TY - JOUR
T1 - Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug and aspirin use and the risk of head and neck cancer
T2 - A systematic review
AU - Wilson, Jessica C.
AU - Anderson, Lesley A.
AU - Murray, Liam J.
AU - Hughes, Carmel M.
PY - 2011/5/1
Y1 - 2011/5/1
N2 - Background: Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been associated with a reduced risk of several cancers. This is thought to be through the inhibitory action on the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme, COX-2. Evidence for NSAIDs preventing head and neck cancer (HNC) is conflicting. We conducted a systematic literature review to investigate the association between NSAID/aspirin use and risk of head and neck cancer (HNC). Methodology: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were systematically searched using terms for NSAIDs/aspirin, HNC, and observational/intervention study designs to identify studies published by December 2009. Results: Of 9,268 articles identified, two population-based prescribing database studies and three case-control studies met the selection criteria. The studies investigated different HNC sites. Only one study found a significant protective association of aspirin use with HNC risk (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.58-0.96), and one showed a significantly increased risk of oral/oropharyngeal cancer with non-low-dose aspirin NSAID use (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.8-6.7). Many of the studies identified lacked information on important confounding factors. Conclusion: No definitive conclusion on the effect of NSAIDs/aspirin on HNC risk was possible. Aspirin may protect against HNC, although further robust large-scale studies are required to clarify any possible association.
AB - Background: Use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been associated with a reduced risk of several cancers. This is thought to be through the inhibitory action on the cyclooxygenase (COX) enzyme, COX-2. Evidence for NSAIDs preventing head and neck cancer (HNC) is conflicting. We conducted a systematic literature review to investigate the association between NSAID/aspirin use and risk of head and neck cancer (HNC). Methodology: MEDLINE, EMBASE, PubMed, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science were systematically searched using terms for NSAIDs/aspirin, HNC, and observational/intervention study designs to identify studies published by December 2009. Results: Of 9,268 articles identified, two population-based prescribing database studies and three case-control studies met the selection criteria. The studies investigated different HNC sites. Only one study found a significant protective association of aspirin use with HNC risk (OR 0.75, 95% CI 0.58-0.96), and one showed a significantly increased risk of oral/oropharyngeal cancer with non-low-dose aspirin NSAID use (OR 3.5, 95% CI 1.8-6.7). Many of the studies identified lacked information on important confounding factors. Conclusion: No definitive conclusion on the effect of NSAIDs/aspirin on HNC risk was possible. Aspirin may protect against HNC, although further robust large-scale studies are required to clarify any possible association.
KW - Aspirin
KW - COX-2
KW - Head and neck cancer
KW - Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
KW - Systematic review
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=79955762504&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s10552-011-9751-6
DO - 10.1007/s10552-011-9751-6
M3 - Review article
C2 - 21409528
AN - SCOPUS:79955762504
VL - 22
SP - 803
EP - 810
JO - Cancer Causes & Control
JF - Cancer Causes & Control
SN - 0957-5243
IS - 5
ER -
