Question ID: Feb 4-4
Submitted by: February 4, 2011 Behavioral, Population, Epidemiology, and Prevention Provocative Questions workshop - Submitted to the website
March 27, 2011
What environmental factors change the risk of various cancers when people move from one geographic region to another?
Background: Numerous studies have identified geographic differences in the incidence of various cancers. Although genetic differences between populations may account for some of these differences, there are many well-documented examples of migrating populations whose cancer incidence changes substantially, more closely resembling the cancer incidence of the host country. In these instances, it is most likely that environmental or cultural factors are making an important contribution to the incidence of various kinds of cancer. In some instances, such as the effects of ultraviolet light on the incidence of skin cancer at various latitudes, the environmental factors seem clear. In others, however, epidemiologic analysis has failed to identify the key attributable environmental or lifestyle variables and the mechanisms involved.
Feasibility: Despite fairly extensive epidemiologic analyses of environmental factors that might account for changes in cancer incidence among migrating populations, these analyses have frequently yielded negative or inconsistent results. These inconclusive efforts may have been limited by failures to consider the full range of hypotheses and environmental, genetic, and behavioral factors. Moreover, the consequences of migration on cancer rates appear to have changed over time, and chronological comparisons of similar migration patterns have not been systematically examined. It was therefore suggested to hold a conference on the topic of changes in cancer incidence in recent and past migrations to discuss and disseminate the available information and consider additional approaches to this important question.
Implications of success: If new factors that contribute to changes in cancer incidence in migrated populations can be identified, our understanding of environmental carcinogenesis would be significantly enhanced. This information could have important implications for understanding cancer pathogenesis and prevention.
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