Peter Rudnai

Publications of Peter Rudnai

• Increased risk of lung cancer in individuals with a family history of the disease: A pooled analysis from the International Lung Cancer Consortium.

  Authors: Michele L Coté, Mei Liu, Stefano Bonassi, Monica Neri, Ann G Schwartz, David C Christiani, Margaret R Spitz, Joshua E Muscat, Gad Rennert, Katja K Aben [......] Donatella Ugolini, Henricus F M van der Heijden, Erich Wichmann, John K Wiencke, Penella J Woll, Ping Yang, David Zaridze, Zuo-Feng Zhang, Carol J Etzel, Rayjean J Hung

  European journal of cancer (Oxford, England : 1990). 03/2012;

  BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Familial aggregation of lung cancer exists after accounting for cigarette smoking. However, the extent to which family history affects risk by smoking status, histology,BACKGROUND AND METHODS: Familial aggregation of lung cancer exists after accounting for cigarette smoking. However, the extent to which family history affects risk by smoking status, histology, relative type and ethnicity is not well described. This pooled analysis included 24 case-control studies in the International Lung Cancer Consortium. Each study collected age of onset/interview, gender, race/ethnicity, cigarette smoking, histology and first-degree family history of lung cancer. Data from 24,380 lung cancer cases and 23,305 healthy controls were analysed. Unconditional logistic regression models and generalised estimating equations were used to estimate odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals. RESULTS: Individuals with a first-degree relative with lung cancer had a 1.51-fold increase in the risk of lung cancer, after adjustment for smoking and other potential confounders (95% CI: 1.39, 1.63). The association was strongest for those with a family history in a sibling, after adjustment (odds ratios (OR)=1.82, 95% CI: 1.62, 2.05). No modifying effect by histologic type was found. Never smokers showed a lower association with positive familial history of lung cancer (OR=1.25, 95% CI: 1.03, 1.52), slightly stronger for those with an affected sibling (OR=1.44, 95% CI: 1.07, 1.93), after adjustment. CONCLUSIONS: The occurrence of lung cancer among never smokers and similar magnitudes of the effect of family history on lung cancer risk across histological types suggests familial aggregation of lung cancer is independent of those risks associated with cigarette smoking. While the role of genetic variation in the aetiology of lung cancer remains to be fully characterised, family history assessment is immediately available and those with a positive history represent a higher risk group.

• Welding and Lung Cancer in Central and Eastern Europe and the United Kingdom.

  Authors: Andrea 't Mannetje, Paul Brennan, David Zaridze, Neonila Szeszenia-Dabrowska, Peter Rudnai, Jolanta Lissowska, Eleonóra Fabiánová, Adrian Cassidy, Dana Mates, Vladimir Bencko, Lenka Foretova, Vladimir Janout, Joelle Fevotte, Tony Fletcher, Paolo Boffetta

  American journal of epidemiology. 02/2012;

  Occupation as a welder has been associated with a 25%-40% increase in lung cancer risk. This study aims to elucidate to what extent confounding by smoking and asbestos drives this association and toOccupation as a welder has been associated with a 25%-40% increase in lung cancer risk. This study aims to elucidate to what extent confounding by smoking and asbestos drives this association and to evaluate the role of welding-related exposures such as chromium. The study included 2,197 male incident lung cancer cases and 2,295 controls from Romania, Hungary, Poland, Russia, Slovakia, the Czech Republic, and the United Kingdom from 1998 to 2001. Information on risk factors was collected through face-to-face interviews. Experts assessed exposure to 70 agents, and risk estimates were adjusted for smoking and occupational exposures. Occupation as a welder/flame cutter (prevalence controls: 3.7%) was associated with an odds ratio of 1.36 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.00, 1.86) after adjustment for smoking and occupational exposures including asbestos. An odds ratio of 1.18 (95% CI: 1.01, 1.38) was found for welding fumes (prevalence controls: 22.8%), increasing to 1.38 for more than 25 exposure years (95% CI: 1.09, 1.75). A duration-response association was also observed for mild steel welding without chromium exposure. In this population, occupational exposure to welding fumes accounted for approximately 4% of lung cancer cases, to which both stainless and mild steel welding contributed equally. Given that welding remains a common task for many workers, exposure to welding fumes represents an important risk factor for lung cancer.

• Arsenic and Basal Cell Carcinoma in Areas of Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia: A Case-Control Study.

