In Memoriam Dimitrios Trichopoulos (1938-2014)

In Memoriam Dimitrios Trichopoulos (1938-2014)

Mohamed Farouk Allam, MPH, PhD [1,2]

1. Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt.

2. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Cordoba, Spain.

Correspondence:

Mohamed Farouk Allam, Department of Family Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, 11566 Abbasia, Cairo, Egypt.

Phone: + (202) 24346888 Mobile: + (2) 011 43559946

E-mail: farouk.allam@med.asu.edu.eg

Cite as: Mohamed Farouk Allam. In Memoriam Dimitrios Trichopoulos (1938-2014). Authorea. February 05, 2025.

DOI: 10.22541/au.173879100.08304719/v1

Short Title: Dimitrios Trichopoulos.

Word count: 262.

Keywords: Athens, cancer epidemiology, case control study, Dimitrios Trichopoulos, Greece, In memoriam, Lung cancer. 

Abstract

In 2024, the 10th anniversary of Prof. Dimitrios Trichopoulos’s passing commemorated his remarkable contributions to public health. Born in Volos, Greece, in 1938, Trichopoulos revolutionized the understanding of secondhand smoke with his groundbreaking 1983 study published inThe Lancet . This research, focusing on Greek non-smoking women married to smokers, demonstrated a clear link between secondhand smoke and lung cancer. The findings provided critical evidence that led to widespread smoking bans in enclosed public spaces, ultimately saving countless lives. In addition to this pioneering work, Trichopoulos was a passionate advocate for the Mediterranean Diet and a leading figure in cancer epidemiology. His tenure at institutions such as the University of Athens, the Karolinska Institute, and the Harvard School of Public Health left an indelible mark on global cancer prevention efforts. A decade after his passing, his legacy continues to shape public health policies and enhance awareness of cancer risks.

Keywords: Dimitrios Trichopoulos, Memoriam, Epidemiology, Cancer Prevention, Lung Cancer, Smoking.

Perspective

From May 9-11, 2024, the International Primary Care Respiratory Group (IPCRG) held its 12th World Conference in Athens. Throughout the conference, I couldn’t help but remember one of the most influential epidemiologists in recent history: Prof. Dimitrios Trichopoulos.

This extraordinary epidemiologist was born in Volos, Greece, in 1938 and passed away in Athens in 2014. It has now been ten years since the death of a scientist who significantly changed our understanding of smoking. In 1983, Dimitrios Trichopoulos published a groundbreaking article in The Lancet, clearly demonstrating that secondhand smoke is a major risk factor for lung cancer. He conducted a case-control study on Greek non-smoking women married to smoking men [1]. The results confirmed Trichopoulos’s hypothesis that secondhand smoke increases the risk of developing cancer, particularly lung cancer. We all remember that before this article, smoking was permitted on airplanes, in restaurants, and in libraries. Thanks to his pioneering study, along with other subsequent cohort and case-control studies, smoking restrictions were implemented in enclosed public spaces [2,3,4].

Undoubtedly, the findings from Dimitrios Trichopoulos’s study and the resulting regulations have helped prevent many deaths attributed to secondhand smoke [5]. Prof. Dimitrios Trichopoulos was an outstanding epidemiologist and a pioneer in cancer epidemiology. He was also a leading advocate for the Mediterranean Diet. His contributions at the University of Athens, the Karolinska Institute, and the Harvard School of Public Health have profoundly influenced global perspectives on cancer epidemiology and prevention.

Celebrating the IPCRG 12th World Conference in Athens this year is a fitting tribute to Dimitrios Trichopoulos, marking 10 years since his passing.

Ethics Approval and Consent to Participate: Not Applicable (Opinion).

Consent for publication: Single author (corresponding author).

Availability of data and material: Not Applicable (Opinion).

Competing interests: None.

Funding: No funding was obtained for this study.

Authors’ contributions: Single author (corresponding author).

Acknowledgements: Not Applicable (Opinion).

References

1. Trichopoulos D, Kalandidi A, Sparros L. Lung cancer and passive smoking: conclusion of Greek study. Lancet 1983;2(8351):677-8. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(83)92549-7.

2. Peto J, Doll R. Passive smoking. Br J Cancer 1986;54(3):381-3. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1986.187.

3. Lee PN, Chamberlain J, Alderson MR. Relationship of passive smoking to risk of lung cancer and other smoking-associated diseases. Br J Cancer 1986;54(1):97-105. doi: 10.1038/bjc.1986.157.

4. Zaridze DG, Zemlianaia GM. Passivnoe kurenie kak faktor riska vozniknoveniia raka legkogo [Passive smoking as a risk factor in the occurrence of lung cancer]. Vopr Onkol 1991;37(11-12):1027-34. Russian.

5. Trichopoulos D. Passive smoking and lung cancer. The Ipsen lecture 1987. Scand J Soc Med 1988;16(2):75-9. doi: 10.1177/140349488801600203.