Alcohol-related cancers and genetic susceptibility in Europe

Description

Cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) include those of the oral cavity, pharynx (other than nasopharynx), larynx, and esophagus. Tobacco smoking and consumption of alcoholic beverages are established causes of UADT cancers, whereas reduced intake of vegetables and fruits are likely causes. The role of genetic predisposition and possible interactions of genetic with exogenous factors, however, have not been adequately studied. Moreover, the role of pattern of smoking and drinking, as well as the exact nature of the implicated dietary variables, has not been clarified. To address these issues, the International Agency for Research on Cancer initiated in 2002 the alcohol-related cancers and genetic susceptibility (ARCAGE) in Europe project, with the participation of 14 centers in 10 European countries. Information and biological data from a total of 2338 cases and 2227 controls have been collected and will be used in a series of analyses. Even 15 years after the end of the official funding of the project, the data still form a valuable basis on which scientific publications continue to be produced.

Funding period

Begin:   January 2002
End:   December 2007

Sponsor

  • BIPS funding
  • European Commission (5th Framework Programme)

Contact

Dr. rer. medic. Hermann Pohlabeln

Project management (international)

IARC, Lyon, Frankreich

Link

Informations and results (in German language)

Selected project-related publications

    Articles with peer-review

  • Conway DI, Hovanec J, Ahrens W, Ross A, Holcátová I, Lagiou P, Serraino D, Canova C, Lorenzo R, Healy CM, Kjaerheim K, Macfarlane GJ, Thomson P, Agudo A, Znaor A, Brennan P, Luce D, Menvielle G, Stucker I, Benhamou S, Ramroth H, Boffetta P, Vilensky M, Fernandez L, Curado MP, Menezes A, Daudt AW, Koifman R, Wunsch-Filho V, Lee Y-CA, Hashibe M, Behrens T, McMahon AD. Occupational socioeconomic risk associations for head and neck cancer in Europe and South America: Individual participant data analysis of pooled case-control studies within the INHANCE consortium. Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health. 2021;75(8):779-787.
    http://dx.doi.org/10.1136/jech-2020-214913
  • Chen C, Lohavanichbutr P, Zhang Y, Houck JR, Upton MP, Abedi-Ardekani B, Agudo A, Ahrens W, Alemany L, Anantharaman D, Conway DI, Futran N, Holcátová I, Günther K, Hansen BT, Healy CM, Itani D, Kjaerheim K, Monroe MM, Thomson PJ, Witt BL, Nakoneshny SC, Peterson L, Schwartz SM, Zarins KR, Hashibe M, Brennan P, Rozek LS, Wolf G, Dort JC, Wang P. Prediction of survival of HPV16-negative, p16-negative oral cavity cancer patients using a 13-gene signature: A multicenter study using FFPE samples. Oral Oncology. 2020;100:104487.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oraloncology.2019.104487
  • Abrahão R, Anantharaman D, Billot A, Waterboer T, Gheit T, Abedi-Ardekani B, Lagiou P, Ahrens W, Holcátová I, Merletti F, Kjaerheim K, Talamini R, Simonato L, Alemany L, Macfarlane TV, Znaor A, Thomson P, Robinson M, Canova C, Conway DI, Healy CM, Toner ME, Pawlita M, Tommasino M, Brennan P. The influence of smoking, age and stage at diagnosis on the survival after larynx, hypopharynx and oral cavity cancers in Europe: The ARCAGE study. International Journal of Cancer. 2018;143(1):32-44.