  Authors: Giovanni Leonardi, Marie Vahter, Felicity Clemens, Walter Goessler, Eugen Gurzau, Kari Hemminki, Rupert Hough, Kvetoslava Koppova, Rajiv Kumar, Peter Rudnai, Simona Surdu, Tony Fletcher

  Environmental health perspectives. 01/2012;

  Background: Inorganic arsenic (As) is a potent carcinogen, but there is a lack of information about cancer risk for concentrations below 100 µg/L in drinking water. Objectives: This study aimed toBackground: Inorganic arsenic (As) is a potent carcinogen, but there is a lack of information about cancer risk for concentrations below 100 µg/L in drinking water. Objectives: This study aimed to quantify skin cancer relative risks in relation to As exposure below 100 µg/L and the modifying effects of As metabolism. Methods: A case-control study was conducted in areas of Hungary, Romania, and Slovakia with reported presence of As in groundwater. Cases were consecutively diagnosed and histologically confirmed cases of basal cell carcinoma of skin (BCC), and controls were general surgery, orthopedic, and trauma patients frequency matched to cases by age, gender and area of residence. Exposure indices were constructed based on information on As intake over lifetime of participants. As metabolism status was classified based on urinary concentrations of methylarsonic acid (MA) and dimethylarsinic acid (DMA). Associations were estimated by multivariable logistic regression. Results: The study recruited 529 cases of BCC and 540 controls. BCC was positively associated with three indices of As exposure: peak daily As dose rate, cumulative As dose, and lifetime average water As concentration. The adjusted odds ratio per 10 µg/L increase in average lifetime water As concentration was 1.18 (95% CI 1.08-1.28). The estimated effect of As on cancer was stronger in participants with urinary markers indicating incomplete metabolism of As, i.e. higher percentage of MA in urine or a lower percentage of DMA. Conclusion: We found a positive association between BCC and exposure to As through drinking water with concentrations below 100 µg/L.

• A genome-wide association study identifies a novel susceptibility locus for renal cell carcinoma on 12p11.23.

  Authors: Xifeng Wu, Ghislaine Scelo, Mark P Purdue, Nathaniel Rothman, Mattias Johansson, Yuanqing Ye, Zhaoming Wang, Diana Zelenika, Lee E Moore, Christopher G Wood [......] Doris Lechner, Amy Hutchinson, Meredith Yeager, Joseph F Fraumeni, Mark Lathrop, Konstantin G Skryabin, James D McKay, Jian Gu, Paul Brennan, Stephen J Chanock

  Human molecular genetics. 01/2012; 21(2):456-62.

  Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most lethal urologic cancer. Only two common susceptibility loci for RCC have been confirmed to date. To identify additional RCC common susceptibility loci, weRenal cell carcinoma (RCC) is the most lethal urologic cancer. Only two common susceptibility loci for RCC have been confirmed to date. To identify additional RCC common susceptibility loci, we conducted an independent genome-wide association study (GWAS). We analyzed 533 191 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for association with RCC in 894 cases and 1516 controls of European descent recruited from MD Anderson Cancer Center in the primary scan, and validated the top 500 SNPs in silico in 3772 cases and 8505 controls of European descent involved in the only published GWAS of RCC. We identified two common variants in linkage disequilibrium, rs718314 and rs1049380 (r(2) = 0.64, D ' = 0.84), in the inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor, type 2 (ITPR2) gene on 12p11.23 as novel susceptibility loci for RCC (P = 8.89 × 10(-10) and P = 6.07 × 10(-9), respectively, in meta-analysis) with an allelic odds ratio of 1.19 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.13-1.26] for rs718314 and 1.18 (95% CI: 1.12-1.25) for rs1049380. It has been recently identified that rs718314 in ITPR2 is associated with waist-hip ratio (WHR) phenotype. To our knowledge, this is the first genetic locus associated with both cancer risk and WHR.

• Diet and the risk of head and neck cancer: a pooled analysis in the INHANCE consortium.

  Authors: Shu-Chun Chuang, Mazda Jenab, Julia E Heck, Cristina Bosetti, Renato Talamini, Keitaro Matsuo, Xavier Castellsague, Silvia Franceschi, Rolando Herrero, Deborah M Winn [......] David I Conway, Peter Thomson, Eleonora Fabianova, Ariana Znaor, Peter Rudnai, Claire M Healy, Gilles Ferro, Paul Brennan, Paolo Boffetta, Mia Hashibe

  Cancer causes & control : CCC. 01/2012; 23(1):69-88.

  We investigated the association between diet and head and neck cancer (HNC) risk using data from the International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology (INHANCE) consortium. The INHANCE pooled dataWe investigated the association between diet and head and neck cancer (HNC) risk using data from the International Head and Neck Cancer Epidemiology (INHANCE) consortium. The INHANCE pooled data included 22 case-control studies with 14,520 cases and 22,737 controls. Center-specific quartiles among the controls were used for food groups, and frequencies per week were used for single food items. A dietary pattern score combining high fruit and vegetable intake and low red meat intake was created. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for the dietary items on the risk of HNC were estimated with a two-stage random-effects logistic regression model. An inverse association was observed for higher-frequency intake of fruit (4th vs. 1st quartile OR = 0.52, 95% CI = 0.43-0.62, p (trend) < 0.01) and vegetables (OR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.49-0.90, p (trend) = 0.01). Intake of red meat (OR = 1.40, 95% CI = 1.13-1.74, p (trend) = 0.13) and processed meat (OR = 1.37, 95% CI = 1.14-1.65, p (trend) < 0.01) was positively associated with HNC risk. Higher dietary pattern scores, reflecting high fruit/vegetable and low red meat intake, were associated with reduced HNC risk (per score increment OR = 0.90, 95% CI = 0.84-0.97).

