Perspectives on the molecular epidemiology of aerodigestive tract cancers

摘要: Improving laboratory techniques and the greater availability of genetic data have led to a flurry publications from molecular epidemiologic studies on aerodigestive tract cancers. Inconsistent results been observed in sequence variants, due limitations such as small sample size, possible detection false positives, moderate prior probabilities that each SNP confers substantial increase cancer risk, publication bias. Meta- pooled-analyses were shown be effective elucidating modest increases risk attributable variants. Phenotypic assays developed quantify an individual's DNA repair capacity applied epidemiological Epigenetic events also studied tumor progression susceptibility factors for cancers, smaller scale studies. It is imperative previous are addressed future research epidemiology Some recommendations to: (i) incorporate multiple markers different types (ex. genotype phenotype data), (ii) enhance statistical power by conducting with larger developing consortia coordinate efforts, (iii) improve marker selection via hybrid strategy incorporating evolutionary biology physico-chemical properties amino acids, haplotype/tag data, (iv) employ novel methods hierarchical modeling Bayesian adjustments, positive reporting probability complex pathways. Consortia initiated head neck (International Head Neck Cancer Epidemiology Consortium (INHANCE)) lung Lung (ILCCO)) aim share comparable focus rare subgroups nonsmokers analyses. Such collaborative efforts integration across disciplines will essential contributing elucidation