    https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.31294
  • Ahrens W, Pohlabeln H, Foraita R, Nelis M, Lagiou P, Lagiou A, Bouchardy C, Slamova A, Schejbalova M, Merletti F, Richiardi L, Kjaerheim K, Agudo A, Castellsague X, Macfarlane TV, Macfarlane GJ, Lee Y-CA, Talamini R, Barzan L, Canova C, Simonato L, Thomson P, McKinney PA, McMahon AD, Znaor A, Healy CM, McCartan BE, Metspalu A, Marron M, Hashibe M, Conway DI, Brennan P. Oral health, dental care and mouthwash associated with upper aerodigestive tract cancer risk in Europe: The ARCAGE study. Oral Oncology. 2014;50(6):616-625.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oraloncology.2014.03.001
  • Leoncini E, Ricciardi W, Cadoni G, Arzani D, Petrelli L, Paludetti G, Brennan P, Luce D, Stucker I, Matsuo K, Talamini R, La Vecchia C, Olshan AF, Winn DM, Herrero R, Franceschi S, Castellsague X, Muscat J, Morgenstern H, Zhang Z-F, Levi F, Del Maso L, Kelsey KT, McClean M, Vaughan TL, Lazarus P, Purdue M, Hayes RB, Chen C, Schwartz SM, Shangina O, Koifman S, Ahrens W, Matos E, Lagiou P, Lissowska J, Szeszenia-Dabrowska N, Fernandez L, Menezes A, Agudo A, Daudt AW, Richiardi L, Kjaerheim K, Mates D, Betka J, Yu G-P, Schantz S, Simonato L, Brenner H, Conway DI, Macfarlane TV, Thomson P, Fabiánová E, Znaor A, Rudnai P, Healy CM, Boffetta P, Chuang S-C, Lee Y-CA, Hashibe M, Boccia S. Adult height and head and neck cancer: A pooled analysis within the INHANCE Consortium. European Journal of Epidemiology. 2014;29(1):35-48.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-013-9863-2
  • Anantharaman D, Gheit T, Waterboer T, Abedi B, Carreira C, Chopin-Mckay S, Gaborieau V, Marron M, Lagiou P, Ahrens W, Holcátová I, Merletti F, Kjaerheim K, Talamini R, Simonato L, Castellsague X, Macfarlane TV, Biggs A-M, Thakker NS, Znaor A, Thomson P, Canova C, Conway DI, Healy CM, Tommasino M, Pawlita M, Brennan P. Human papillomavirus infections and upper aero-digestive tract cancers: The ARCAGE study. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 2013;105(8):536-545.
    https://doi.org/10.1093/jnci/djt053
  • Macfarlane TV, Macfarlane GJ, Thakker NS, Benhamou S, Bouchardy C, Ahrens W, Pohlabeln H, Lagiou P, Lagiou A, Castellsague X, Agudo A, Slamova A, Plzak J, Merletti F, Richiardi L, Talamini R, Barzan L, Kjaerheim K, Canova C, Simonato L, Conway DI, McKinney PA, Thomson P, Sloan P, Znaor A, Healy CM, McCartan BE, Marron M, Brennan P. Role of medical history and medication use in the aetiology of upper aerodigestive tract cancers in Europe: The ARCAGE study. Annals of Oncology. 2012;23(4):1053-1060.
    https://doi.org/10.1093/annonc/mdr335
  • Marron M, Boffetta P, Møller H, Ahrens W, Pohlabeln H, Benhamou S, Bouchardy C, Lagiou P, Lagiou A, Slamova A, Schejbalova M, Merletti F, Richiardi L, Kjaerheim K, Agudo A, Castellsague X, Macfarlane TV, Macfarlane GJ, Talamini R, Barzan L, Canova C, Simonato L, Biggs A-M, Thomson P, Conway DI, McKinney PA, Znaor A, Healy CM, McCartan BE, Brennan P, Hashibe M. Risk of upper aerodigestive tract cancer and type of alcoholic beverage: A European multicenter case-control study. European Journal of Epidemiology. 2012;27(7):499-517.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-012-9699-1
