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Cancer in first and second generation Americans.
1Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Division of Public Health Sciences, Seattle, Washington 98104.
Cancer Research
|November 1, 1987
Summary
Cancer incidence rates in migrants and their descendants show distinct generational shifts. Colon cancer risk increased rapidly, while stomach, liver, and esophageal cancer risks declined, reflecting environmental and lifestyle influences.
Area of Science:
- Epidemiology
- Oncology
- Population Health
Background:
- Migrant populations often exhibit unique cancer incidence patterns compared to their countries of origin and host populations.
- Understanding these patterns is crucial for identifying environmental and lifestyle factors influencing cancer risk across generations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To compare mortality and incidence rates of ten major neoplasms in migrants, their offspring, and US whites.
- To investigate generational changes in cancer risk among migrant populations in the United States.
Main Methods:
- Comparative analysis of cancer mortality and incidence data.
- Examination of rates across different migrant generations and US white populations.
- Correlation of cancer rates with known risk factors like smoking patterns.
Main Results:
- Colon cancer incidence increased most rapidly in succeeding generations of Americans.
- Stomach, liver, and esophageal cancer rates declined significantly in migrants, with minor residual risks.
- Lung and bladder cancer rates correlated with smoking patterns; pancreatic cancer patterns varied by ethnicity.
Conclusions:
- Cancer risk profiles evolve across generations of migrants, influenced by environmental and lifestyle adaptations.
- Specific cancers like colon cancer show rapid increases, while others like stomach cancer show declines, indicating complex etiological pathways.
- Smoking is a significant factor for lung, bladder, and pancreatic cancers in certain migrant groups.