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• Asthma and lung cancer risk: a systematic investigation by the International Lung Cancer Consortium.

  Authors: Albert Rosenberger, Heike Bickeböller, Valerie McCormack, Darren R Brenner, Eric J Duell, Anne Tjønneland, Soren Friis, Joshua E Muscat, Ping Yang, H-Erich Wichmann [......] Loic Lemarchand, Monica Neri, Stefano Bonassi, Angeline S Andrew, Qing Lan, Wei Hu, Irene Orlow, Bernard J Park, Paolo Boffetta, Rayjean J Hung

  Carcinogenesis. 12/2011; 33(3):587-97.

  Asthma has been hypothesized to be associated with lung cancer (LC) risk. We conducted a pooled analysis of 16 studies in the International Lung Cancer Consortium (ILCCO) to quantitatively assessAsthma has been hypothesized to be associated with lung cancer (LC) risk. We conducted a pooled analysis of 16 studies in the International Lung Cancer Consortium (ILCCO) to quantitatively assess this association and compared the results with 36 previously published studies. In total, information from 585 444 individuals was used. Study-specific measures were combined using random effects models. A meta-regression and subgroup meta-analyses were performed to identify sources of heterogeneity. The overall LC relative risk (RR) associated with asthma was 1.28 [95% confidence intervals (CIs) = 1.16-1.41] but with large heterogeneity (I(2) = 73%, P < 0.001) between studies. Among ILCCO studies, an increased risk was found for squamous cell (RR = 1.69, 95%, CI = 1.26-2.26) and for small-cell carcinoma (RR = 1.71, 95% CI = 0.99-2.95) but was weaker for adenocarcinoma (RR = 1.09, 95% CI = 0.88-1.36). The increased LC risk was strongest in the 2 years after asthma diagnosis (RR = 2.13, 95% CI = 1.09-4.17) but subjects diagnosed with asthma over 10 years prior had no or little increased LC risk (RR = 1.10, 95% CI = 0.94-1.30). Because the increased incidence of LC was chiefly observed in small cell and squamous cell lung carcinomas, primarily within 2 years of asthma diagnosis and because the association was weak among never smokers, we conclude that the association may not reflect a causal effect of asthma on the risk of LC.

• Cigarette smoking and lung cancer-relative risk estimates for the major histological types from a pooled analysis of case-control studies.

  Authors: Beate Pesch, Benjamin Kendzia, Per Gustavsson, Karl-Heinz Jöckel, Georg Johnen, Hermann Pohlabeln, Ann Olsson, Wolfgang Ahrens, Isabelle Mercedes Gross, Irene Brüske [......] Eleonora Fabianova, Rodica Stanescu Dumitru, Vladimir Bencko, Lenka Foretova, Vladimir Janout, Charles M Rudin, Paul Brennan, Paolo Boffetta, Kurt Straif, Thomas Brüning

  International journal of cancer. Journal international du cancer. 11/2011;

  Lung cancer is mainly caused by smoking, but the quantitative relations between smoking and histologic subtypes of lung cancer remain inconclusive. By using one of the largest lung cancer datasetsLung cancer is mainly caused by smoking, but the quantitative relations between smoking and histologic subtypes of lung cancer remain inconclusive. By using one of the largest lung cancer datasets ever assembled, we explored the impact of smoking on risks of the major cell types of lung cancer. This pooled analysis included 13,169 cases and 16,010 controls from Europe and Canada. Studies with population controls comprised 66.5% of the subjects. Adenocarcinoma (AdCa) was the most prevalent subtype in never smokers and in women. Squamous cell carcinoma (SqCC) predominated in male smokers. Age-adjusted odds ratios (ORs) were estimated with logistic regression. ORs were elevated for all metrics of exposure to cigarette smoke and were higher for SqCC and small cell lung cancer (SCLC) than for AdCa. Current male smokers with an average daily dose of >30 cigarettes had ORs of 103.5 (95% confidence interval (CI): 74.8-143.2) for SqCC, 111.3 (95% CI: 69.8-177.5) for SCLC and 21.9 (95% CI: 16.6-29.0) for AdCa. In women, the corresponding ORs were 62.7 (95% CI: 31.5-124.6), 108.6 (95% CI: 50.7-232.8) and 16.8 (95% CI: 9.2-30.6), respectively. Although ORs started to decline soon after quitting, they did not fully return to the baseline risk of never smokers even 35 years after cessation. The major result that smoking exerted a steeper risk gradient on SqCC and SCLC than on AdCa is in line with previous population data and biological understanding of lung cancer development.

• Lung cancer risk attributable to occupational exposures in a multicenter case-control study in Central and Eastern Europe.

