Faculty Collaboration Database

Risk factors for pancreatic cancer: case-control study. Am J Gastroenterol 2007 Dec;102(12):2696-707

Date

09/04/2007

Pubmed ID

17764494

Pubmed Central ID

PMC2423805

DOI

10.1111/j.1572-0241.2007.01510.x

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-36549023912 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   258 Citations

Abstract

OBJECTIVES: Although cigarette smoking is the most well-established environmental risk factor for pancreatic cancer, the interaction between smoking and other risk factors has not been assessed. We evaluated the independent effects of multiple risk factors for pancreatic cancer and determined whether the magnitude of cigarette smoking was modified by other risk factors in men and women.

METHODS: We conducted a hospital-based case-control study involving 808 patients with pathologically diagnosed pancreatic cancer and 808 healthy frequency-matched controls. Information on risk factors was collected by personal interview, and unconditional logistic regression was used to determine adjusted odds ratios (AORs) by the maximum-likelihood method.

RESULTS: Cigarette smoking, family history of pancreatic cancer, heavy alcohol consumption (>60 mL ethanol/day), diabetes mellitus, and history of pancreatitis were significant risk factors for pancreatic cancer. We found synergistic interactions between cigarette smoking and family history of pancreatic cancer (AOR 12.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.6-108.9) and diabetes mellitus (AOR 9.3, 95% CI 2.0-44.1) in women, according to an additive model. Approximately 23%, 9%, 3%, and 5% of pancreatic cancer cases in this study were related to cigarette smoking, diabetes mellitus, heavy alcohol consumption, and family history of pancreatic cancer, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS: The significant synergy between these risk factors suggests a common pathway for carcinogenesis of the pancreas. Determining the underlying mechanisms for such synergies may lead to the development of pancreatic cancer prevention strategies for high-risk individuals.

Author List

Hassan MM, Bondy ML, Wolff RA, Abbruzzese JL, Vauthey JN, Pisters PW, Evans DB, Khan R, Chou TH, Lenzi R, Jiao L, Li D

Author

Douglas B. Evans MD Chair, Professor in the Surgery department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Aged
Alcohol Drinking
Case-Control Studies
Chi-Square Distribution
Comorbidity
Diabetes Complications
Female
Humans
Logistic Models
Male
Middle Aged
Pancreatic Neoplasms
Prospective Studies
Risk Factors
Smoking