The incidence of oropharyngeal cancer in Taiwan: an endemic betel quid chewing area

Abstract

The increasing incidence in oropharyngeal cancer in Taiwan is probably heavily influenced by the rising consumption of alcohol and use of betel quid. The effect of these etiologies on intraoral cancer was more significant in recent time periods, later cohorts and the younger group.

Long-term Outcomes of Carotid Artery Stenting for Radiation-Associated Stenosis

“…[4,11] Moreover, the incidence of oral and oropharyngeal cancer rises in Taiwan annually due to increased consumption of betel quid, primarily in young adult males. [12] We believe this is the underlying reason for the significantly younger age of the XRT patients in our study compared with the other studies in the West. [9,10,13] In patients who have undergone neck XRT for malignancy, chronic radiation vasculopathy affects both intra-and extracranial arteries, with increasing rates of stenosis over time.…”

Difference in the Incidence Trend of Nasopharyngeal and Oropharyngeal Carcinomas in Taiwan: Implication from Age-Period-Cohort Analysis

“…Betel quid consumption has been shown to be an important risk factor for various cancers in the upper aerodigestive tract, and the risk for oropharyngeal carcinoma and precancerous lesions, including oral leukoplakia and submucosal fibrosis, increased with increasing amount and duration of betel quid use (39)(40)(41)(42)(43)(44). The increase in oropharyngeal carcinoma incidence in Taiwan closely paralleled the increase in the estimated per capita consumption of betel quid (45,46). Besides, the incidence increased more significantly for intraoral (including lip and mouth) sites, areas with more direct exposure to carcinogens in betel quid than for pharyngeal (including oropharynx and hypopharynx) sites (45).…”

The Induction of Prostaglandin E2 Production, Interleukin-6 Production, Cell Cycle Arrest, and Cytotoxicity in Primary Oral Keratinocytes and KB Cancer Cells by Areca Nut Ingredients Is Differentially Regulated by MEK/ERK Activation

“…Chewing BQ has long been considered to be a major risk factor for oral leukoplakia, oral submucous fibrosis, and oral cancer (1). Moreover, BQ chewing has been shown to increase the incidence of cancer in oral cavity (1,2), oropharynx, pharynx (4,5), esophagus (6 -8), and liver (9 -12). Recently, oropharyngeal cancer (9.7% of all cancer deaths, including cancer of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx) and esophageal cancer (3%) has become the 4th and 9th popular cancer death in the male population of Taiwan, respectively.…”