Cancer Mortality In Men Research Articles

Heart rate: a risk factor for cancer?

The relationship between heart rate and cancer mortality was examined in 3 Chicago epidemiologic studies: 1233 white men originally age 40-59 followed 18 years from the Chicago Peoples Gas Company study; 1899 white men originally age 40-55 followed 17 years from the Chicago Western Electric Company study; 5784 white men originally age 45-64 followed 5 years from the Chicago Heart Association Detection Project in Industry. There was a significant association between heart rate and cancer mortality in both univariate and multivariate analyses in men from the Gas Company study and in men from the Chicago Heart Association study, but there was no association between heart rate and cancer mortality in men from the Western Electric study. The relationship persisted in the Gas Company study but not in the Chicago Heart Association study after eliminating deaths within the first 2 years of follow-up. With cancer deaths broken down by the site, mortality from lung and colon cancer in the Gas Company study and mortality from lung cancer in the Chicago Heart Association study were significantly associated with baseline heart rate on univariate analysis and on bivariate analysis controlling for age. Only colon cancer in the Gas Company, however, remained associated with heart rate when other variables were controlled. Thus, in 2 of the 3 studies examined, heart rate appeared to be an independent risk factor for cancer mortality in men.

Mutagenicity of chromates in bacteria and its relevance to chromate carcinogenesis.

THERE is abundant experimental evidence that certain chromium compounds are carcinogenic in animals1,2. There are also epidemiological data which suggest that chromium compounds are carcinogenic in man2,4. Calcium chromate especially, produces epithelial lung tumours both by intrabronchial implantation1 and sarcomata by intramuscular administration to rats3. In epidemiological studies Bidstrup and Case4 reported a significantly high lung cancer mortality in men who worked in chromate-producing factories, and concluded that the most likely explanation of this increased risk was due to an occupational carcinogen.

The role of alcohol and tobacco in multiple primary cancers of the upper digestive system, larynx and lung: A prospective study

A five year prospective study was conducted on 733 patients admitted to Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center with a single primary epidermoid carcinoma of the oral cavity, pharynx or larynx, diagnosed between 1965 and 1968. The survival in women at five years following diagnosis of the index cancer was significantly better than in men. The average annual incidence for second primary carcinomas of the respiratory and upper digestive systems was 18.2 per 1000 in men and 15.4 per 1000 in women. The women were distinguished from the men by their less intensive exposure to tobacco and alcohol previous to the index cancer. The risk of developing a second primary cancer was enhanced significantly by more intensive, combined exposures to tobacco and alcohol prior to the index cancer. Within the first five years after the clinical presentation of the index cancer, the development of any new neoplastic process previously initiated in the exposed tissues was unaffected by altered smoking and drinking habits after the index cancer. Of the 433 deaths occurring at five years in the study population, two-thirds were attributed to metastases or the complications of treatment of a single or multiple primary cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx or larynx, 1.5% to a new primary cancer of the lung or esophagus and 1.4% to a new primary cancer of an organ outside of the respiratory and upper digestive tracts. The significant excesses in cancer mortality in men and women were particularly evident between 45–64 years of age and were distributed throughout all levels of exposure to tobacco and alcohol. The underlying cause in 30.7% was due to diseases other than cancer. Future follow-up will enable us to determine the risk of new primary cancers and intercurrent nonneoplastic diseases in patients who continue to smoke and/or drink, and whether these risks, as suggested by our retrospective study, are enhanced as a result of previous radiation therapy.

The occupational-social class risks of cancer mortality in men

The social class risks of death from cancer among California men, at ages 20 to 64 in 1949 to 1951, were analyzed and compared with similar mortality experienced in England and Wales. Historical data on social class mortality are available for England but not for California. As recently as 1930 to 1932 the mortality risk due to oral and pharyngeal cancer was greater in lower social classes in England and Wales. By 1950 the over-all death rate for these cancers, regardless of social class, had decreased considerably more in England and Wales than in the United States. The decrease was accompanied by the virtual disappearance of the social class gradient in the former country. California data, however, disclosed a pronounced social class difference in 1950. Cancer of the stomach in England and Wales continued to show the same result from 1921 to 1951, that is, a twofold higher relative risk in lower social classes. In California the relative risk was about threefold in 1950. The over-all death rates for this site of cancer showed little or no change from 1930 to 1950 in the former country, but a 40 per cent decrease in the United States. A similar social class risk for cancer of the esophagus seems to be changing in England and Wales, but was pronounced in California. With the inclusion of cancer of the lung, which reveals a minor social class difference, lower social class is associated with an unfavorable relative risk of cancer at sites comprising 39 per cent of total cancer mortality in California men. Cancers of some other parts of the body show direct associations with higher social class but each requires additional evidence for confirmation.