Comparison of lifestyle and risk factors among Japanese with and without gastric cancer family history

To find specific risk factors of gastric cancer (GC) independent of CC fami ly history (CCFH), 2 studies were conducted using the database of the Hospi tal-based Epidemiological Research Program at Aichi Cancer Center: (i) a co mparison of lifestyles between non-cancer cases with positive and negative GCFH status and (ii) a case-reference investigation of subjects with and wi thout GCFH, treated separately. The first showed no significant variation o f CCFH status with regard to smoking, drinking and most food habits. Multiv ariate analyses in the case-referent studies revealed odds ratios (ORs) for CC associated with habitual smoking of 2.78 (95% CI 1.22-6.28) for those w ith and 2.74 (95% CI 1.76-4.26) for those without CCFH. In individuals with GCFH, an independently lowered OR (0.52, 95% CI 0.27-0.99) was evident for frequent consumption of raw vegetables, whereas the opposite was noted for pickled vegetables (2.39, 95% CI 1.28-4.45), No statistically significant interaction was found between CCFH and selected lifestyle items. In conclus ion, our results suggest a limited influence of CCFH on risk factors for GC . (C) 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.