Lung Cancer 16 (1996) 105-127

ABSTRACTS

Prevention

Epidemiology and etiology

Review of occupational lung carcinogens Steenland K, Loomis D, Shy C, Simonsen N. NIOSH, 4676 Columbia Parkway, Cincitmati. OH 45226. Am J Ind Med 1996;29:474-90.

Lung cancer is the most common mahgnancy in the United States and is ranked second only to bladder cancer in the proportion of cases thought to be due to occupationaJ exposures. We review the epidemiol- ogy of occupational lung cancer, focusing on agents identified as pul- monary carcinogens by the International Agency for Research on Can- cer. We derive estimates of overall relative risks from the major studies of these lung carcinogens, and we also provide estimates of the number of exposed workers. Using our data as well as estimates from other authors, we estimate that approximately 9,000-10,000 men and 900- 1,900 women develop lung cancer annually in the United States due to past exposure to occupational carcinogens. More than haJfof these lung cancers are due to asbestos. This estimate is likely conservative, in that we have restricted our analysis to confirmed lung carcinogens and have ignored occupations with documented excess risk but for which the specific agents are unknown. Also, our estimate of the proportion of workers exposed in the past is probably too low. Our estimate should be viewed only as a broad approximation. Nevertheless, it is in line with

of cases estimated to be due to occupational exposures reflects past high exposures and is likely to drop in the future, unless other occupational lung carcinogens are confirmed or new carcinogens are introduced into the workplace.

Meat consumption and risk ofhmg cancer; A case-control study from Uruguay DeneoPellegrini H, De Stefani E, Ronco A, Mendilaharsu M, Carzoglio JC. Regisim National de Cance,: Avda. Brasil3080 dep 402, Montevi- deo. Lung Cancer 1996;14: 195-205.

A case-control study was conducted at the Instituto National de Oncologia, Uruguay, in order to investigate the relationship between meat consumption and lung cancer risk. The study included 256 cases of lung cancer and 284 controls, frequency matched with the cases on age, residence and urban/rural condition. A significant increase in risk of lung cancer associated with red meat, beef and fried meat was ob- served. The increase in risk was more evident in squamous cell lung cancer. This association remained after controlling for total energy and saturated fat intake, suggesting a possible role of heterocychc amines in lung carcinogenesis.

Primary lung cancer in Mexico city: A report of 1019 C~S Medina PM, Barrera RR, Morales IF, Echegoyen RC, Chavarriz Rebora FT. Servicio Chico No. 3, INER, S.S., Calz. de Tlalpan ‘ B I408OMexico DE Lung Cancer 1996;14:185-93.

A retrospective study was performed in patients diagnosed primary lung cancer, and admitted to the lnstituto Naciom Enfennedades Respimtorias between 1984 to 1992. One thousanc nineteen patients were studied, 636 males and 383 females. We fat higher incidence in the group among 61-70 years of age in both s The highest percentage of tumors were from the adenocarcinoma ety, followed by the epidermoid carcinoma, while the small-cetl c noma presented a lower incidence. Smoking has been associated the development of lung cancer. Many of our patients were smo The highest frequency was in smokers with a smoking habit of than 30 years and a rate of more than 10 cigarettes per day. How an important part of the patients with cancer did not have a smc habit, which led us to believe that there are other etiological possil factors (genetic or environmental) that could be involved. Most a cases of cancer were staged as stage IIJb and stage IV and the pat had an ECOG of l-2. The main symptoms were coughing, spu dyspnea and thoracic pain. This data shows an increasing frequen lung cancer in Mexico city as well as other countries, it also showr it is going to be a serious health problem in the future. We consider in order to improve the prognosis, it is necessary to increase the Ed tional and orientation campaigns among the adult population wi without a smoking history

The impact of smoking habits on lung cancer risk: 28 yer observation of 26,000 Norwegian men and women Engeland A, Haldorsen T, Andersen A, Tretli S. Cancer Registg Norway. Inst. Epidemiological Cancer Res., Montebello, N-031 0 0 Cancer Causes Control 1996; 7:366-76.

While factory-made cigarettes dominate the market in most co tries, the use of handrolled cigarettes accounts for a substantial proJ tion of the tobacco consumption in Norway. In the present study, examined the impact of tobacco smoking on lung cancer in gene and the effect of handrolled cigarettes in particular. The data used I

from a self-administered mailed questionnaire which included qt tions about smoking habits and which was completed by about 26,t men and women in 1964-65. During the follow-up from 1966 to 19 333 lung cancers in men and 102 in women were registered. The anah was performed by use of the Cox proportional hazards regression me els. A clear dose-response relationship was found both for cigars smoking, and for pipe smoking (in men). The dose-response relatil ship of cigarette smoking was seen in ah the three histologic grot considered -squamous cell carcinoma, adenocarcinoma. and small r carcinoma. The highest relative risks were noted in squamous cell a small cell carcinoma. A higher risk of lung cancer was found for cii rette-smoking women who started cigarette smoking before the age 30 compared with similar groups of men. In a combined analysis men and women, an elevated relative risk of 1.9 (95 percent confider