  • Richiardi L, Corbin M, Marron M, Ahrens W, Pohlabeln H, Lagiou P, Minaki P, Agudo A, Castellsague X, Slamova A, Schejbalova M, Kjaerheim K, Barzan L, Talamini R, Macfarlane GJ, Macfarlane TV, Canova C, Simonato L, Conway DI, McKinney PA, Sneddon L, Thomson P, Znaor A, Healy CM, McCartan BE, Benhamou S, Bouchardy C, Hashibe M, Brennan P, Merletti F. Occupation and risk of upper aerodigestive tract cancer: The ARCAGE study. International Journal of Cancer. 2012;130(10):2397-2406.
    https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.26237
  • Anantharaman D, Marron M, Lagiou P, Samoli E, Ahrens W, Pohlabeln H, Slamova A, Schejbalova M, Merletti F, Richiardi L, Kjaerheim K, Castellsague X, Agudo A, Talamini R, Barzan L, Macfarlane TV, Tickle M, Simonato L, Canova C, Conway DI, McKinney PA, Thomson P, Znaor A, Healy CM, McCartan BE, Hashibe M, Brennan P, Macfarlane GJ. Population attributable risk of tobacco and alcohol for upper aerodigestive tract cancer. Oral Oncology. 2011;47(8):725-731.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oraloncology.2011.05.004
  • Park SL, Lee Y-CA, Marron M, Agudo A, Ahrens W, Barzan L, Bencko V, Benhamou S, Bouchardy C, Canova C, Castellsague X, Conway DI, Healy CM, Holcátová I, Kjaerheim K, Lagiou P, Lowry RJ, Macfarlane TV, Macfarlane GJ, McCartan BE, McKinney PA, Merletti F, Pohlabeln H, Richiardi L, Simonato L, Sneddon L, Talamini R, Trichopoulos D, Znaor A, Brennan P, Hashibe M. The association between change in body mass index and upper aerodigestive tract cancers in the ARCAGE project: Multicenter case-control study. International Journal of Cancer. 2011;128(6):1449-1461.
    https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.25468
  • Conway DI, McKinney PA, McMahon AD, Ahrens W, Schmeißer N, Benhamou S, Bouchardy C, Macfarlane GJ, Macfarlane TV, Lagiou P, Bencko V, Minaki P, Holcátová I, Merletti F, Richiardi L, Kjaerheim K, Agudo A, Castellsague X, Talamini R, Barzan L, Canova C, Simonato L, Lowry R, Znaor A, Healy CM, McCartan BE, Marron M, Hashibe M, Brennan P. Socioeconomic factors associated with risk of upper aerodigestive tract cancer in Europe. European Journal of Cancer. 2010;46(3):588-598.
    https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejca.2009.09.028
  • Schmeißer N, Conway DI, McKinney PA, McMahon AD, Pohlabeln H, Marron M, Benhamou S, Bouchardy C, Macfarlane GJ, Macfarlane TV, Lagiou P, Lagiou A, Bencko V, Holcátová I, Merletti F, Richiardi L, Kjaerheim K, Agudo A, Talamini R, Polesel J, Canova C, Simonato L, Lowry RJ, Znaor A, Healy CM, McCartan BE, Hashibe M, Brennan P, Ahrens W. Life course social mobility and risk of upper aerodigestive tract cancer in men. European Journal of Epidemiology. 2010;25(3):173-182.
    https://doi.org/10.1007/s10654-010-9429-5
