Open AccessRisk factors differ for non‐small‐cell lung cancers with and without EGFR mutation: assessment of smoking and sex by a case‐control study in Japanese
Author(s) -
Matsuo Keitaro,
Ito Hidemi,
Yatabe Yasushi,
Hiraki Akio,
Hirose Kaoru,
Wakai Kenji,
Kosaka Takayuki,
Suzuki Takeshi,
Tajima Kazuo,
Mitsudomi Tetsuya
Publication year - 2007
Publication title -
cancer science
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.035
H-Index - 141
eISSN - 1349-7006
pISSN - 1347-9032
DOI - 10.1111/j.1349-7006.2006.00347.x
Subject(s) - medicine , odds ratio , oncology , epidermal growth factor receptor , lung cancer , case control study , risk factor , confidence interval , epidemiology , relative risk , cancer
The present study aimed to assess the impact of smoking and sex for the risk of non‐small‐cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with or without epidermal growth factor receptor ( EGFR ) mutation. We conducted a case‐control study using 152 patients with EGFR ‐mutated ( EGFR mut ) NSCLC, 283 with EGFR ‐wild‐type ( EGFR wt ) NSCLC and 2175 age‐ and sex‐frequency‐matched controls. Smoking was a significant risk factor for EGFR wt NSCLC (odds ratio [OR] for ever‐smokers, 4.05; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.79–5.88) but not for EGFR mut NSCLC (OR, 0.73; CI, 0.46–1.14). Sex did not affect this association. The association was observed consistently with other smoking‐related parameters including pack‐years. Sex was the sole risk factor for EGFR mut NSCLC (OR for women relative to men, 2.19; CI, 1.41–3.39) and there was no significant interaction between women and smoking. In contrast, sex, smoking and their interaction were significant in EGFR wt NSCLC. The impact of sex on EGFR mutation status was assessed by several indicators of reproductive history among women. Total fertile years showed a significant positive association with EGFR mut NSCLC but not with EGFR wt NSCLC. Other indicators showed similar trends and this result may partly explain the sexual difference in the acquisition of EGFR mutation. In conclusion, our case‐control study clearly demonstrated that the impacts of smoking and sex on the risk of EGFR mut NSCLC are different from those for EGFR wt NSCLC. Further epidemiological evaluation is warranted. ( Cancer Sci 2007; 98: 96–101)