Epidemiology

British Journal of Cancer (2003) 88, 1702–1707. doi:10.1038/sj.bjc.6600975 www.bjcancer.com
Published online 27 May 2003

Lifestyles, environmental and phenotypic factors associated with lip cancer: a case–control study in southern Spain

E Perea-Milla López1,2, R M Miñarro-del Moral2, C Martínez-García2, R Zanetti3, S Rosso3, S Serrano4, J F Aneiros5, A Jimenez-Puente1 and M Redondo1

  1. 1Unidad de investigación, Hospital Costa del Sol, Ctra Nacional 340, km 187, Marbella, 29600 Málaga, Spain
  2. 2Escuela Andaluza de Salud Pública, Campus Universitario de Cartuja, 18080 Granada, Spain
  3. 3Registro dei Tumouri per il Piemonte e la Valle d'Aosta, via S. Francesco da Paola 31, 10123 Turin, Italy
  4. 4Servicio de Dermatología, Hospital Clínico San Cecilio, Avda Dr. Olóriz, 18012 Granada, Spain
  5. 5Servicio de Anatomía Patológica, Hospital Clínico San Cecilio, Avda Dr Olóriz, 18012 Granada, Spain

Correspondence: Dr E Perea-Milla López, Unidad de Investigación, Hospital Costa del Sol, Ctra Nacional 340, km 187, Marbella, 29600 Málaga, Spain. E-mail: eperea@hcs.es.

Received 24 January 2003; Revised 19 March 2003; Accepted 24 March 2003.

Top

Abstract

The aim of this study was to identify factors related to lip cancer (LC) considering individual characteristics and sociodemographic factors. A case–control study was carried out in the province of Granada (Andalusia, southern Spain). The cases were 105 males with squamous-cell carcinoma of the lip, diagnosed between 1987 and 1989 (aged 20–70 years) and identified by means of a population-based Cancer Registry. As controls, a randomised populational sample of 239 males, stratified by age, was used. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that risk factors are lifetime cumulative tobacco consumption and alcohol consumption. An interaction was found between alcohol consumption and the smoking habit (leaving the cigarette on the lip): OR=23.6; 95% CI: 3.9–142.0. Other risk factors identified are clear eyes (OR=3.5; CI: 95% 1.5–8.0), sun exposure early in life and cumulative sun exposure during outdoor work (OR=11.9; 95%: CI: 1.3–108.9), and skin reaction to sun exposure (Fitzpatrick levels). Another interaction was found between skin reaction and a previous history of common sporadic warts (OR=4.4; 95% CI: 1.01–19.1). We conclude that LC is related to phenotype, skin reaction to sun exposure, cumulative and early sunlight exposure, and tobacco and alcohol consumption, as well as a low educational level. Leaving the cigarette on the lip is predictive of LC risk irrespective of cumulative tobacco consumption.

Keywords:

lip cancer, risk factors, case–control studies, sun exposure, tobacco, alcohol, warts