CHEST: Predictors of Lung Cancer Include Heavy Drinking

Lung cancer predictors include diet, heavy alcohol consumption and vary with race and gender

MONDAY, Oct. 24 (HealthDay News) -- Predictors of lung cancer include diet and alcohol consumption, and vary according to race and gender, according to three studies presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Chest Physicians, held from Oct. 22 to 26 in Honolulu.

Nobert Pauk, Ph.D., from the Charles University in Prague, Czech Republic, and colleagues investigated whether exposure to smoking, diet, and physical exercise were associated with the risk of lung cancer. Lung cancer risk varied with diet/physical exercise, gender, and smoking history. For smoking men, fruit and spirits were associated with a decreased risk (odds ratio [OR], 0.64) and fatty foods increased the risk. For non-smoking women, black tea was protective (OR, 0.69), and for smoking women, physical exercise, wine, and vitamin supplements were associated with reduced risk.

H. Nicole Tran, M.D., from Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, Calif., investigated predictors for major lung cancer cell types. Heavy cigarette smoking was a strong predictor of all types of lung cancer. Asian women had an increased risk of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell lesions versus whites (hazard ratio [HR], 1.8 and 2.2, respectively) and female heavy drinkers had an increased risk of adenocarcinoma (HR, 2.2). College graduation and having a body mass index less than 30 kg/m² were inversely associated with all lung cancers. Stanton Siu, M.D., also from the Kaiser Permanente in Oakland, Calif., found that the relative risk for lung cancer among heavy drinkers (at least three drinks per day) was 1.3 for men and women, 1.2 for smokers, and 1.4 in never and ex-smokers.

"With respect to lung cancer, heavier, but not light-moderate alcohol drinking is associated with increased risk" Siu and colleagues write.

Abstract - Pauk
Abstract - Tran
Abstract - Siu
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