Aggregation of carcinoma of the esophagus and cardia in families living in the Chaoshan littoral region of China
Department of Pathology, Shantou University Medical College, Shantou, PR, Guangdong
Aim : Chaoshan region lies in the Eastern part of Guangdong Province is surround by big Lianhua Mountains in three directions, facing the South China Sea in the South forming a relative isolated but long and narrow rich region. Chaoshan residents with a high risk of esophageal carcinoma (EC) and cardiac carcinoma (CC) are a relatively isolated population who kept the old Chinese language (the Chaoshan dialect) and they are the descendants of the migrants who came mostly from the Central Plains of China where it is world famous for its high risk of esophageal cancer. The aim of this paper is to analysis characteristics of aggregation of Carcinoma of the Esophagus and Cardia in Families. Methods : The clinicpathologic and family data of 192 EC cases and 50 CC cases with family history in the Chaoshan District of China, were collected and assessed retrospectively. The data were comparatively analyzed with non family history cases in the same region using professional statistical computer software (SPSS, version 10.0). Results: The mean age of the EC and CC cases with family history of the condition (49.73 years; 54.86 years) were younger than those without a family history (56.59 years; 58.16 years). The sex ratio of both EC and CC with family history (2.8:1; 4.0:1) are slightly lower than that without family history (3.0:1; 4.8:1). And that the paternal EC and CC family history cases account for 41.7 % and 38 % respectively, and the maternal EC and CC family history cases account for 24.5 % and 28.0 % respectively. Some EC family members also suffered from other tumors, such as frequently liver cancers. About 97 % of EC is Squamous Cell Carcinoma, and there is a higher ratio in EC compared to CC (2.3: 1) in our data. The B type (33.3 %) and AB type (12.5%) of the ABO blood group in CC with family history are higher than that of the CC without family history (27.9%; 6.7%). Conclusion: Our results suggest a genetic factor may play an important role in the pathogenesis of EC and CC in the Chaoshan Littoral Region of China.
Paper presented at the International Symposium on Predictive Oncology and Intervention Strategies; Nice, France; February 7 - 10, 2004; in oral session 892 (Genetic predisposition - Part II).