EU Funded Project Carries Out Unprecedented Study Into Oral Cancers

A European funded project across eight European countries is conducting the largest, most unprecedented study into the cancers of the mouth, larynx, pharynx and oesophagus.

The 2.12 million euro project will examine environmental factors, such as drinking and smoking along with genetic susceptibility. Researchers hope the project will give a better understanding of the risk factors involved with oral cancers and why they are becoming more common. The results will then inform the development of prevention programs for these types of cancers.

Cancers of the upper aero-digestive tract are becoming more common and affecting younger people. Although alcohol and tobacco are major risk factors, the disease is not always directly related to the consumption of alcohol or tobacco.

The study will involve 2,700 randomised patients and for each patient recruited a healthy individual from the general population of the same age and sex, from the same area will also be recruited.

Each participant will be required to fill in a questionnaire on alcohol consumption, dietary exposures and lifestyle exposures. A blood sample will also be taken to allow analysis of genetic factors that may put people at a high risk.

By studying 2,700 people suffering from these cancers across eight European countries, the Alcohol Related Cancers And Genetic Susceptibility in Europe (ARCAGE) project will help to identify those groups at high risk of developing these cancers.

(Source: CORDIS News)