dentist was associated with being diagnosed at higher stage for oral and pharyngeal cancer (cumulative OR = 2.28, 95 % CI: 1.02-5.10) and oral cancer (cumulative OR = 9.17, 95 % CI: 2.70-31.15) compared to those going to the dentist at least annually. Oral and pharyngeal cancer patients who went to the dentist infrequently (cumulative OR = 1.82, 95 % CI: 1.09-3.05) or rarely/never (cumulative OR = 3.24, 95 % CI: 1.59-6.57) were diagnosed with a higher T classification compared with those who went at least annually. Receipt of regular dental examinations at least annually may reduce the public health burden of oral and pharyngeal cancer by facilitating earlier detection of the disease.
  Cancer Causes and Control 09/2012; 23(11):1821-9. · 2.88 Impact Factor
• Article: Allergies and risk of head and neck cancer.

  Dominique S Michaud, Scott M Langevin, Melissa Eliot, Heather H Nelson, Michael D McClean, Brock C Christensen, Carmen J Marsit, Karl T Kelsey
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  ABSTRACT: Individuals with allergies have a heightened Th2 (T helper 2) immunity, which may provide advantages in controlling tumor growth. Inverse associations have been reported among individuals with allergies and risk of brain and pancreatic cancers. We examined the relationship between allergies and risk of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) in a population-based case-control study with 1,014 cases and 1,193 frequency-matched controls. Logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95 % confidence intervals (95 % CI) controlling for age, sex, race, smoking history, alcohol consumption, and education. In addition, in a subset of the population, models were adjusted for HPV16 status. Individuals with allergies had a 19 % lower risk of HNSCC (OR = 0.81, 95 % CI = 0.67-0.98). Associations with allergies were stronger for laryngeal (OR = 0.66, 95 % CI = 0.45-0.97) and oropharyngeal (OR = 0.73, 95 % CI = 0.57-0.92) cancers, while no association was observed for oral cavity cancers (OR = 0.98, 95 % CI = 0.76-1.26). History of asthma was not associated with overall HNSCC, but the association was statistically significant for oropharyngeal cancer (OR = 0.67, 95 % CI = 0.44-0.99). HPV16 status did not confound or modify the associations with allergies. Elevated Th2 immunity in individuals with history of allergies and asthma may reduce the risk of HNSCC. Additional research into related mechanisms may provide new insights into how to treat HNSCC. These findings may provide new insight into biological pathways that could lead to a better understanding of the etiology of this disease.
  Cancer Causes and Control 06/2012; 23(8):1317-22. · 2.88 Impact Factor