Multiple nonmelanoma skin cancer associated with HLA DR7 in southern Australia

Article Abstract:

Basal cell carcinoma, a form of skin cancer, is especially common in Australia. This cancer has an especially high likelihood of occurring more than once in the same individual. About one third of all patients will develop another basal cell carcinoma within five years. Each year, about 650 new cases of basal cell carcinoma and other skin cancers will occur within a population of 100,000 Australians. As is the case with many cancers, although the majority of cases are sporadic and not inherited, there does seem to be a genetic predisposition among some people. That is, although the cancer itself is not inherited, some people inherit a characteristic, or characteristics, which give them a special susceptibility to skin cancer. Among the most widely studied of inherited characteristics in people is the system of human leukocyte antigens (HLA), which are most important medically because they determine the rejection of transplanted tissues. However, since these antigens seem to be involved with many subtle aspects of immune system function, it is thought they may play a role in the defense against cancer as well. A study was conducted of 34 unrelated patients (30 men and four women) who had developed at least five skin cancers. If HLA antigens are in some way involved in the development of skin cancer, then the frequency of different HLA antigens within the patient group might be expected to be different from the general population. No difference was observed in the Class I antigens, which were the first studied by the transplantation immunologists. However, the risk of skin cancer was found to be related to two of the Class II antigens, also known as the ''DR'' antigens. In confirmation of other research, it was found that the HLA DR1 antigen tended to be preferentially found among patients with basal cell carcinoma. However, the study also found that a second Class II antigen, HLA DR7, was preferentially associated with both basal cell carcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma, another major type of skin cancer. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Genetic aspects, Squamous cell carcinoma, Basal cell carcinoma, HLA class II antigens

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Tobacco, alcohol, and coffee and cancer of the pancreas: a population-based, case-control study in Quebec, Canada

Article Abstract:

The incidence of pancreatic cancer has been increasing over the past few decades. This observation is of great concern, since pancreatic cancer has an especially grim prognosis. A study was undertaken in Montreal to evaluate the roles that cigarettes, alcohol, and coffee might play in the development of pancreatic cancer. Previous studies have implicated each of the three in the etiology of this cancer, but the potential role of coffee remains controversial, as further studies have failed to confirm an association with pancreatic cancer. Over a five-year period, 179 cases of pancreatic cancer were identified; these patients were matched with 239 members of the general population for age, sex, and place of residence. When the habits of the cancer patients were compared with the habits of the control subjects, a significant association was found between cigarette smoking and pancreatic cancer. In keeping with the results of other studies, other forms of tobacco consumption were not correlated with pancreatic cancer. Similar associations with pancreatic cancer could not be confirmed for alcohol and coffee consumption. The study found that the risk of pancreatic cancer was almost four time greater for cigarette smokers than for nonsmokers. The risk of pancreatic cancer for alcohol drinkers was actually found to be lower than the risk for nondrinkers. Beer drinkers had the lowest risk of pancreatic cancer, with an odds ratio of 0.45, less than half the risk of nondrinkers. Similarly, coffee drinkers were found to have a lower risk of pancreatic cancer than those who abstained from this beverage. Decaffeinated coffee was associated with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer, but the increase in risk was not significant. Previous studies have not examined the patterns of coffee drinking and risk of cancer; in the present study it was found that the risk was even lower if the coffee was consumed with a meal rather than by itself. (Consumer Summary produced by Reliance Medical Information, Inc.)

Health aspects, Risk factors, Smoking, Alcoholic beverages, Pancreatic cancer, Coffee habit

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