  • Canova C, Hashibe M, Simonato L, Nelis M, Metspalu A, Lagiou P, Trichopoulos D, Ahrens W, Pigeot I, Merletti F, Richiardi L, Talamini R, Barzan L, Macfarlane GJ, Macfarlane TV, Holcátová I, Bencko V, Benhamou S, Bouchardy C, Kjaerheim K, Lowry R, Agudo A, Castellsague X, Conway DI, McKinney PA, Znaor A, McCartan BE, Healy CM, Marron M, Brennan P. Genetic associations of 115 polymorphisms with cancers of the upper aerodigestive tract across 10 European countries - The ARCAGE project. Cancer Research. 2009;69(7):2956-2965.
    https://doi.org/10.1158/0008-5472.CAN-08-2604
  • Lagiou P, Georgila C, Minaki P, Ahrens W, Pohlabeln H, Benhamou S, Bouchardy C, Slamova A, Schejbalova M, Castellsague X, Merletti F, Richiardi L, Kjaerheim K, Agudo A, Castellsague X, Macfarlane TV, Macfarlane GJ, Talamini R, Barzan L, Canova C, Simonato L, Lowry R, Conway DI, McKinney PA, Znaor A, McCartan R, Bernard E, Healy CM, Nelis M, Metspalu A, Marron M, Hashibe M, Brennan P. Alcohol-related cancers and genetic susceptibility in Europe - The ARCAGE project: Study samples and data collection. European Journal of Cancer Prevention. 2009;18(1):76-84.
  • Lagiou P, Talamini R, Samoli E, Lagiou A, Ahrens W, Pohlabeln H, Benhamou S, Bouchardy C, Slamova A, Schejbalova M, Merletti F, Richiardi L, Kjaerheim K, Agudo A, Castellsague X, Macfarlane TV, Macfarlane GJ, Biggs A-M, Barzan L, Canova C, Simonato L, Lowry RJ, Conway DI, McKinney PA, Znaor A, McCartan BE, Healy CM, Marron M, Hashibe M, Brennan P. Diet and upper-aerodigestive tract cancer in Europe: The ARCAGE study. International Journal of Cancer. 2009;124(11):2671-2676.
    https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.24246
  • Lee Y-CA, Marron M, Benhamou S, Bouchardy C, Ahrens W, Pohlabeln H, Lagiou P, Trichopoulos D, Agudo A, Castellsague X, Bencko V, Holcátová I, Kjaerheim K, Merletti F, Richiardi L, Macfarlane GJ, Macfarlane TV, Talamini R, Barzan L, Canova C, Simonato L, Conway DI, McKinney PA, Lowry RJ, Sneddon L, Znaor A, Healy CM, McCartan BE, Brennan P, Hashibe M. Active and involuntary tobacco smoking and upper aerodigestive tract cancer risks in a multicenter case-control study. Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention. 2009;18(2):3353-3362.
    https://doi.org/10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-09-0910
  • Hung RJ, McKay JD, Gaborieau V, Boffetta P, Hashibe M, Zaridze D, Mukeria A, Szeszenia-Dabrowska N, Lissowska J, Peter Rudnai P, Fabiánová E, Mates D, Bencko V, Foretova L, Janout V, Chen C, Goodman GE, Field JK, Liloglou T, Xinarianos G, Cassidy A, McLaughlin J, Liu G, Narod S, Krokan HE, Skorpen F, Elvestad MB, Hveem K, Vatten L, Linseisen J, Clavel-Chapelon F, Vineis P, Bueno-de-Mesquita HB, Lund E, Martinez C, Bingham S, Rasmuson T, Hainaut P, Riboli E, Ahrens W, Benhamou S, Lagiou P, Trichopoulos D, Holcátová I, Merletti F, Kjaerheim K, Agudo A, Macfarlane GJ, Talamini R, Simonato L, Lowry R, Conway DI, Znaor A, Healy CM, Zelenika D, Boland A, Delepine M, Foglio M, Lechner D, Matsuda F, Blanche H, Gut IG, Heath S, Lathrop M, Brennan P. A susceptibility locus for lung cancer maps to nicotinic acetylcholine receptor subunit genes on 15q25. Nature. 2008;452(7187):633-637.
    https://doi.org/10.1038/nature06885
  • Presentations at scientific meetings/conferences

