Occupational cancer in Britain. Nasopharynx and sinonasal cancers

The psychological impact of diagnosis of sinonasal, nasopharyngeal, and laryngeal cancers: a systematic review

Objective

High risk of degraded quality of life and psychological distress is observed in patients diagnosed with sinonasal, nasopharyngeal, and laryngeal cancers, which could be caused by exposure to carcinogens in workplaces. This review aimed to investigate the psychological impact of diagnosis associated with the possible occupational etiology of such neoplasms and to explore the instruments that evaluate the quality of life (QoL), anxiety, and depression in these patients.

Methods

Studies were considered for the review only if they described aspects of the psychological impact of the diagnosis of sinonasal, nasopharyngeal, and laryngeal cancers and reported results distinguished by the tumor site. The psychological impact was assessed in terms of health-related QoL, anxiety, and depression using reliable psychometric questionnaires administered at the time of diagnosis and 1 year later.

Results

In more than 5,900 records identified, 442 studies fulfilled the eligibility criteria and 436 were excluded after full-text screening, resulting in six studies to be finally included in the review. The EORTC Core Quality of Life questionnaire (EORTC QLQ-C30), EORTC QLQ-H&N35, and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT) were used to evaluate the QoL, whereas the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) and Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale (CES-D) questionnaires were employed to assess anxiety and depression. QoL scores were similar to those of the general population at the time of diagnosis and remained unchanged or slightly improved at 1 year since diagnosis. In contrast, a higher prevalence of anxiety and depression was observed compared with the general population, although the results were inconsistent across the very few studies identified. No study investigating the association between the potential occupational etiology and QoL or distress was found.

Conclusion

Exploring the existing scientific literature on emotional distress in sinonasal, nasopharyngeal, and laryngeal cancer patients was prompted by concerns over the disfiguring nature of treatment and the additional emotional burden resulting from their occupational etiology. Unfortunately, neither a crucial element nor other risk factors (lifestyle, smoking, drinking, etc.) were examined in any study. Patients' employment history should be considered in order to assess the possible impact of believing they are affected by an occupational exposure disease in the evaluation of their psychological distress. This history would support evidence-based recommendations about dedicated psychological interventions.

Sinonasal cancer incidence in Lombardy, Italy, 2008-20

BACKGROUND

Epithelial sinonasal cancers (SNC) are rare tumours with recognized associations with known/suspected occupational carcinogens (wood/leather dust, nickel/chromium compounds and formaldehyde). In Italy, a national SNC registry organized as a network of regional registries was established by law in 2008.

AIMS

To describe SNC time trends, occupational exposures and geographical distribution in Lombardy, North-West Italy, based on population registry data (2008-20).

METHODS

The Lombardy SNC Registry records epithelial SNCs using various sources. Interviews to collect occupational history are performed using a standardized questionnaire. Using several standard populations, we calculated yearly crude and age-standardized rates (ASRs per 100,000 person-years). Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) at municipality level were calculated, and Bayesian models were fitted to produce smoothed SIR maps.

RESULTS

We recorded 827 cases (553 men, 274 women). Crude (world standardized) ASRs were 0.9 (0.4) in men and 0.4 (0.2) in women, with no time trends. Interviews were obtained for 485 (88%) men and 223 (81%) women. Among men, 217 (45%) had been exposed to occupational carcinogens (wood/leather dust: 150/65 cases, 31%/13%), while only 36 women (16%) were exposed. Among 201 men with adenocarcinoma, exposure to wood/leather dust occurred in 103/50 cases (75%/50%). Areas with elevated SIRs associated with leather dust were found in the Western areas. Exposure to wood dust was more widespread.

CONCLUSIONS

This study found a high frequency of occupational exposures (wood and leather dust), particularly in men with SNC. Employment in shoe industries clustered in the Western part, while work in furniture industries was less spatially structured.

Evaluation of Some Prognostic Biomarkers in Human Papillomavirus-Related Multiphenotypic Sinonasal Carcinoma

Background

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related multi phenotypic sinonasal carcinoma (HMSC) is a recently described tumor subtype with an unknown prognosis, often misdiagnosed with other sinonasal carcinomas, and associated with high-risk HPV (HR-HPV). The present study aimed to evaluate the expression of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), Bcl-2-associated X protein (BAX), epidermal growth factor receptors (EGFR), ProExTMC, and human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) and assess their association with survival and clinicopathological characteristics.

