The role of cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption in the differentiation of oral squamous cell carcinoma for the males in China

Abstract

Background: Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) is one of the most common cancers in the world and two-thirds of the OSCC occur in developing countries. Male and female have different smoking and drinking habit. However, there is little gender-specific risk study between OSCC and the habit of drinking and smoking in China.

Aims: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of smoking and alcohol consumption in the differentiation grade of OSCC for the male in China.

Patients and methods: Review cases of male patients who suffered from OSCC tylectomy and were pathologically confirmed the diagnosis of OSCC. Data from 210 cases, related to patient, smoking, and alcohol drinking, were collected and analyzed using multivariate conditional logistic regression models.

Results: Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption were strongly associated with differentiation of oral cancer (P = 0.013 and 0.005, respectively). The adjusted odds ratios (ORs) for smoker were 1.45 (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.145-4.19). The ORs for drinkers were 0.56 (95% CI = 0.19-1.58). The risk of the two habits in the development of oral cancer appeared to be significant increase. Increased risk of low oral cancer differentiation was associated with increased amount of alcohol consumed.

Conclusions: Heavy and long-term smoking and drinking habit might pronouncedly increase the risk of triggering OSCC. Tobacco and alcohol consumption seems to play a role in the differentiation characteristics of the tumor.