The doctoral dissertation of Maryam Hadji focuses on the pivotal role opium use plays in cancer development. Opium has been classified as a carcinogenic, but much still needs to be clarified regarding the association between opium use and cancer.
To study the association, Hadji used the data collected by the The Iranian Study of Opium and Cancer (IROPICAN) project in ten provinces of Iran. The overall aim of the project was to evaluate the association between opium use and cancers of the head and neck, colorectum and bladder.
The study found a heightened risk for head and neck and bladder cancer in opium users as well as an increased risk of colorectal cancer in high-frequent opium users. Opium use was found to be strongly associated with an increased risk of developing bladder and head and neck cancers, but the link between opium use and colorectal cancer was weak. The studies included in Hadji’s dissertation will add to understanding the impact of opium use on the risk of developing cancer in the head and neck, bladder, colon, and rectum, and serve as a background for future investigations in this field.
“It is essential to understand the risks associated with opium use and especially those related to cancer. This knowledge is crucial for opium users, as it is vital for them to be aware of the risks so that they may consider making changes and stop using it. Quitting opium and avoiding smoking can significantly reduce the chance of developing cancer in these parts of the body,” Hadji says.
This dissertation utilised 633 histologically confirmed cases of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma, 717 cases of bladder cancer, 848 cases of colorectal cancer and 3,477 common controls.
Maryam Hadji is a graduate of the International Doctoral program in Epidemiology and Public Health, which is an international doctoral training and research program for epidemiologists, researchers at Faculty of Social Science, Tampere University. The study was conducted in a close collaboration with Caner Research Institute, Tehran, Iran, Morgan State University, Maryland, USA, and International Agency for research on Cancer, Lyon, France.
Public defence on Friday 12 April
The doctoral dissertation of Maryam Hadji in the field of Epidemiology titled Opium Use and Risk of Cancer will be publicly examined at the Faculty of Social Sciences at Tampere University at 12.00 on Friday 12 April 2024 in auditorium F115 of the Arvo building on the Kauppi campus (address: Arvo Ylpön katu 34, Tampere). The Opponent will be Professor Giske Ursin from the University of Oslo in Norway. The Custos will be Professor Emeritus Eero Pukkala from the Faculty of Social Sciences at Tampere University and Finnish Cancer Registry.
The doctoral dissertation is available online.
The public defence can be followed via a remote connection.
Photograph: Yvonne Muthiani