  Authors: Ann C Olsson, Per Gustavsson, David Zaridze, Anush Mukeriya, Neonila Szeszenia-Dabrowska, Peter Rudnai, Jolanta Lissowska, Eleonora Fabianova, Dana Mates, Vladimir Bencko, Lenka Foretova, Vladimir Janout, Joelle Fevotte, Andrea 't Mannetje, Tony Fletcher, Paul Brennan, Paolo Boffetta

  Journal of occupational and environmental medicine / American College of Occupational and Environmental Medicine. 11/2011; 53(11):1262-7.

  To estimate the lung cancer risk attributable to occupational lung carcinogens. Information was collected through interviews from 2624 newly diagnosed lung cancer cases and 2690 frequency-matchedTo estimate the lung cancer risk attributable to occupational lung carcinogens. Information was collected through interviews from 2624 newly diagnosed lung cancer cases and 2690 frequency-matched controls in Central and Eastern Europe. Industrial hygiene experts evaluated exposure to 70 occupational agents. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using unconditional logistic regression and attributable fractions (AF) by Miettinen's formula. Exposure to at least one occupational lung carcinogen resulted in an AF of 7.9% in men and 1.4% in women. Metals and silica contributed the most to the AF. The AF was highest for squamous cell carcinoma among men (11.4%) and for small cell carcinoma among women (7.1%); the effect of occupational lung carcinogens was stronger overall among current smokers. This estimation of the AF of occupational lung carcinogens is comparable to that estimated in other European studies, and cannot alone explain the high lung cancer rates in Central and Eastern Europe.

• Occupational exposure to metal compounds and lung cancer. Results from a multi-center case-control study in Central/Eastern Europe and UK.

  Authors: Andrea 't Mannetje, Vladimir Bencko, Paul Brennan, David Zaridze, Neonila Szeszenia-Dabrowska, Peter Rudnai, Jolanta Lissowska, Eleonóra Fabiánová, Adrian Cassidy, Dana Mates, Lenka Foretova, Vladimir Janout, Joelle Fevotte, Tony Fletcher, Paolo Boffetta

  Cancer causes & control : CCC. 09/2011; 22(12):1669-80.

  To study the association between occupational exposure to metals including chromium, cadmium, nickel, and arsenic compounds, within a population-based study design, while adjusting for confoundingTo study the association between occupational exposure to metals including chromium, cadmium, nickel, and arsenic compounds, within a population-based study design, while adjusting for confounding factors. A population-based lung cancer case-control study in Central/Eastern Europe and UK was conducted in 1998-2003, including 2,853 cases and 3,104 controls. Exposure to 70 occupational agents was assessed by local expert-teams for all subjects. Odds ratios (OR) for exposure to dust and fumes/mist of chromium, nickel, cadmium, arsenic, as well as inorganic pigment dust and inorganic acid mist, were adjusting for smoking, age, center, sex, and exposure to other occupational agents including the metals under study. Exposure to arsenic (prevalence = 1.4%) was associated with an increased lung cancer risk ((OR) 1.65, 95% confidence interval (95% CI):1.05-2.58). For chromium dust (prevalence = 4.8%, OR: 1.25, 95% CI: 0.95-1.65), a linear upward trend for duration and cumulative exposure was observed. A weak association was observed for exposure to cadmium fumes (prevalence = 1.8%, OR: 1.19, 95% CI: 0.77-1.82), which was strongest for the highest category of cumulative exposure (OR: 2.04, 95% CI: 1.07-3.90). No increased risk was observed for inorganic acid mist, inorganic pigment dust, or nickel, after adjustment for other metals. An independent effect of nickel cannot be excluded, due to its collinearity with chromium exposure. Occupational exposure to metals is an important risk factor for lung cancer. Although the strongest risk was observed for arsenic, exposure to chromium dust was most important in terms of attributable risk due to its high prevalence.

• A germline variant in the TP53 polyadenylation signal confers cancer susceptibility.

  Authors: Simon N Stacey, Patrick Sulem, Aslaug Jonasdottir, Gisli Masson, Julius Gudmundsson, Daniel F Gudbjartsson, Olafur T Magnusson, Sigurjon A Gudjonsson, Bardur Sigurgeirsson, Kristin Thorisdottir [......] Eduardo Nagore, Ulla Vogel, Lambertus A Kiemeney, Rajiv Kumar, José I Mayordomo, Jon H Olafsson, Augustine Kong, Unnur Thorsteinsdottir, Thorunn Rafnar, Kari Stefansson

  Nature genetics. 09/2011; 43(11):1098-103.

  To identify new risk variants for cutaneous basal cell carcinoma, we performed a genome-wide association study of 16 million SNPs identified through whole-genome sequencing of 457 Icelanders. WeTo identify new risk variants for cutaneous basal cell carcinoma, we performed a genome-wide association study of 16 million SNPs identified through whole-genome sequencing of 457 Icelanders. We imputed genotypes for 41,675 Illumina SNP chip-typed Icelanders and their relatives. In the discovery phase, the strongest signal came from rs78378222[C] (odds ratio (OR) = 2.36, P = 5.2 × 10(-17)), which has a frequency of 0.0192 in the Icelandic population. We then confirmed this association in non-Icelandic samples (OR = 1.75, P = 0.0060; overall OR = 2.16, P = 2.2 × 10(-20)). rs78378222 is in the 3' untranslated region of TP53 and changes the AATAAA polyadenylation signal to AATACA, resulting in impaired 3'-end processing of TP53 mRNA. Investigation of other tumor types identified associations of this SNP with prostate cancer (OR = 1.44, P = 2.4 × 10(-6)), glioma (OR = 2.35, P = 1.0 × 10(-5)) and colorectal adenoma (OR = 1.39, P = 1.6 × 10(-4)). However, we observed no effect for breast cancer, a common Li-Fraumeni syndrome tumor (OR = 1.06, P = 0.57, 95% confidence interval 0.88-1.27).

