Cholangiocarcinoma and Occupational Exposure to Asbestos: Insights From the Italian Pooled Cohort Study

Authors

  • Stefania Curti Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
  • Mena Gallo Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy
  • Daniela Ferrante Unit of Medical Statistics, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale and Cancer Epidemiology Unit, CPO-Piemonte, Novara, Italy
  • Francesca Bella Syracuse Cancer Registry, Provincial Health Authority of Syracuse, Italy
  • Lorenza Boschetti Health Protection Agency of Pavia (ATS Pavia), Pavia, Italy
  • Veronica Casotto Epidemiological Department, Azienda Zero, Veneto Region, Padova, Italy
  • Marcello Ceppi Clinical Epidemiology Unit, IRCCS-Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
  • Daniela Cervino Department of Public Health, Azienda USL di Bologna, Italy
  • Lucia Fazzo Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
  • Ugo Fedeli Epidemiological Department, Azienda Zero, Veneto Region, Padova, Italy
  • Paolo Giorgi Rossi Epidemiology Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
  • Lucia Giovannetti Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention and Clinical Network (ISPRO), Florence, Italy
  • Paolo Girardi Department of Environmental Sciences, Informatics and Statistics, Ca’ Foscari University of Venice, Venice, Italy
  • Cecilia Lando Clinical Epidemiology Unit, IRCCS-Ospedale Policlinico San Martino, Genoa, Italy
  • Enrica Migliore Unit of Cancer Epidemiology, Regional Operating Center of Piemonte (COR Piemonte), University of Torino and CPO-Piemonte, Torino, Italy
  • Lucia Miligi Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention and Clinical Network (ISPRO), Florence, Italy
  • Enrico Oddone Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine - University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
  • Vincenza Perlangeli Department of Public Health, Azienda USL di Bologna, Italy
  • Roberta Pernetti Department of Public Health, Experimental and Forensic Medicine - University of Pavia, Pavia, Italy
  • Sara Piro Institute for Cancer Research, Prevention and Clinical Network (ISPRO), Florence, Italy
  • Cinzia Storchi Epidemiology Unit, Azienda USL-IRCCS di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia, Italy
  • Rosario Tumino Syracuse Cancer Registry, Provincial Health Authority of Syracuse, Italy
  • Amerigo Zona Department of Environment and Health, Istituto Superiore di Sanità, Roma, Italy
  • Manuel Zorzi Epidemiological Department, Azienda Zero, Veneto Region, Padova, Italy
  • Giovanni Brandi Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Bologna, Italy; Oncology Unit, IRCCS Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Bologna, Italy
  • Stefano Ferretti Emilia-Romagna Cancer Registry, Ferrara Unit, Local Health Authority, Ferrara; and University of Ferrara, Italy
  • Corrado Magnani Unit of Medical Statistics, Department of Translational Medicine, Università del Piemonte Orientale and Cancer Epidemiology Unit, CPO-Piemonte, Novara, Italy
  • Alessandro Marinaccio Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Epidemiology and Hygiene, Italian Workers’ Compensation Authority, Rome, Italy
  • Stefano Mattioli Department of Environmental and Prevention Sciences, University of Ferrara, Italy

Keywords:

Cholangiocarcinoma, Asbestos Exposure, Cohort study, Cancer Registries

Abstract

Background: Recent studies supported the association between occupational exposure to asbestos and risk of cholangiocarcinoma (CC). Aim of the present study is to investigate this association using an update of mortality data from the Italian pooled asbestos cohort study and to test record linkage to Cancer Registries to distinguish between hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and intrahepatic/extrahepatic forms of CC. Methods: The update of a large cohort study pooling 52 Italian industrial cohorts of workers formerly exposed to asbestos was carried out. Causes of death were coded according to ICD. Linkage was carried out for those subjects who died for liver or bile duct cancer with data on histological subtype provided by Cancer Registries. Results: 47 cohorts took part in the study (57,227 subjects). We identified 639 causes of death for liver and bile duct cancer in the 44 cohorts covered by Cancer Registry. Of these 639, 240 cases were linked to Cancer Registry, namely 14 CC, 83 HCC, 117 cases with unspecified histology, 25 other carcinomas, and one case of cirrhosis (likely precancerous condition). Of the 14 CC, 12 occurred in 2010-2019, two in 2000-2009, and none before 2000. Conclusion: Further studies are needed to explore the association between occupational exposure to asbestos and CC. Record linkage was hampered due to incomplete coverage of the study areas and periods by Cancer Registries. The identification of CC among unspecific histology cases is fundamental to establish more effective and targeted liver cancer screening strategies.  

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Published

24-04-2024

Issue

Vol. 115 No. 2 (2024)

Section

Original articles
DOI: https://doi.org/10.23749/mdl.v115i2.14649

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Copyright (c) 2024 Stefania Curti, Mena Gallo, Daniela Ferrante, Francesca Bella, Lorenza Boschetti , Veronica Casotto , Marcello Ceppi, Daniela Cervino, Lucia Fazzo, Ugo Fedeli, Paolo Giorgi Rossi, Lucia Giovannetti, Paolo Girardi, Cecilia Lando, Enrica Migliore, Lucia Miligi, Enrico Oddone, Vincenza Perlangeli , Roberta Pernetti, Sara Piro, Cinzia Storchi, Rosario Tumino, Amerigo Zona, Manuel Zorzi, Giovanni Brandi, Stefano Ferretti, Corrado Magnani, Alessandro Marinaccio, Stefano Mattioli

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How to Cite

1.
Curti S, Gallo M, Ferrante D, Bella F, Boschetti L, Casotto V, et al. Cholangiocarcinoma and Occupational Exposure to Asbestos: Insights From the Italian Pooled Cohort Study. Med Lav [Internet]. 2024 Apr. 24 [cited 2025 Jul. 18];115(2):e2024016. Available from: https://mattioli1885journals.com/index.php/lamedicinadellavoro/article/view/14649
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