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Los Angeles, CA — A groundbreaking study from the USC Head and Neck Center, part of Keck Medicine of USC, has established a significant association between cannabis use and head and neck cancer. The research, published in JAMA Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery, reveals that individuals with cannabis use disorder are 3.5 to 5 times more likely to develop head and neck cancer compared to non-users.
“This study is one of the largest of its kind and highlights an important risk factor for head and neck cancer,” said Dr. Niels Kokot, a senior author of the study and head and neck surgeon at the USC Head and Neck Center. “Identifying this risk factor is crucial as it can potentially help in the prevention of head and neck cancers by informing people about risky behaviors.”
Dr. Kokot, who also serves as a professor of otolaryngology—head and neck surgery at the Keck School of Medicine of USC, emphasized the importance of this research in understanding the potential risks associated with cannabis use.
Head and neck cancer, which encompasses cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, oropharynx (including the tongue and tonsils), and adjacent salivary glands, is the sixth most common cancer globally. The study, led by Tyler Gallagher, an MD/MPH candidate at the Keck School, analyzed data from a health research network comprising 64 organizations and over 90 million individuals over two decades.
The study found that cannabis use disorder was linked to a higher incidence of all types of head and neck cancers. Importantly, this association persisted irrespective of factors such as age, gender, ethnicity, and even independent of alcohol and tobacco use, which are also known risk factors for head and neck cancers.
Dr. Kokot and his team suggest that the increased risk may be due to the harmful effects of cannabis smoke. Unlike tobacco, cannabis is often smoked without filters and involves deeper inhalation, with the smoke burning at a higher temperature. These factors may contribute to increased inflammation and DNA damage, potentially leading to cancer.
“There is some evidence suggesting that cannabis smoke might be even more harmful than tobacco smoke,” Dr. Kokot noted. “Cannabis smoking’s unfiltered nature and higher combustion temperatures could exacerbate cancer-causing inflammation.”
The study’s findings call for further research to better understand the link between cannabis use and head and neck cancer. In the meantime, Dr. Kokot hopes that this study will enhance public awareness and encourage informed decision-making regarding cannabis use.
For more information, refer to the study published in JAMA Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery (DOI: 10.1001/jamaoto.2024.2419).
Journal Information: JAMA Otolaryngology—Head & Neck Surgery
