UCLA

Background: Epidemiologic studies have indicated a protective association between dietary flavonoid intake and lung and upper aerodigestive tract (UADT) cancer risk. Still, the effect of flavonoid intake and lung and UADT cancer survival are unknown. Methods: 1,212 (611 lung and 601 UADT) cancer patients were recruited in Los Angeles between 1999-2004 and followed for a median duration of 11 years. Dietary flavonoid intake was ascertained through a food frequency questionnaire (FFQ). Four single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPARs) : rs3734254, rs10865710, rs1801282, and rs3856806 were gynotyped using Taqman. Results: There was no significant association between the subclasses of flavonoids and overall survival. However, there were some significant contrasting associations when stratified by the PPAR SNPs, in which one strata would indicate an increased risk of mortality and the other a decreased risk. Interaction was also detected among lung cancer patients for total flavonoid intake and rs3734254 and rs10865710. Few significant dose response trends were observed. Conclusion: Survival may be prolonged or reduced in association to increased flavonoid intake depending on the variant PARR SNPs present among lung and UADT cancer patients.