Gastric cancer among the Japanese in Hawaii

The incidence rate of gastric cancer among men of Japanese ancestry living in Hawaii is about one-third as high as that of their counterparts living in Japan. Because of this difference, a prospective study was conducted to identify factors related to the development of gastric cancer in Hawaii. Eight thousand and six (8,006) men born from 1900-1919 were examined from 1965 to 1968 and followed for over 25 years. During this time, 250 incident cases of gastric cancer were identified. The study has found the following: 1) prior infection with Helicobacter pylori bacteria increased the risk for stomach cancer; 2) cigarette smoking was positively associated with gastric cancer with age at which smoking started being an important risk factor; 3) after taking cigarette smoking into account, alcohol intake was not related to stomach cancer risk; 4) a low pepsinogen I level identified subjects at increased risk for the intestinal histologic type of gastric cancer; 5) a low serum ferritin level was a marker for increased risk of stomach cancer; 6) there was a weak indication that the intake of vegetables and fruits was inversely related to gastric cancer; 7) there was no association of stomach cancer with levels of serum cholesterol, serum uric acid, serum micronutrients (retinol, beta-carotene or alpha-tocopherol) or blood hematocrit; 8) there was also no association of gastric cancer with body mass index or physical activity.