Author/Authors :
Hadji, Maryam Health Sciences Unit Faculty of Social Sciences - Tampere University, Tampere, Finland , Rashidian, Hamideh Cancer Research Center - Cancer Institute of Iran - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Marzban, Maryam Clinical Research Development Center - “The Persian Gulf Martyrs - Bushehr University of Medical Science, Bushehr, Iran , Gholipour, Mahin Golestan Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology - Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran , Naghibzadeh-Tahami , Ahmad Neuroscience Research Center - Institute of Neuropharmacology - Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran , Mohebbi, Elham Cancer Research Center - Cancer Institute of Iran - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Ebrahimi, Elmira Cancer Research Center - Cancer Institute of Iran - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Hosseini, Bayan Cancer Research Center - Cancer Institute of Iran - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Haghdoost, Ali Akbar Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology - Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran , Rezaianzadeh, Abbas Colorectal Research Center - Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran , Rahimi-Movaghar, Afarin Iranian National Center for Addiction Studies (INCAS)- Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Moradi, Abdolvahab Golestan Research Center of Gastroenterology and Hepatology - Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Gorgan, Iran , Seyyedsalehi , Monireh Sadat Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Shirkoohi, Reza Cancer Research Center, Cancer Institute of Iran - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Poustchi, Hossein Liver and Pancreatobiliary Diseases Research Center - Digestive Diseases Research Institute - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Eghtesad, Sareh Liver and Pancreatobiliary Diseases Research Center - Digestive Diseases Research Institute - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Najafi , Farid Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health - Institute of Health - Kermanshah Medical Sciences University, Kermanshah, Iran , Safari-Faramani, Roya Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health - School of Public Health - Kermanshah Medical Sciences University, Kermanshah, Iran , Alizadeh-Navaei, Reza Gastrointestinal Cancer Research Center - Non-Communicable Diseases Institute - Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran , Ansari Moghadam, Ali Reza Health Promotion Research Center - Zahedan University of Medical sciences, Zahedan, Iran , Bakhshi, Mahdieh Health Promotion Research Center - Zahedan University of Medical sciences, Zahedan, Iran , Nejatizadeh, Azim Bandar-e-Abbas University of Medical Sciences - Bandar-e-Abbas, Iran , Mahmudi , Masumeh Bandar-e-Abbas University of Medical Sciences - Bandar-e-Abbas, Iran , Shahid-Sales, Soudabeh Mashhahd University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran , Ahmadi-Simab, Saideh Mashhahd University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran , Nabavian, Omid Department of Anesthesiology - Imam Hospital Complex - School of Medicine- Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran , Boffetta, Paolo Stony Brook Cancer Center - Stony Brook University - Stony Brook, NY, USA , Pukkala, Eero Health Sciences Unit Faculty of Social Sciences - Tampere University, Tampere, Finland , Weiderpass, Elisabete International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France , Kamangar, Farin Department of Biology - School of Computer - Mathematical and Natural Sciences - Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD, USA , Zendehdel, Kazem Cancer Research Center - Cancer Institute of Iran - Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Abstract :
The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) recently classified opium use as a Group 1 carcinogen. However, much remains to be studied on the relation between opium and cancer. We designed the Iranian Opium and Cancer (IROPICAN) study to further investigate the association of opium use and cancers of the head and neck, bladder, lung, and colon and rectum. In this paper, we describe the rationale, design, and some initial results of the IROPICAN Study.
Methods: The IROPICAN is a multi-center case-control study conducted in 10 provinces of Iran. The cases were all histologically confirmed and the controls were selected from hospital visitors who were free of cancer, were not family members or friends of the cancer patients, and were visiting the hospital for reasons other than their own ailment. The questionnaires included detailed questions on opium use (including age at initiation, duration, frequency, typical amount, and route), and potential confounders, such as tobacco use (e.g., cigarettes, nass and water-pipe), and dietary factors. Biological samples, including blood and saliva, were also collected.
Results: The validation and pilot phases showed reasonably good validity, with sensitivities of 70% and 69% for the cases and controls, respectively, in reporting opium use. The results also showed excellent reliability, with intra-class correlation coefficients of 0.96 for ever opium use and 0.88 (95% CI: 0.80, 0.92) for regular opium use. In the main phase, we recruited 3299 cancer cases (99% response rate) and 3477 hospital visitor controls (89% response rate). The proportion of ever-use of opium was 40% among cases and 18% among controls.
Conclusion: The IROPICAN study will serve as a major resource in studies addressing the effect of opium on risk of cancers of the head and neck, bladder, lung, and colon and rectum.
