Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #121571

Ren้ Arrazola, BSc, Ryan P. Theis, MA, MPH, and Nabih R. Asal, PhD, FACE. College of Public Health and Health Professions, University of Florida, P.O. Box 100182, Gainesville, FL 32610, (352) 273-5259, rarrazola@phhp.ufl.edu

Background: Despite decades of research, much of the etiology of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remains unclear. Cigarette smoking has been linked to its incidence, while other environmental exposures are believed to contribute little. This case-control study presents results from a refined measure of smoking and preliminary data on exposure to the herbicide agent orange.

Methods: Incident cases of RCC were identified from Florida hospital records, and population controls were identified from random-digit dialing and matched by age, sex and race to SEER data frequencies. In-person interviews were conducted among 76 cases and 135 controls, using a questionnaire to evaluate occupational exposures and smoking history. Logistic regression was used to calculate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). All analyses were controlled for age, sex, and race.

Results: Lifetime smoking history of 100+ cigarettes significantly increased risk of RCC (OR 1.96, CI: 1.08 – 3.58). Total pack-years (PY) of smoking, representing the summation of PY across eight decade age-intervals, was found to predict RCC at two thresholds: 15+ PY (OR 2.48, CI: 1.37 – 4.47) and 30+ PY (OR 2.41, CI: 1.26 – 4.60). Six cases and one control reported exposure to agent orange, producing a marginally significant association after controlling for smoking (OR 7.86, CI: 0.91 – 68.12).

Discussion: While smoking explained much of the association between agent orange and RCC, the odds ratio for agent orange remained high and marginally significant (p=0.061). Future studies may explore more systematically the role of agent orange, dioxin, and other herbicides on the etiology of RCC.

Learning Objectives:

• Discuss the role of cigarette smoking on the etiology of renal cell carcinoma, and its effect modification with respect to agent orange.
• Construct a sensitive questionnaire measure of lifetime smoking history that accounts for variations in smoking across different age-decade intervals.
• Articulate the potential mechanisms by which agent orange and other herbicides may contribute to kidney cancer.

Keywords: Cancer, Agent Orange

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.