Abstract
Difference in incidence rates of cancer of specific sites among different populations has been a powerful tool for the generation of etiologic hypotheses. The use of strictly comparable data from cancer registries, on populations from Italy, France, Switzerland and Spain, similar for geographic location, race and ancestry, shows unexpected differences of rates of single cancer sites, being significantly higher or lower than those of the same subgroup of registries. The study of risk factors associated with such differences might be more profitable than those carried out on the basis of comparisons between distantly located populations.
Similar content being viewed by others
Reference
ArmstrongB.K. and DollR. (1975): Environmental factors and cancer incidence and mortality in different countries, with special reference to dietary practices. - Int, J. Cancer, 15: 617–631.
BerrinoF.et al. (1986): Registro Tumori Lombardia. Incidenza e Mortalitá in provincia di Varese negli anni 1978–81. Regione Lombardia, Settore Sanitá e Igiene, n.10, Milano.
Borras S. et al. (1984): El Cancer en Tarragona, 1980-81 -Association Espanola contra el cancer, Junta Provincial de Tarragona.
BurkittP.D. (1969): Related disease - related cause? Lancet, ii: 1269–1231.
BurkittP.D. (1970): Relationship as a clue to causation. - Lancet, ii: 1237–1240.
CislaghiC., MezzanotteG., LaVecchiaC, DeCarliA., VigottiM. A. (1986): Geografia del Canceo: analisi dei trend territoriali e individuazione delle zone anomale. - Epidemiol. e Pevenzione, 29: 15–49.
DollR., SmithP.G. (1982): Comparison between registries: age standardized rates. in: Waterhouse J. et al. - Cancer Incidence in Five Continents, Volume IV. WHO, I.A.R.C., Lyon.
GafàL.et al. (1987): Registro Tumori di Ragusa: Mortalità e Incidenza, 1981–84. Regione Siciliana, Assessorato per la Sanità. Ragusa.
HillA.B. (1965): The environment and diseases: association or causation? - Proc. R. Soc. Med. 58: 295–300.
LeviF. (1985): Le Cancer dans la population vaudoise. Incidence et mortalité, Régistre vaudois des tumeurs, Lausanne.
LutzJ.M.et al. (1987): Le Cancer dans l'Isère. 1979–84. Association pour la registration du cancer et la recherche épidémiologique, Département de l'Isére. Grenoble.
MorgensternH. (1982): Use of ecologic analysis in epidemiologic research. - Am. J. Publ. Hlth. 72: 1336–1344.
MuirC.S.et al. (1988): Cancer Incidence in Five Continents. Volume V. WHO, I.A.R.C. Lyon.
RobillardJ.et al. (1986): Le Cancer dans le Département du Calvados, 1978–80. Régistre des Tumeurs du Calvados, Caen.
Schraub S. et al. (1983): Régistre des Tumeurs du Doubs, 1977–81 Besançon.
Segi M. (1972): Cancer mortality for selected sites in 24 countries (quoted by Yanai et al.).
TuynsA. J., PequignotG., JensenO.M. (1977): Les cancers de l'oesophage en Ille-et-Vilaine en fonction des niveaux de consommation d'alcohol et de tabac. Des risques qui se multiplient. - Bull. Cancer (Paris), 64: 45–60.
VassilakosP., et al. (1984): Cancer à Genève. Incidence, Survie, Mortality 1970–83. Régistre Genevois des Tumeurs, Genève.
YanaiH., InabaY.TakagiH., YamamotoS. (1979): Multivariate analysis of cancer mortalities for selected sites in 24 countries. - Env. Hlth. Perspectives, 32: 83–101.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Corresponding author.
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Filippazzo, M.G., Polizzi, M.C. & Dardanonp, L. Comparison of cancer incidence among similar geographic areas: A better source of etiologic hypotheses?. Eur J Epidemiol 5, 101–105 (1989). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00145054
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00145054