Although the association between blood pressure, serum lipids and cancer risk has been investigated, the results are controversial. The aim of this literature review was to examine the epidemiological evidence and provide overview of the association between blood pressure, serum lipids and cancer risk. The arterial hypertension is closely linked with renal cell cancer development. Risk of renal cell cancer was 2-4 times higher for persons with arterial hypertension, independently of sex. In some studies arterial hypertension as one of the components of the metabolic syndrome, was associated with a higher risk of colorectal, prostate cancer and malignant melanoma. Studies suggest that a higher total serum cholesterol level is linked with higher risk of colorectum, colon, prostate and testicular cancer and lower risk of stomach, liver and hematopoietic and lymphoid tissues cancer. There was positive association between serum triglycerides and esophageal, colorectal, lung, renal, thyroid cancer. Given that hypertension is a common risk factor worldwide and its control remains inadequate, our analysis supports the relevance of public health programs aimed at reducing hypertension to reduce the incidence of a number of cancers including renal cell cancer. Effective cholesterol control may lower the risk of cancer, but further studies with longer follow-up and repeated measurements of cholesterol and other lipids are needed.

Gastric cancer is the second most common cause of death from cancer in the world. Epidemiological findings on alcohol use in relation to gastric cancer remain controversial. The aim of this study was to examine the effect of alcohol consumption on the risk of gastric cancer.

SETTING: Although studies have found a relationship between tuberculosis (TB) and lung cancer, results for the long-term risk and the role of confounding factors remain inconclusive. OBJECTIVE: To examine the risk of lung cancer in a Lithuanian cohort of 21 986 TB patients. DESIGN: During follow-up (1998–2012), 477 patients developed lung cancer. Standardised incidence ratios (SIRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CIs) were calculated to compare the incidence of lung cancer among cohort participants with the general population. Cox regression was used to estimate the effect of risk factors on lung cancer risk among TB patients. RESULTS: Lung cancer SIRs were 3.55 (95%CI 3.24–3.89) among all cohort participants, 4.48 (95%CI 4.04–4.96) among smokers and 1.93 (95%CI 1.56–2.36) among non-smokers. SIRs declined substantially >3 years after TB diagnosis in non-smokers, although they remained significantly elevated for ≥10 years among smokers. In the multivariable analysis, smoking, male sex and older age substantially increased the risk of lung cancer. A statistically significant association with education, employment, site of TB and alcohol consumption did not persist in the lag-time analysis. CONCLUSION: Most of the observed excess risk of lung cancer in the TB cohort possibly reflects the confounding effects of reverse causation, closer medical surveillance and shared risk factors, particularly smoking.

Perchloroethylene (PCE) is the main solvent used in the dry cleaning industry worldwide. The aim of the present work was to evaluate the genotoxic potential of occupational exposure to PCE in dry cleaning workers. The study was carried out in 59 volunteers (30 workers, 29 controls). The genotoxic effect was evaluated by analyzing chromosome aberrations (CAs), and micronuclei (MN) and DNA damage (assessed by the comet assay) in peripheral blood lymphocytes. Environmental monitoring of exposure was carried out on personal breathing zone air samples collected during two consecutive working days by measuring the concentration of PCE air levels. The mean PCE concentration in workplace air of dry cleaning workers was 31.40 mg/m³. There were no significant differences in CA frequency between dry cleaning workers and the controls, but analysis showed a significant association of CA frequency with employment duration and frequency of exposure to PCE. The MN frequency and DNA damage detected by alkaline comet assay were significantly increased in dry cleaning workers compared to the controls. The results suggest that (a) chronic occupational exposure to dry cleaning solvents below permissible occupational exposure limit of 70 mg/m³ (i.e., ∼10.3 ppm) may lead to an increased risk of genetic damage among dry cleaning workers, and (b) CA, MN tests, and comet assay are useful to monitor populations exposed to low doses of PCE.