• Genome-wide association study of HPV seropositivity.

  Authors: Dan Chen, James D McKay, Gary Clifford, Valérie Gaborieau, Amélie Chabrier, Tim Waterboer, David Zaridze, Jolanta Lissowska, Peter Rudnai, Eleonora Fabianova [......] Victor Wünsch-Filho, José Eluf-Neto, Leticia Fernández Garrote, Elena Matos, Diana Zelenika, Anne Boland, Paolo Boffetta, Michael Pawlita, Mark Lathrop, Paul Brennan

  Human molecular genetics. 09/2011; 20(23):4714-23.

  High-risk α mucosal types of human papillomavirus (HPV) cause anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers, whereas β cutaneous HPV types (e.g. HPV8) have been implicated in non-melanoma skin cancer.High-risk α mucosal types of human papillomavirus (HPV) cause anogenital and oropharyngeal cancers, whereas β cutaneous HPV types (e.g. HPV8) have been implicated in non-melanoma skin cancer. Although antibodies against the capsid protein L1 of HPV are considered as markers of cumulative exposure, not all infected persons seroconvert. To identify common genetic variants that influence HPV seroconversion, we performed a two-stage genome-wide association study. Genome-wide genotyping of 316 015 single nucleotide polymorphisms was carried out using the Illumina HumanHap300 BeadChip in 4811 subjects from a central European case-control study of lung, head and neck and kidney cancer that had serology data available on 13 HPV types. Only one association met genome-wide significance criteria, namely that between HPV8 seropositivity and rs9357152 [odds ratio (OR) = 1.37, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.24-1.50 for the minor allele G; P=1.2 × 10(-10)], a common genetic variant (minor allele frequency=0.33) located within the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) II region at 6p21.32. This association was subsequently replicated in an independent set of 2344 subjects from a Latin American case-control study of head and neck cancer (OR=1.35, 95% CI=1.18-1.56, P=2.2 × 10(-5)), yielding P=1.3 × 10(-14) in the combined analysis (P-heterogeneity=0.87). No heterogeneity was noted by cancer status (controls/lung cancer cases/head and neck cancer cases/kidney cancer cases). This study provides a proof of principle that genetic variation plays a role in antibody reactivity to HPV infection.

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• An examination of male and female odds ratios by BMI, cigarette smoking, and alcohol consumption for cancers of the oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx in pooled data from 15 case-control studies.

  Authors: Jay H Lubin, Joshua Muscat, Mia M Gaudet, Andrew F Olshan, Maria Paula Curado, Luigino Dal Maso, Victor Wünsch-Filho, Erich M Sturgis, Neonilia Szeszenia-Dabrowska, Xavier Castellsague [......] Stephen M Schwartz, Paolo Boffetta, Paul Brennan, Ana Menezes, Carlo La Vecchia, Michael McClean, Renato Talamini, Thangarajan Rajkumar, Richard B Hayes, Mia Hashibe

  Cancer causes & control : CCC. 09/2011; 22(9):1217-31.

  Greater tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption and lower body mass index (BMI) increase odds ratios (OR) for oral cavity, oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, and laryngeal cancers; however, there are noGreater tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption and lower body mass index (BMI) increase odds ratios (OR) for oral cavity, oropharyngeal, hypopharyngeal, and laryngeal cancers; however, there are no comprehensive sex-specific comparisons of ORs for these factors. We analyzed 2,441 oral cavity (925 women and 1,516 men), 2,297 oropharynx (564 women and 1,733 men), 508 hypopharynx (96 women and 412 men), and 1,740 larynx (237 women and 1,503 men) cases from the INHANCE consortium of 15 head and neck cancer case-control studies. Controls numbered from 7,604 to 13,829 subjects, depending on analysis. Analyses fitted linear-exponential excess ORs models. ORs were increased in underweight (< 18.5 BMI) relative to normal weight (18.5-24.9) and reduced in overweight and obese categories (≥ 25 BMI) for all sites and were homogeneous by sex. ORs by smoking and drinking in women compared with men were significantly greater for oropharyngeal cancer (p < 0.01 for both factors), suggestive for hypopharyngeal cancer (p = 0.05 and p = 0.06, respectively), but homogeneous for oral cavity (p = 0.56 and p = 0.64) and laryngeal (p = 0.18 and p = 0.72) cancers. The extent that OR modifications of smoking and drinking by sex for oropharyngeal and, possibly, hypopharyngeal cancers represent true associations, or derive from unmeasured confounders or unobserved sex-related disease subtypes (e.g., human papillomavirus-positive oropharyngeal cancer) remains to be clarified.