Methods

Between 2017 and 2022, 40 HMSC patients underwent surgical resection at the School of Medicine, Zagazig University Hospitals (Zagazig, Egypt). Tissue samples were examined for the presence of HR-HPV; absence of myeloblastosis (MYB), MYB proto-oncogene like 1 (MYBL1), and nuclear factor I/B (NFIB) fusions and the presence of myoepithelial proteins (calponin, S100, SMA), squamous differentiation markers (p63, p40, calponin), VEGF, BAX, ProExTMC, and hTERT by immunohistochemistry. All patients were followed up for about 54 months until death or the last known survival data. Data were analyzed using the Chi square test and Kaplan-Meier method.

Results

The expression of VEGF, hTERT, and ProExTMC was significantly associated with age, advanced tumor stages, lymph node metastasis, tumor size, mortality, relapse, poor disease-free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS) (P<0.001). BAX expression was significantly associated with tumor size, age, poor DFS, and relapse (P=0.01, P<0.001, P=0.035, and P=0.002, respectively).

Conclusion

HMSC is strongly associated with HR-HPV. The expression of VEGF, EGFR, BAX, hTERT, and ProExTMC is associated with aggressive malignant behavior, poor survival, and poor prognosis, making them novel prognostic biomarkers for targeted therapeutics in HMSC.

International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Sinonasal Tumors

BACKGROUND

Sinonasal neoplasms, whether benign and malignant, pose a significant challenge to clinicians and represent a model area for multidisciplinary collaboration in order to optimize patient care. The International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology: Sinonasal Tumors (ICSNT) aims to summarize the best available evidence and presents 48 thematic and histopathology-based topics spanning the field.

METHODS

In accordance with prior International Consensus Statement on Allergy and Rhinology documents, ICSNT assigned each topic as an Evidence-Based Review with Recommendations, Evidence-Based Review, and Literature Review based on the level of evidence. An international group of multidisciplinary author teams were assembled for the topic reviews using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses format, and completed sections underwent a thorough and iterative consensus-building process. The final document underwent rigorous synthesis and review prior to publication.

RESULTS

The ICSNT document consists of four major sections: general principles, benign neoplasms and lesions, malignant neoplasms, and quality of life and surveillance. It covers 48 conceptual and/or histopathology-based topics relevant to sinonasal neoplasms and masses. Topics with a high level of evidence provided specific recommendations, while other areas summarized the current state of evidence. A final section highlights research opportunities and future directions, contributing to advancing knowledge and community intervention.

CONCLUSION

As an embodiment of the multidisciplinary and collaborative model of care in sinonasal neoplasms and masses, ICSNT was designed as a comprehensive, international, and multidisciplinary collaborative endeavor. Its primary objective is to summarize the existing evidence in the field of sinonasal neoplasms and masses.

Occupational risk variation of nasopharyngeal cancer in the Nordic countries

Background

The aim of this study was to estimate occupational risk variation in the incidence of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) in a large population-based cohort of the Nordic Occupational Cancer (NOCCA) study.

Methods

This study is based on a cohort of almost 15 million persons from Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden, with 2898 nasopharyngeal cancer cases diagnosed in 1961–2005. The data on occupations were gathered from population censuses and cancer data from the national cancer registries. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated using the national NPC incidence rates as the reference.

Results

There were 1980 male and 918 female NPC patients. The highest SIRs of NPC were observed among male waiters (SIR 3.69, 95% CI 1.91–6.45) and cooks and stewards (SIR 2.24, 95% CI 1.16–3.91). Among women, launderers had the highest SIR of NPC (2.04, 95% CI 1.02–3.65). Significantly decreased SIRs were found among male farmers (SIR 0.79, 95% CI 0.68–0.92) and male textile workers (SIR 0.49, 95% CI 0.22–0.93).

Conclusions

This study suggests that NPC may be associated with several work-related exposure agents such as smoking, kitchen air pollution and solvents. In future, occupational exposure-risk relations should be studied to understand more about causality and to assess effective prevention strategies.

