Association Between Infection With Campylobacter Species and the Risk of Esophageal Cancer: A Hospital-Based Case–Control Study in Thailand
Abstract Background Previous studies have shown the association between Campylobacter species infection and environmental factors, poor oral hygiene in particular, is linked to an increased risk of esophageal cancer (EC). However, no study has reported on these factors in Thai. Thus, this study objective was to evaluate the impact of the relationship between Campylobacter infection and environmental factors on EC incidence in the population Thailand. Methods Data from a case–control study were collected from 105 newly diagnosed EC cases and 105 controls recruited from 2007 to 2017. Infection with Campylobacter spp. was detected in the Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissue of EC taken from gastroesophageal biopsy specimens obtained from the participants and evaluated using a TaqMan® real-time PCR. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to calculate the odds ratios (ORs) and perform data analysis. Results Smoking, alcohol use, a family history of cancer, history of gastroesophageal reflux disease, poor oral hygiene and Campylobacter spp. infection were shown to be significant risk factors for EC (p < 0.05). The combination of poor oral hygiene and infection with Campylobacter spp. constituted significant risk for EC (p < 0.001). In addition, the risk of EC in subjects co-infected with C. rectus and C. concisus practiced poor oral hygiene was even higher and was significant (ORadj = 4.7, 95%CI: 2.41–9.98, p = 0.003). Conclusions In Thailand, poor oral hygiene and infection with Campylobacter spp. was associated with an increased risk of EC.