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01-10-2011 | Original paper

Risk of lung cancer in relation to contiguous windows of endotoxin exposure among female textile workers in Shanghai

Authors: Ilir Agalliu, Sadie Costello, Katie M. Applebaum, Roberta M. Ray, George Astrakianakis, Dao Li Gao, David B. Thomas, Harvey Checkoway, Ellen A. Eisen

Published in: Cancer Causes & Control | Issue 10/2011

Abstract

Objective

Exposure to endotoxin has been consistently associated with a reduced risk of lung cancer. However, there is a paucity of information regarding temporal aspects of this relationship. The objective of this study was to investigate the associations between contiguous windows of endotoxin exposure and risk of lung cancer.

Methods

Data were reanalyzed from a case-cohort study (602 cases, 3,038 subcohort) of female textile workers in Shanghai, China. Cumulative endotoxin exposure was partitioned into two windows: ≥20 and <20 years before risk. Exposure–response relations were examined using categorical and non-linear (semi-parametric) models, accounting for confounding by previous exposure windows.

Results

There was an inverse trend of decreasing risk of lung cancer associated with increasing levels of endotoxin exposure ≥20 years before risk (p trend = 0.02). Women in the highest two categories of cumulative exposures had hazard ratios of 0.78 (95% CI 0.60–1.03) and 0.77 (95% CI 0.58–1.02) for lung cancer, respectively, in comparison with unexposed textile workers. There was, however, a weaker association and not statistically significant between lung cancer and endotoxin exposure accumulated in the more recent window (<20 years before risk).

Conclusion

Results provide further evidence that endotoxin exposure that occurred 20 years or more before risk confers the strongest protection against lung cancer, indicating a possible early anti-carcinogenic effect. Further studies are needed to better understand the underlying biological mechanisms for this effect.

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Title: Risk of lung cancer in relation to contiguous windows of endotoxin exposure among female textile workers in Shanghai
Authors: Ilir Agalliu
Sadie Costello
Katie M. Applebaum
Roberta M. Ray
George Astrakianakis
Dao Li Gao
David B. Thomas
Harvey Checkoway
Ellen A. Eisen
Publication date: 01-10-2011
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Published in: Cancer Causes & Control / Issue 10/2011
Print ISSN: 0957-5243
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7225
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-011-9812-x

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Abstract

Objective

Methods

Results

Conclusion

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