Causes, risk factors and ways to prevent oropharyngeal cancer

Posted by Specialist Doctor I Nguyen Thi Minh Thuyen - Pathologist - Laboratory Department - Vinmec Danang International General Hospital

Nasopharyngeal cancer is a dangerous type of oropharyngeal cancer. The disease has a high risk of death if detected at a late stage. So what are the causes and factors that cause disease?

A risk factor is anything that increases your chances of getting a disease like cancer. Different cancers have different risks. Some risk factors such as smoking or diet are modifiable. Others, such as age or family history, cannot be changed.
However, risk factors don't say it all, having one risk factor or even many, doesn't mean you will get the disease. And many people with the disease may have few or no risk factors.
Scientists have found risk factors that make a person more likely to develop nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC), including:
Gender Ethnicity and place of residence Diet Viral infection -withdrawal of Epstein-Barr (EBV) Family history Smoking, alcohol and certain exposures at work. 1.1. Gender Oropharyngeal cancer is more common in men with twice the rate than women.
1.2. Ethnicity and location Nasopharyngeal cancer is most common in southern China (including Hong Kong), Singapore, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines, and is also common in northwestern Canada and Greenland.
1.3.Diet People who live in parts of Asia, North Africa and the Arctic where nasopharyngeal cancer is common, often have a diet high in fish and meat with high salt content. In contrast, some studies suggest that a diet high in nuts, beans, fruits, and vegetables and reduced in dairy products and meat may help reduce risk.

1.4. Epstein-Barr virus infection Almost all nasopharyngeal cancer cells contain parts of the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), and most people with the disease have evidence of EBV blood infection. The prevalence of EBV infection in the community is high and often begins in childhood.
The correlation between EBV infection and NPC is complex and poorly understood. EBV infection alone is not enough to cause NPC, because infection with this virus is very common and nasopharyngeal cancer is rarer. Other factors, such as genes, can affect how the body responds to EBV. That can therefore affect how EBV contributes to NPC development.
1.5. Family history Other family members of someone with nasopharyngeal cancer are more likely to develop this cancer. Studies have not shown whether this is due to genetics, common environmental factors (such as the same diet or habitat), or a combination of these factors.
1.6. Other risk factors Tobacco and alcohol use: Most studies have shown that smoking can contribute to the development of NPC, especially the horny type. Some studies also show an association between heavy drinking and nasopharyngeal cancer. Workplace exposure: Some studies suggest that exposure to formaldehyde in the workplace increases the risk of NPC. However, not all studies have demonstrated this and the association is not clear.

The exact cause of most cases of nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) is unknown. But scientists have found that it is linked to diet, infections and genetic traits.
In recent years, scientists have studied how the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) can cause cells in the nasopharynx to become cancerous. In some cases, fragments of EBV DNA mix with the DNA of cells in the pharynx.
Some genes contain instructions that control when cells grow and divide into new cells. Viruses like EBV also contain DNA. When a cell is infected with a virus, the viral DNA can mix with normal human DNA. The EBV DNA can then instruct the cells of the pharynx to divide and grow abnormally. However, EBV infection rarely leads to NPC, so other factors may play a role in whether or not cancer is caused.
For example, eating a fish and meat diet high in salt seems to increase the likelihood that EBV causes NPC. Studies show that foods stored this way can produce chemicals that can damage DNA. The damaged DNA then alters the cell's ability to control growth and replication.

Most people with nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) have no controllable risk factors, so stopping the cancer is not possible.
Possible associations with tobacco and heavy alcohol use are unclear, so we do not know if avoiding these could reduce the risk of NPC. However, both tobacco and alcohol use are clearly linked to many cancers, as well as other health problems, so avoiding them often has many health benefits.
EBV infection has proven to be associated with NPC. Scientists are trying to create an EBV vaccine, but at this time there is no way to prevent this infection.
Because certain foods are associated with NPC risk, reducing or not eating certain foods may reduce your risk. Other factors, such as genetics, are also likely to play a part in the disease.
Currently, cancers, nasopharyngeal cancer, and late stage nasopharyngeal cancer are on the rise and younger. Therefore, proactively performing oropharyngeal cancer screening as well as periodic health check-ups are very important to prolong life and reduce treatment costs for patients themselves.
With synchronous investment in modern machinery and equipment and a team of doctors and experts from home and abroad, Vinmec International General Hospital has specialized examination services to help detect cancer early. nasopharyngeal, hypopharynx, larynx are the best.
The above examination is recommended to be applied to all subjects over 30 years old as well as customers who need periodic examination to screen for cancer and people with suspicious symptoms. With quality service and in-depth medical care, Vinmec has now become a prestigious address in nasopharyngeal cancer screening that you can completely trust.

Article referenced source: American Cancer Society