Medical History, Medication Use, and Risk of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma

Abstract

Because persistent inflammation may render the nasopharyngeal mucosa susceptible to carcinogenesis, chronic ear-nose-throat (ENT) disease and its treatment might influence the risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC). Existing evidence is, however, inconclusive and often based on methodologically suboptimal epidemiologic studies. In a population-based case-control study in southern China, we enrolled 2,532 persons with NPC and 2,597 controls, aged 20-74 years, from 2010 to 2014. Odds ratios were estimated for associations between NPC risk and history of ENT and related medications. Any history of chronic ENT disease was associated with a 34% increased risk of NPC. Similarly, use of nasal drops or aspirin was associated with approximately doubled risk of NPC. However, in secondary analyses restricted to chronic ENT diseases and related medication use at least 5 years prior to diagnosis/interview, most results were statistically nonsignificant, except a history of uncured ENT diseases, untreated nasal polyps, and earlier age at first diagnosis of ENT disease and first or most recent aspirin use. Overall, these findings suggest that ENT disease and related medication use are most likely early indications rather than causes of NPC, although the possibility of a modestly increased NPC risk associated with these diseases and related medications cannot be excluded.

Chinese nonmedicinal herbal diet and risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A population‐based case‐control study

“…Because of the overall lack of association with NPC risk, our findings suggest that anti‐inflammatory treatment with herbal tea is unlikely to play a causal role in NPC prevention. This result is consistent with our prior finding of no association between NPC risk and the use of aspirin to treat ear, nose, and throat disease . Another study reported that a diet with greater inflammatory potential may play a role in increasing NPC risk .…”

“…Unlike herbal tea, the herbal plants used in soups, which are often mixed with meat, are simmered slowly for an extended time to improve positive energy rather than to treat symptoms of internal heat. Our results showing an inverse association with herbal soup intake are consistent with those from a hospital‐based case‐control study in Guangdong that found a significant decrease in NPC risk among persons who consumed herbal soup monthly (OR, 0.44; P < .03) or weekly (OR, 0.49; P < .001) …”

“…The collaborative NPC Genes, Environment, and EBV study was conducted in the Zhaoqing area of Guangdong Province and in the Wuzhou and Guiping/Pingnan areas of the Guangxi Autonomous Region . Together, these 3 areas comprise 13 cities/counties in southern China with a total population of approximately 8 million.…”

Positron emission tomography/computed tomography outperforms MRI in the diagnosis of local recurrence and residue of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: An update evidence from 44 studies

“…However, pathogenesis of NPC has not been fully understood. Etiology and pathogenesis studies suggest the causal factors of NPC may include Epstein‐Barr virus infection, genetic factors, chemical carcinogens, and disturbance in oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes . Due to the specific anatomical structure and position, NPC is preferentially treated by radiotherapy, which has greatly improved the remission rate of NPC treatment and raised the overall average of 5‐year survival rate to over 70% .…”

“…suppressor genes. [2][3][4][5] Due to the specific anatomical structure and position, NPC is preferentially treated by radiotherapy, 6,7 which has greatly improved the remission rate of NPC treatment and raised the overall average of 5-year survival rate to over 70%. 8 However, residues, local recurrence, and metastasis still impede the prognosis of NPC patients and limit further improvement in survival.…”