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Genetic variants in multiple cellular pathways have been associated with an altered risk of oesophageal cancer. In this study, eight genes previously associated with an altered risk of oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) in European or Asian populations were investigated in two South African populations. We genotyped 12 single-nucleotide polymorphisms and one insertion/deletion variant in 1463 individuals from the Black and Mixed Ancestry populations. No polymorphisms were associated with OSCC in the Black population. In the Mixed Ancestry population, ALDH2 +82 G > A (rs886205) was significantly associated with a reduced risk of OSCC (odds ratio = 0.70, 95% confidence interval = 0.55-0.89; P = 0.0038). Several other polymorphisms showed a suggestive association (P < 0.05), including ADH1B Arg48His (rs1229984), COX-2 -1195G > A (rs689466), CASP8 Asp302His (rs1045485) and MGMT Leu84Phe (rs12917). Haplotype analysis indicated that the FAS polymorphisms -670 A > G (rs1800682) and -1377 G > A (rs2234767) were both associated with OSCC in the Mixed Ancestry population (P = 0.006 and P = 0.004, respectively), as well as the CASP8 (-652 6Ndel:302His) haplotype (P = 0.0013). This study indicates several instances of population-specific differences in the genetic etiology of OSCC between these two South African populations and between them and other high-risk populations, which may reflect differences in their ancestry and environmental exposures.

Summary.-Data on the incidence of cancer of the oesophagus in the Transkei for years 1965-69 are presented, age specific rates for the sexes discussed and the spatial relationship of well-defined regions of high and low incidence demonstrated.

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Despite the fact that there is a tendency to rely more and more on foods which can be purchased at stores, the indigenous edible plants or veld foods play a significant role in the diet of the people living in the rural areas of the Transkei.Although more work is required to gather and prepare veld foods, they can be an important and inexpensive source of macronutrients -carbohydrates, fats and protein -and also micronutrients such as minerals and vitamins.Some of the more commonly-used plants such as Sonchus asper, Chenopodium album, Centella coriacea, Galinsoga parviflora, Urtica urens and Solanum nigrum are discussed and nutrient composition given. The names of a few plants which should rather be avoided, are also given.Many of these edible plants are also regarded as weeds and. instead of eradicating them, their cultivation should perhaps be encouraged. RÉSUMÉ PLANTES IN D IG Ê N E S IM P O RT ANTES AU TRANSKEI CO M M E SUPPLÉMENTS A LIM EN T A IRES Malgré le fait qu 'il y ait une tendance á dépendre de plus en plus des aliments pouvant être achetés dans les magasins, les plantes indigenes comestibles ou aliments du veld jouent un róle significatif dans ialimentation des populations qui vivent dans les regions rurales du Transkei. Bien que plus de travail soit requis pour ramasser et preparer ces aliments du veld, ils peuvent être une importante et peu coiiteuse source d'éléments macro-alimentaires, d 'hydrates de carbone, de graisses et de protéines mais aussi d 'éléments micro-alimentaires comme les minéraux et les vitamines. Certaines des plantes les plus communément utilisées telles que