Zeng J, et al. - Researchers analyzed hypopharyngeal cancer cases (n=278) and controls (n=693) from two centers in Central South China, to assess the links of alcohol, tobacco and betel quid consumption, and oral health, with hypopharyngeal cancer in high-risk areas of China. Compared with those who had never drunk, up to seven times higher risk of hypopharyngeal cancer was observed in alcohol drinkers. Traditional liquor vs other alcohol types had a very strong influence, with the odds ratio (OR) reaching 11.26 for this cancer. The probability of developing hypopharyngeal cancer was up to four times more among tobacco smokers as compared with never smokers. For betel quid chewing, the estimated OR was 1.86 vs never users. Two times higher risk of hypopharyngeal cancer was found in relation to poor oral hygiene vs normal oral hygiene. Increased hypopharyngeal cancer incidence was reported in relation to alcohol, tobacco, betel quid and oral hygiene in China, for the first time. In this population vs in populations in other areas, a possibly larger role of alcohol for hypopharyngeal cancer was suggested.