Occupational Mortality Matrix: A Tool for Epidemiological Assessment of Work-Related Risk Based on Current Data Sources

Mortality from occupational diseases significantly afflicts society, in terms of both economic costs and human suffering. The International Labour Organization (ILO) estimated that 2.4 million workers die from work-related diseases every year. In Europe, around 80,000 workers die from cancer attributed to occupational exposure to carcinogens. This study developed the Occupational Mortality Matrix (OMM) aimed to identify significant associations between causes of death and occupational sectors through an individual record linkage between mortality data and the administrative archive of occupational histories. The study population consisted of 6,433,492 deceased subjects in Italy (in the period 2005-2015), of which 2,723,152 records of work histories were retrieved (42%). The proportional mortality ratio (PMR) was estimated to investigate the excess of mortality for specific causes associated with occupational sectors. Higher PMRs were reported for traditionally risky occupations such as shipbuilding for mesothelioma cases (PMR: 8.15; 95% CI: 7.28-9.13) and leather production for sino-nasal cancer (PMR: 5.04; 95% CI: 3.54-7.19), as well as for unexpected risks such as male breast cancer in the pharmaceutical industry (PMR: 2.56; 95% CI: 1.33-4.93) and brain cancer in railways (PMR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.24-1.66). The OMM proved to be a valid tool for research studies to generate hypotheses about the occupational etiology of diseases, and to monitor and support priority actions for risk reduction in workplaces.

Work and Female Breast Cancer: The State of the Evidence, 2002-2017

The authors undertook a scoping review to assess the literature from 2002 to 2017 on the relationship between occupation and female breast cancer. Case-control, cohort, and meta-analytic studies suggest that women working as flight attendants, in medical professions, some production positions, sales and retail, and scientific technical staff are likely to have elevated risk of breast cancer. In addition, occupational exposures to night-shift work, ionizing radiation, some chemicals, job stress, and sedentary work may increase risk of breast cancer. Occupational physical activity appears to decrease risk. Workplace exposures to passive smoke and occupational exposure to nonionizing radiation do not appear to affect breast cancer risk. Some studies of occupational categories and workplace exposures indicate that risk may be modified by duration of exposure, timing of exposure, dose, hormone-receptor subtypes, and menopausal status at diagnosis. The compelling data from this review reveal a substantial need for further research on occupation and breast cancer.

Epidemiology and Demographics of the Head and Neck Cancer Population

Head and neck malignancies comprise a heterogeneous group of malignancies that cause significant morbidity to those affected. These malignancies are associated with specific risk factors and exposures, some of which impact prognosis. The most common risk factors for developing head and neck cancers are tobacco and alcohol use. Marijuana and e-cigarettes, occupational exposures, and use of topical substances have also been linked to head and neck cancers. Human papilloma virus has been associated with oropharyngeal cancer. Such measures as oral hygiene, screening, smoking cessation, and vaccination are measures taken to decrease the incidence and morbidity of head and neck cancers.

Sinonasal cancer in the Italian national surveillance system: Epidemiology, occupation, and public health implications

BACKGROUND

Sinonasal cancer (SNC) is a rare tumor with predominant occupational etiology associated with exposures to specific carcinogens. The aim of this study is to describe SNC cases recorded in Italy in the period 2000-2016.

METHODS

Clinical information, occupational history, and lifestyle habits of SNC cases collected in the Italian Sinonasal Cancer Register were examined. Age-standardized rates were estimated.

RESULTS

Overall, 1529 cases were recorded. The age-standardized incidence rates per 100 000 person-years were 0.65 in men and 0.26 in women. Occupational exposures were predominant among the attributed exposure settings, primarily to wood and leather dusts. Other putative causal agents included chrome, solvents, tannins, formaldehyde, textile dusts, and pesticides. Many cases had unknown exposure.

CONCLUSIONS

Epidemiological surveillance of SNC cases and their occupational history is fundamental for monitoring the occurrence of the disease in exposed workers in industrial sectors generally not considered at risk of SNC as well as in non-occupational settings.

A population-based comparison of European and North American sinonasal cancer survival

OBJECTIVE

Sinonasal cancers (SNC) are rare, thus limiting previous prognostic studies on a multinational level. The aim of this study is to utilize two population-based datasets to compare prognoses for SNC between the United States (US) and Europe.

METHODS

The European Cancer Registry (EUROCARE) database and the United States National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database were searched to identify survival of patients diagnosed with SNC between 1990 and 2007. Relative survival (RS) data were stratified by age group, gender, geographic location, and diagnostic time period.

RESULTS

12,541 SNC cases were identified in EUROCARE, while SEER identified 4,312. Males comprised the majority in Europe (62.3%) and the US (58.3%). Most patients were over 55 years in Europe (77.0%) and the US (69.5%). Age over 75 was a statistically significant poor prognostic indicator for 5-year RS in the US (48.2%; 95% CI=[43.9, 52.4]) and Europe (38.5%; [34.7, 42.7]). Female gender imparted a favorable 5-year RS in all regions except in Central Europe. By region, the US had the highest 5-year RS (58.8%; [56.4, 61.1]) and Eastern Europe had the lowest 5-year RS (37.1%; [34.0, 40.6]). The aggregate European 5-year RS was 48.1% [46.4, 49.8].

