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Published on: December 21, 2019
Malignant mesothelioma in Eastern Asia.
Claudio Bianchi1, Tommaso Bianchi
1Center for Study of Environmental Cancer, Italian League Against Cancer, Hospital of Monfalcone, Monfalcone, Italy. legatumori1@interfree.it
Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention : APJCP
|December 19, 2012
Summary
Malignant mesothelioma rates are low in Eastern Asia, despite asbestos exposure from industries like shipbuilding. Potential reasons include underdiagnosis, recent industrialization, and differing cancer etiologies compared to Western countries.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Epidemiology
- Environmental Health
Background:
- Malignant mesothelioma incidence is notably lower in Eastern Asian countries compared to Western nations.
- This observation persists despite significant industrial activity, including shipbuilding and port operations, historically associated with substantial asbestos exposure.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the reasons behind the low reported incidence of malignant mesothelioma in Eastern Asia.
- To analyze mesothelioma incidence and mortality data alongside industrial histories of key countries in the region.
Main Methods:
- Review of available mesothelioma incidence and mortality data from Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Singapore.
- Examination of the industrial histories of these five Eastern Asian countries, focusing on asbestos exposure potential.
Main Results:
- Mesothelioma incidence remains low across the reviewed countries, even with a history of high asbestos-use industries.
- Potential contributing factors identified include underestimation of mesothelioma cases and insufficient latency periods due to recent industrialization.
- Significant differences in cancer epidemiology between Eastern Asia and Western countries suggest distinct etiologic factors and co-factors.
Conclusions:
- The low mesothelioma rates in Eastern Asia may be multifactorial, involving diagnostic challenges and evolving industrial timelines.
- Divergent cancer epidemiology points to unique environmental or genetic factors influencing asbestos carcinogenicity in the region.
- Asbestos may target different tissues in Eastern Asian populations compared to Western populations, warranting further investigation into its broader oncogenic spectrum.