• Interaction between functional polymorphic variants in cytokine genes, established risk factors and susceptibility to basal cell carcinoma of skin.

  Authors: Cosmeri Rizzato, Federico Canzian, Peter Rudnai, Eugen Gurzau, Angelika Stein, Kvetoslava Koppova, Kari Hemminki, Rajiv Kumar, Daniele Campa

  Carcinogenesis. 08/2011; 32(12):1849-54.

  Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the skin is the most common neoplasm among the Caucasian population of the Western world. Inflammation may result in oxidative stress and contribute to promotion andBasal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the skin is the most common neoplasm among the Caucasian population of the Western world. Inflammation may result in oxidative stress and contribute to promotion and progression of tumors, including BCC. The role of cytokines, which are inflammatory modulators, in the biology of tumors has been extensively studied and it is well known that they are aberrantly produced by cancer cells, macrophages and other phagocytic cells. Genetic polymorphisms are known in several cytokine genes, which result in altered expression. In the present association study, we investigated the association of 14 functional polymorphisms in 11 cytokines genes with BCC risk in 529 BCC cases and 532 healthy controls. We have also tested the possible interactions between the genetic variants and three known risk factors for BCC: skin complexion, sun effect and skin response to sun exposure. We did not observe any statistically significant association between SNPs and BCC risk. However, we found that, in a subgroup of subjects more prone to skin burns, carriers of at least one copy of the G allele of rs1800629 (TNF) had an increased risk of BCC [odds ratio (OR) = 2.40, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.38-4.16, P = 0.0005]. Moreover, in subjects less prone to sunburns, we observed that carriers of the C allele of rs1143627 (IL1B) showed a decreased risk (OR = 0.53, 95% CI 0.34-0.82, P = 0.0019). In conclusion, we found that two polymorphisms in inflammatory genes interacting with environmental risk factors could modulate BCC risk.

• Occupational exposure to organic dust increases lung cancer risk in the general population.

  Authors: Susan Peters, Hans Kromhout, Ann C Olsson, Heinz-Erich Wichmann, Irene Brüske, Dario Consonni, Maria Teresa Landi, Neil Caporaso, Jack Siemiatycki, Lorenzo Richiardi [......] Vladimir Janout, Isabelle Stücker, Rodica Stanescu Dumitru, Simone Benhamou, Bas Bueno-de-Mesquita, Benjamin Kendzia, Beate Pesch, Kurt Straif, Thomas Brüning, Roel Vermeulen

  Thorax. 08/2011; 67(2):111-6.

  Organic dust is a complex mixture of particulate matter from microbial, plant or animal origin. Occupations with exposure to animal products have been associated with an increased lung cancer risk,Organic dust is a complex mixture of particulate matter from microbial, plant or animal origin. Occupations with exposure to animal products have been associated with an increased lung cancer risk, while exposure to microbial components (eg, endotoxin) has been associated with a decreased risk. To date there has not been a comprehensive evaluation of the possible association between occupational organic dust exposure (and its specific constituents) and lung cancer risk in the general population. The SYNERGY project has pooled information on lifetime working and smoking from 13 300 lung cancer cases and 16 273 controls from 11 case-control studies conducted in Europe and Canada. A newly developed general population job-exposure matrix (assigning no, low or high exposure to organic dust, endotoxin, and contact with animals or fresh animal products) was applied to determine level of exposure. ORs for lung cancer were estimated by logistic regression, adjusted for age, sex, study, cigarette pack-years, time since quitting smoking, and ever employment in occupations with established lung cancer risk. Occupational organic dust exposure was associated with increased lung cancer risk. The second to the fourth quartile of cumulative exposure showed significant risk estimates ranging from 1.12 to 1.24 in a dose-dependent manner (p<0.001). This association remained in the highest quartile after restricting analyses to subjects without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease or asthma. No association was observed between lung cancer and exposure to endotoxin or contact with animals or animal products. Occupational exposure to organic dust was associated with increased lung cancer risk in this large pooled case-control study.

• Acetaldehyde level in spirits from central European countries.

  Authors: Paolo Boffetta, Pertti Kaihovaara, Peter Rudnai, Ariana Znaor, Jolanta Lissowska, Beata Swiatkowska, Dana Mates, Tamas Pandics, Mikko Salaspuro

  European journal of cancer prevention : the official journal of the European Cancer Prevention Organisation (ECP). 07/2011; 20(6):526-9.