CONCLUSION

SNC in Europe and the US most commonly affects males and individuals over the age of 55 years. Male gender and age over 75 are poor prognostic factors at 5 years. Five-year RS in the US is higher than the 5-year European aggregate RS.

Trends in mortality from occupational hazards among men in England and Wales during 1979-2010

OBJECTIVES

To monitor the impact of health and safety provisions and inform future preventive strategies, we investigated trends in mortality from established occupational hazards in England and Wales.

METHODS

We analysed data from death certificates on underlying cause of death and last full-time occupation for 3 688 916 deaths among men aged 20-74 years in England and Wales during 1979-2010 (excluding 1981 when records were incomplete). Proportional mortality ratios (PMRs), standardised for age and social class, were calculated for occupations at risk of specified hazards. Observed and expected numbers of deaths for each hazard were summed across occupations, and the differences summarised as average annual excesses.

RESULTS

Excess mortality declined substantially for most hazards. For example, the annual excess of deaths from chronic bronchitis and emphysema fell from 170.7 during 1979-1990 to 36.0 in 2001-2010, and that for deaths from injury and poisoning from 237.0 to 87.5. In many cases, the improvements were associated with falling PMRs (suggesting safer working practices), but they also reflected reductions in the numbers of men employed in more hazardous jobs, and declining mortality from some diseases across the whole population. Notable exceptions to the general improvement were diseases caused by asbestos, especially in some construction trades and sinonasal cancer in woodworkers.

CONCLUSIONS

The highest priority for future prevention of work-related fatalities is the minority of occupational disorders for which excess mortality remains static or is increasing, in particular asbestos-related disease among certain occupations in the construction industry and sinonasal cancer in woodworkers.

Asbestos exposure and the risk of sinonasal cancer

BACKGROUND

While the increased risk of lung cancer and mesothelioma is well established, the relationship between exposure to asbestos dust and sinonasal cancer is less clear.

AIMS

To study the risk of sinonasal cancer in relation to asbestos dust exposure.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study of construction workers, linked to the Swedish Cancer Registry. Participants were classified into four exposure groups; heavy, medium, low or very low exposure to asbestos, according to the incidence of pleural mesothelioma in their occupational group. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) and relative risks (RRs) were analysed, adjusted for age and smoking habits. The risks of adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma were investigated separately.

RESULTS

Among the 280222 subjects, there was no increased risk of sinonasal cancer compared to the general population [SIR 0.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68-1.03], or any dose-response relationship with exposure to asbestos. The highest RR was found in the low exposure group (RR 1.25, 95% CI 0.69-2.28) and the lowest RR was found in the group with the highest exposure to asbestos (RR 0.71, 95% CI 0.33-1.53). No significantly increased risk or dose-response association could be found for adenocarcinoma or squamous cell carcinoma when analysed separately.

CONCLUSIONS

This study did not find an increased risk of developing sinonasal cancer after asbestos exposure.

Mouth Cancer for Clinicians Part 5: Risk Factors (Other)

A MEDLINE search early in 2015 revealed more than 250,000 papers on head and neck cancer; over 100,000 on oral cancer; and over 60,000 on mouth cancer. Not all publications contain robust evidence. We endeavour to encapsulate the most important of the latest information and advances now employed in practice, in a form comprehensible to healthcare workers, patients and their carers. This series offers the primary care dental team, in particular, an overview of the aetiopathogenesis, prevention, diagnosis and multidisciplinary care of mouth cancer, the functional and psychosocial implications, and minimization of the impact on the quality of life of patient and family. Clinical Relevance: This article offers the dental team an overview of other cancer risk factors agents, such as human papilloma viruses (HPV) and irradiation.

Occupational exposure and sinonasal cancer: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Background

Sinonasal cancer (SNC) has been related to occupational exposures, but the relative risk associated to specific jobs and/or carcinogen exposures other than wood and leather dust is generally based on small or inadequate sample sizes and the range of observed estimates is large. This paper is aimed at investigating such relationship through a systematic review of the literature followed by a meta-analysis of studies meeting specific inclusion criteria.

