High risk of Head & Neck cancer from smoking and drinking, both for HPV+ve and HPV-ve types

According to a pathbreaking study, smoking and alcohol consumption increase the risk of head and neck cancers, regardless of whether they are caused by human papillomavirus (HPV). This finding has challenged prior assumptions of different risk factors for different types of head and neck cancers.

The study team used a technique called Mendelian randomization to analyse genetic data from over 6,900 individuals, which helped determine the cause-and-effect relationships more accurately vis-à-vis traditional studies. The researchers found that smoking and alcohol use independently raised the risk of HPV-positive and HPV-negative head and neck cancers.

Specifically, lifetime smoking exposure was linked to a nearly three-fold increase in risk for both cancer types. Alcohol consumption was found to trigger an even stronger impact, a 7.7-fold increased risk for HPV-negative cancers and a 2.7-fold increase for HPV-positive cancers.

This study has highlighted the importance of addressing both smoking and drinking behaviours in cancer prevention efforts with significant implications for public health and cancer treatment strategies. For healthcare professionals, these findings emphasize the need for comprehensive risk assessment and prevention counselling for all patients, regardless of their HPV status. For the populace at large, the study clearly suggests the need to quit smoking and drinking or at least minimising the intake towards preventing both types of head and neck cancers.

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