Abstract
The aetiologic fractions due to smoking and chewing tobacco have been quantified for the first time, for cancers of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, larynx and oesophagus. The overall aetiologic fractions due to smoking and/or chewing tobacco have been found to be 70% for cancer of the oral cavity, 84% for the oropharynx, and about 75% for the hypopharynx and larynx. In cancer of the oesophagus, however, the fraction is only 50%, showing that another factor or factors play an equal role in the aetiology of cancer of this site. At each of the sites studied, it was found that the two factors, smoking and chewing, acted synergistically, though in varying degrees.
This is a preview of subscription content, access via your institution
Access options
Subscribe to this journal
Receive 24 print issues and online access
$259.00 per year
only $10.79 per issue
Buy this article
- Purchase on Springer Link
- Instant access to full article PDF
Prices may be subject to local taxes which are calculated during checkout
Similar content being viewed by others
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Jayant, K., Balakrishnan, V., Sanghvi, L. et al. Quantification of the role of smoking and chewing tobacco in oral, pharyngeal, and oesophageal cancers. Br J Cancer 35, 232–235 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1977.31
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/bjc.1977.31
This article is cited by
-
Epidemiological and Histopathological Analysis of Head and Neck Cancers in Northern India- A Retrospective Review
Indian Journal of Otolaryngology and Head & Neck Surgery (2023)
-
The health impact of smokeless tobacco products: a systematic review
Harm Reduction Journal (2021)
-
Global burden of disease due to smokeless tobacco consumption in adults: an updated analysis of data from 127 countries
BMC Medicine (2020)
-
Global burden of disease due to smokeless tobacco consumption in adults: analysis of data from 113 countries
BMC Medicine (2015)
-
Hookah epidemic
British Dental Journal (2009)