Methods

Systematic search was made with PubMed, Google Scholar and Scopus engines using related keywords. Occupational exposures include wood and leather dust, formaldehyde, nickel and chromium compounds, textile industry, farming and construction. Meta-analysis of published studies after 1985 with a case-control or cohort design was performed, firstly using the fixed-effect model. Heterogeneity was assessed with the Q statistical test and quantified by the I² index. When the heterogeneity hypothesis appeared relevant, the random-effect model was chosen. Sources of heterogeneity were explored using subgroup analyses.

Results

Out of 63 reviewed articles, 28 (11 cohort, 17 case-control) were used in the meta-analysis. Heterogeneity among studies was observed and random-effects models were used. Exposure to wood dust results associated with SNC (RR_pooled = 5.91, 95% CI: 4.31-8.11 for the case-control studies and 1.61, 95% CI: 1.10-2.37 for the cohort studies), as well as to leather dust (11.89, 95% CI: 7.69-18.36). The strongest associations are with adenocarcinomas (29.43, 95% CI: 16.46-52.61 and 35.26, 95% CI: 20.62-60.28 respectively). An increased risk of SNC for exposures to formaldehyde (1.68, 95% CI: 1.37-2.06 for the case control and 1.09, 95% CI: 0.66-1.79 for the cohort studies), textile industry (2.03, 95% CI: 1.47-2.8), construction (1.62, 95% CI: 1.11-2.36) and nickel and chromium compounds (18.0, 95% CI: 14.55-22.27) was found. Subset analyses identified several sources of heterogeneity and an exposure-response relationship was suggested for wood dust (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

By confirming the strength of association between occupational exposure to causal carcinogens and SNC risk, our results may provide indications to the occupational etiology of SNC (not only wood and leather dusts). Future studies could be focused on specific occupational groups to confirm causative agents and to define appropriate preventive measures.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12885-015-1042-2) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

DNA repair gene polymorphisms and risk of head and neck cancer in the Tunisian population

Altered activity of DNA repair enzymes may be involved in modulating cancer susceptibility and pathogenesis of head and neck cancer (HNC). We conducted a case-control study to test the association between three common single-nucleotide polymorphisms of XRCC1, ERCC2, and ERCC3 genes with HNC risk in Tunisian patients. To the best of our knowle dge, this is the first report on polymorphisms in XRCC1, ERCC2, and ERCC3 and susceptibility to HNC in our population. The genotype analyses of XRCC1 Arg399Gln, ERCC2 Lys751Gln, and ERCC3 7122 A>G polymorphisms for 169 HNC patients, and 261 controls were performed using the PCR-based restriction fragment length polymorphism. Stratification of the populations according to smoking and drinking habits and occupational exposure highlighted the importance of tobacco, alcohol, and toxic substance as three risk co-factors for the development of HNC. Our study suggests that only the XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism was associated with the risk of HNC in the Tunisian population (OR = 2.04; P = 0.001). Furthermore, the risk of HNC was associated with XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism stratified by occupational exposure status (OR = 2.29; P = 0.024). However, no statistically significant association was observed between the risk of developing HNC and the ERCC2 Lys751Gln and ERCC3 A>G polymorphisms. These data suggest that the XRCC1 Arg399Gln polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of developing HNC, because it correlates with occupational exposure in Tunisian population.

Sinonasal cancer and occupational exposure in a population-based registry

We examined occupational exposures among subjects with sinonasal cancer (SNC) recorded in a population-based registry in the Lombardy Region, the most populated and industrialized Italian region. The registry collects complete clinical information and exposure to carcinogens regarding all SNC cases occurring in the population of the region. In the period 2008-2011, we recorded 210 SNC cases (137 men, 73 women). The most frequent occupational exposures were to wood (44 cases, 21.0%) and leather dust (29 cases, 13.8%), especially among men: 39 cases (28.5%) to wood and 23 cases (16.8%) to leather dust. Exposure to other agents was infrequent (<2%). Among 62 subjects with adenocarcinoma, 50% had been exposed to wood dust and 30.7% to leather dust. The proportions were around 10% in subjects with squamous cell carcinoma and about 20% for tumors with another histology. The age-standardized rates (×100,000 person-years) were 0.7 in men and 0.3 in women. Complete collection of cases and their occupational history through a specialized cancer registry is fundamental to accurately monitor SNC occurrence in a population and to uncover exposure to carcinogens in different industrial sectors, even those not considered as posing a high risk of SNC, and also in extraoccupational settings.