Role of medical history and medication use in the aetiology of upper aerodigestive tract cancers in Europe: the ARCAGE study

ABSTRACT Background The study aimed to investigate the role of medical history (skin warts, Candida albicans, herpetic lesions, heartburn, regurgitation) and medication use (for heartburn; for regurgitation; aspirin) in the aetiology of upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) cancer. Methods A multicentre (10 European countries) case–control study [Alcohol-Related CAncers and GEnetic susceptibility (ARCAGE) project]. Results There were 1779 cases of UADT cancer and 1993 controls. History of warts or C. albicans infection was associated with a reduced risk [odds ratio (OR) 0.80, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.68–0.94 and OR 0.73, 95% CI 0.60–0.89, respectively] but there was no association with her…