This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Foster, M. C. Articles by Tucker, M. A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Foster, M. C. Articles by Tucker, M. A.

Tobacco Use in Adult Long-term Survivors of Retinoblastoma

¹ Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services; ² International Epidemiology Institute, Rockville, Maryland; ³ Ophthalmic Oncology Service, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York; and ⁴ Massachusetts Eye and Ear Infirmary, Boston, Massachusetts

Requests for reprints: Ruth A. Kleinerman, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services, EPS 7044, 6120 Executive Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20852. Phone: 301-594-7166; Fax: 301-402-0207. E-mail: kleinerr{at}mail.nih.gov

A significant risk of lung cancer was identified among hereditary, but not nonhereditary, retinoblastoma (Rb) patients. Tobacco use was investigated to determine whether differences in smoking prevalence might explain the lung cancer excess and to characterize smoking patterns in adult survivors of Rb. Subjects were 441 hereditary and 395 nonhereditary 1-year survivors of Rb, age 18 years, who responded to a telephone survey about current health behavior, including tobacco use. Response rates were 76% for hereditary and 73% for nonhereditary survivors. We compared patterns and predictors of current tobacco use among hereditary and nonhereditary survivors with other childhood cancer survivor studies and the U.S. population. Hereditary Rb survivors currently smoke cigarettes significantly less frequently than nonhereditary survivors (16. 8% versus 24.3%), although among current smokers, age at smoking initiation (17 years old) and average cigarettes (1.5 packs) smoked daily are similar. Predictors of current and ever cigarette smoking include nonhereditary Rb, older age, being female, less education, and use of other tobacco products. Rb survivors smoke cigarettes significantly less than the U.S. population (rate ratio, 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.5-0.8 for males; rate ratio, 0.75; 95% confidence interval, 0.6-0.9 for females), but Rb survivors have comparable smoking rates with other childhood cancer survivors. Smoking did not account for the increased risk of lung cancer among hereditary Rb patients, and this may point to an enhanced sensitivity to the carcinogenic effects of tobacco. Adult survivors of Rb should be encouraged to stop smoking. (Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006;15(8):1464–8)

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. Frobisher, D. L. Winter, E. R. Lancashire, R. C. Reulen, A. J. Taylor, C. Eiser, M. C. G. Stevens, M. M. Hawkins, and on behalf of the British Childhood Cancer Survivor Extent of Smoking and Age at Initiation of Smoking Among Adult Survivors of Childhood Cancer in Britain J Natl Cancer Inst, August 6, 2008; 100(15): 1068 - 1081. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]