  Intake of acetaldehyde in alcoholic beverages, in central Europe, might explain the high rate of alcohol-related diseases in these countries. We measured the acetaldehyde level in 30 samples ofIntake of acetaldehyde in alcoholic beverages, in central Europe, might explain the high rate of alcohol-related diseases in these countries. We measured the acetaldehyde level in 30 samples of home-made spirits and 12 samples of industry-made spirits from four central European countries, including 35 fruit-based and five grain-based spirits. Acetaldehyde was detected in all fruit-based spirits and in none of the grain-based spirits. Acetaldehyde levels were above 2000 µmol/l in 12 samples, 11 of which were home-made. In a multivariate analysis restricted to fruit-based spirits, however, the difference between home-made and industry-based spirits was not statistically significant. These results add evidence to the hypothesis that intake of acetaldehyde in alcoholic beverages, in central Europe, contributes to the burden of alcohol-related disease, especially that of upper digestive tract cancers. The acetaldehyde level should be monitored and high-level exposure should be avoided.

• European genome-wide association study identifies SLC14A1 as a new urinary bladder cancer susceptibility gene.

  Authors: Thorunn Rafnar, Sita H Vermeulen, Patrick Sulem, Gudmar Thorleifsson, Katja K Aben, J Alfred Witjes, Anne J Grotenhuis, Gerald W Verhaegh, Christina A Hulsbergen-van de Kaa, Soren Besenbacher [......] Klaus Golka, José I Mayordomo, Giuseppe Matullo, Rajiv Kumar, Gunnar Steineck, Anne E Kiltie, Augustine Kong, Unnur Thorsteinsdottir, Kari Stefansson, Lambertus A Kiemeney

  Human molecular genetics. 07/2011; 20(21):4268-81.

  Three genome-wide association studies in Europe and the USA have reported eight urinary bladder cancer (UBC) susceptibility loci. Using extended case and control series and 1000 Genomes imputationsThree genome-wide association studies in Europe and the USA have reported eight urinary bladder cancer (UBC) susceptibility loci. Using extended case and control series and 1000 Genomes imputations of 5 340 737 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), we searched for additional loci in the European GWAS. The discovery sample set consisted of 1631 cases and 3822 controls from the Netherlands and 603 cases and 37 781 controls from Iceland. For follow-up, we used 3790 cases and 7507 controls from 13 sample sets of European and Iranian ancestry. Based on the discovery analysis, we followed up signals in the urea transporter (UT) gene SLC14A. The strongest signal at this locus was represented by a SNP in intron 3, rs17674580, that reached genome-wide significance in the overall analysis of the discovery and follow-up groups: odds ratio = 1.17, P = 7.6 × 10(-11). SLC14A1 codes for UTs that define the Kidd blood group and are crucial for the maintenance of a constant urea concentration gradient in the renal medulla and, through this, the kidney's ability to concentrate urine. It is speculated that rs17674580, or other sequence variants in LD with it, indirectly modifies UBC risk by affecting urine production. If confirmed, this would support the 'urogenous contact hypothesis' that urine production and voiding frequency modify the risk of UBC.

• POMC and TP53 genetic variability and risk of basal cell carcinoma of skin: Interaction between host and genetic factors.

  Authors: Cosmeri Rizzato, Dominique Scherer, Peter Rudnai, Eugen Gurzau, Kvetoslava Koppova, Kari Hemminki, Federico Canzian, Rajiv Kumar, Daniele Campa

  Journal of dermatological science. 07/2011; 63(1):47-54.

  Basal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the skin is the most common neoplasm among the Caucasian population of the western world. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation-induced p53 activation promotes cutaneousBasal cell carcinoma (BCC) of the skin is the most common neoplasm among the Caucasian population of the western world. Ultraviolet (UV) radiation-induced p53 activation promotes cutaneous pigmentation by increasing transcriptional activity of pro-opiomelanocortin (POMC) in the skin. Induction of POMC/α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) activates the melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R), resulting in skin pigmentation. The tumor suppressor p53 is a key player in stress responses that preserve genomic stability, responding to a variety of insults including DNA damage, hypoxia, metabolic stress and oncogene activation. Malfunction of the p53 pathway is an almost universal hallmark of human tumors. Polymorphisms in the gene encoding p53 (TP53) alter its transcriptional activity, which in turn may influence the UV radiation-induced tanning response. The aim of the present work is to test association between POMC and TP53 genetic variability, the possible interplay with host factors and the risk of basal cell carcinoma of skin. We covered the variability of the two genes we used 17 tagging polymorphisms in 529 BCC cases and 532 healthy controls. We have also tested the possible interactions between the genetic variants and three known risk factors for BCC: skin complexion, sun effect and skin response to sun exposure. We did not observe any statistically significant association between SNPs in these two genes and BCC risk overall, nor interactions of SNPs with known BCC risk factors. However we found that, in the group of subjects with lower sun exposure, carriers of one copy of the C allele of the TP53 SNP rs12951053 had a decreased risk of BCC (OR=0.28, 95% CI 0.12-0.62, P=0.002). We have observed that the interplay of an environmental risk factor and one polymorphism in TP53 gene could modulate the risk of BCC.

• Correction: A Genome-Wide Association Study of Upper Aerodigestive Tract Cancers Conducted within the INHANCE Consortium.