  • Conway DI, McKinney PA, McMahon AD, Ahrens W, Schmeißer N, Benhamou S, Bouchardy C, Macfarlane GJ, Macfarlane TV, Lagiou P, Minaki P, Bencko V, Holcátová I, Merletti F, Richiardi L, Kjaerheim K, Agudo A, Castellsague X, Talamini R, Barzan L, Canova C, Simonato L, Lowry R, Znaor A, Healy CM, McCartan BE, Marron M, Hashibe M, Brennan P. Socioeconomic risk factors associated with upper aerodigestive tract cancer. British Society For Dental Research (BSDR) Scientific Meeting, 1.-4. September 2009, Glasgow, United Kingdom.
  • Lee Y-CA, Marron M, Benhamou S, Bouchardy C, Ahrens W, Pohlabeln H, Lagiou P, Trichopoulos D, Agudo A, Castellsague X, Bencko V, Holcátová I, Kjaerheim K, Merletti F, Richiardi L, Macfarlane GJ, Macfarlane TV, Talamini R, Barzan L, Canova C, Simonato L, Conway DI, McKinney PA, Lowry RJ, Sneddon L, Znaor A, Healy CM, McCartan BE, Brennan P, Hashibe M. Tobacco smoking, involuntary smoking, and the risk of UADT cancers in Western Europe. 100. Annual Meeting of American Association for Cancer Research (AACR Annual Meeting), 18.-22. April 2009, Denver, USA.
  • Park SL, Lee Y-CA, Marron M, Agudo A, Ahrens W, Barzan L, Bencko V, Benhamou S, Black R, Bouchardy C, Canova C, Castellsague X, Conway DI, Healy CM, Holcátová I, Kjaerheim K, Lagiou P, Lowry RJ, Macfarlane GJ, Macfarlane TV, McCartan BE, Merletti F, Pohlabeln H, Richiardi L, Simonato L, Sneddon L, Talamini R, Trichopoulos D, Znaor A, Brennan P, Hashibe M. Association between BMI, change in BMI over a lifetime, and upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) cancers in the ARCAGE study. 33rd Annual Meeting of the American Society of Preventive Oncology, 8.-10. März 2009, Tampa, USA.
  • Ahrens W, Ramroth H, Dietz A, Becher H. Occupational exposure and cancer of the Larynx: Findings of a German case-control study. 20th International Conference on Epidemiology in Occupational Health (EPICOH), 9.-11. Juni 2008, Heredia, Costa Rica.
  • Marron M, Hashibe M, Ahrens W, Pohlabeln H, Benhamou S, Bouchardy C, Lagiou P, Georgila C, Bencko V, Holcátová I, Merletti F, Richiardi L, Kjaerheim K, Agudo A, Castellsague X, Macfarlane TV, Talamini R, Barzan L, Canova C, Simonato L, Lowry R, Conway DI, McKinney PA, Znaor A, Healy CM, McCartan BE, Møller H, Boffetta P, Brennan P. Types of alcoholic beverages, pattern of drinking and the risk of upper aerodigestive tract cancer: European multicenter case-control study ARCAGE. AACR (American Association for Cancer Research) Annual Meeting, 12.-16. April 2008, San Diego, USA.
  • Schmeißer N, Pohlabeln H, Conway DI, Behrens T, Merletti F, Richiardi L, Znaor A, Lagiou P, Kjaerheim K, Marron M, Macfarlane TV, Talamini R, Brennan P, Ahrens W, on behalf of the ARCAGE consortium. Socio-economic prestige (SEP) correlates with upper aero-digestive tract tumours (UADT). Results of a hospital based multi-centre case control study. 3. Jahrestagung der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Epidemiologie (DGEpi), 24.-27. September 2008, Bielefeld.
  • Posters at scientific meetings/conferences

  • Pohlabeln H, Ahrens W. Alcohol related cancers and genetic susceptibility in Europe (ARCAGE) - Erste Ergebnisse des Bremer Studienteils. Bremer Krebskongress, 2.-3. November 2005, Bremen.
  • Pohlabeln H, Ahrens W. ARCAGE - Tumoren der oberen Luft- und Speisewege - Erste Analysen des Bremer Teils einer multizentrischen Studie. Bremer Krebskongress, 2.-3. November 2005, Bremen.