  Authors: James D McKay, Therese Truong, Valerie Gaborieau, Amelie Chabrier, Shu-Chun Chuang, Graham Byrnes, David Zaridze, Oxana Shangina, Neonila Szeszenia-Dabrowska, Jolanta Lissowska [......] Doris Lechner, Hélène Blanché, Ivo G Gut, Pilar Galan, Simon Heath, Mia Hashibe, Richard B Hayes, Paolo Boffetta, Mark Lathrop, Paul Brennan

  PLoS genetics. 04/2011; 7(4).

  [This corrects the article on p. e1001333 in vol. 7.].

• A genome-wide association study of upper aerodigestive tract cancers conducted within the INHANCE consortium.

  Authors: James D McKay, Therese Truong, Valerie Gaborieau, Amelie Chabrier, Shu-Chun Chuang, Graham Byrnes, David Zaridze, Oxana Shangina, Neonila Szeszenia-Dabrowska, Jolanta Lissowska [......] Doris Lechner, Hélène Blanché, Ivo G Gut, Pilar Galan, Simon Heath, Mia Hashibe, Richard B Hayes, Paolo Boffetta, Mark Lathrop, Paul Brennan

  PLoS genetics. 03/2011; 7(3):e1001333.

  Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been successful in identifying common genetic variation involved in susceptibility to etiologically complex disease. We conducted a GWAS to identify commonGenome-wide association studies (GWAS) have been successful in identifying common genetic variation involved in susceptibility to etiologically complex disease. We conducted a GWAS to identify common genetic variation involved in susceptibility to upper aero-digestive tract (UADT) cancers. Genome-wide genotyping was carried out using the Illumina HumanHap300 beadchips in 2,091 UADT cancer cases and 3,513 controls from two large European multi-centre UADT cancer studies, as well as 4,821 generic controls. The 19 top-ranked variants were investigated further in an additional 6,514 UADT cancer cases and 7,892 controls of European descent from an additional 13 UADT cancer studies participating in the INHANCE consortium. Five common variants presented evidence for significant association in the combined analysis (p ≤ 5 × 10⁻⁷). Two novel variants were identified, a 4q21 variant (rs1494961, p = 1×10⁻⁸) located near DNA repair related genes HEL308 and FAM175A (or Abraxas) and a 12q24 variant (rs4767364, p =2 × 10⁻⁸) located in an extended linkage disequilibrium region that contains multiple genes including the aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) gene. Three remaining variants are located in the ADH gene cluster and were identified previously in a candidate gene study involving some of these samples. The association between these three variants and UADT cancers was independently replicated in 5,092 UADT cancer cases and 6,794 controls non-overlapping samples presented here (rs1573496-ADH7, p = 5 × 10⁻⁸); rs1229984-ADH1B, p = 7 × 10⁻⁹; and rs698-ADH1C, p = 0.02). These results implicate two variants at 4q21 and 12q24 and further highlight three ADH variants in UADT cancer susceptibility.

• In-home coal and wood use and lung cancer risk: a pooled analysis of the International Lung Cancer Consortium.

  Authors: H Dean Hosgood, Paolo Boffetta, Sander Greenland, Yuan-Chin Amy Lee, John McLaughlin, Adeline Seow, Eric J Duell, Angeline S Andrew, David Zaridze, Neonila Szeszenia-Dabrowska [......] Eleonóra Fabiánová, Dana Mates, Vladimir Bencko, Lenka Foretova, Vladimir Janout, Hal Morgenstern, Nathaniel Rothman, Rayjean J Hung, Paul Brennan, Qing Lan

  Environmental health perspectives. 12/2010; 118(12):1743-7.

  Domestic fuel combustion from cooking and heating is an important public health issue because roughly 3 billion people are exposed worldwide. Recently, the International Agency for Research on CancerDomestic fuel combustion from cooking and heating is an important public health issue because roughly 3 billion people are exposed worldwide. Recently, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified indoor emissions from household coal combustion as a human carcinogen (group 1) and from biomass fuel (primarily wood) as a probable human carcinogen (group 2A). We pooled seven studies from the International Lung Cancer Consortium (5,105 cases and 6,535 controls) to provide further epidemiological evaluation of the association between in-home solid-fuel use, particularly wood, and lung cancer risk. Using questionnaire data, we classified subjects as predominant solid-fuel users (e.g., coal, wood) or nonsolid-fuel users (e.g., oil, gas, electricity). Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and to compute 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for age, sex, education, smoking status, race/ethnicity, and study center. Compared with nonsolid-fuel users, predominant coal users (OR = 1.64; 95% CI, 1.49-1.81), particularly coal users in Asia (OR = 4.93; 95% CI, 3.73-6.52), and predominant wood users in North American and European countries (OR = 1.21; 95% CI, 1.06-1.38) experienced higher risk of lung cancer. The results were similar in never-smoking women and other subgroups. Our results are consistent with previous observations pertaining to in-home coal use and lung cancer risk, support the hypothesis of a carcinogenic potential of in-home wood use, and point to the need for more detailed study of factors affecting these associations.