Informing etiologic research priorities for squamous cell esophageal cancer in Africa: A review of setting‐specific exposures to known and putative risk factors

Abstract

Oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is one of the most common cancers in most Eastern and Southern African countries, but its aetiology has been understudied to date. To inform its research agenda, we undertook a review to identify, of the ESCC risk factors that have been established or strongly suggested worldwide, those with a high prevalence or high exposure levels in any ESCC-affected African setting and the sources thereof. We found that for almost all ESCC risk factors known to date, including tobacco, alcohol, hot beverage consumption, nitrosamines and both inhaled and ingested PAHs, there is evidence of population groups with raised exposures, the sources of which vary greatly between cultures across the ESCC corridor. Research encompassing these risk factors is warranted and is likely to identify primary prevention strategies.

Clinico-Pathological Findings and Spatial Distributions of Esophageal Cancer in Arsi Zone, Central Ethiopia

“…Besides, 44.2% of the cases were from the highland agro-climatic zone. The nding is in agreement with the study that reported high altitude areas as the main location of EC in Arsi Zone (42). The predominance of EC in those areas seems to be related to the population sizes because the eastern, north-eastern, and highland agro-ecological zone are the most populated areas in Arsi Zone (53,54).…”

Clinico-Pathological Findings and Spatial Distributions of Esophageal Cancer in Arsi Zone, Central Ethiopia

“…Besides, 44.2% of the cases were from the highland agro-climatic zone. The nding is in agreement with the study that reported high altitude areas as the main location of EC in Arsi Zone (42). The predominance of EC in those areas seems to be related to the population sizes because the eastern, north-eastern, and highland agro-ecological zone are the most populated areas in Arsi Zone (53,54).…”

Spatial clustering of esophageal cancer in central Oromia, Ethiopia: A spatial autocorrelation and scan statistics analysis

“…The observed clustering is in agreement with findings from the East African esophageal cancer corridor, where localized high-incidence areas of esophageal cancer have been reported in Ethiopia, especially in the Bale and Arsi Zones, as well as in other countries, including Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi [ 55 , 56 ]. Several contextual factors may help explain these patterns.…”

Five-year single-centre experience of carcinoma of the oesophagus from Blantyre, Malawi

“…We noted a female preponderance in the upper third of the oesophagus, but a male preponderance overall which accords with previous Africa-wide data in 2012 8 (though there ares heterogeneous demographic data across the continent).…”

Clinico-Pathological Findings and Spatial Distributions of Esophageal Cancer in Arsi Zone, Central Ethiopia

“…Besides, 44.2% of the cases were from the highland agro-climatic zone. The nding is in agreement with the study that reported high altitude areas as the main location of EC in Arsi Zone (42). The predominance of EC in those areas seems to be related to the population sizes because the eastern, north-eastern, and highland agro-ecological zone are the most populated areas in Arsi Zone (53,54).…”

Spatial clustering of esophageal cancer in central Oromia, Ethiopia: A spatial autocorrelation and scan statistics analysis

“…The observed clustering is in agreement with findings from the East African esophageal cancer corridor, where localized high-incidence areas of esophageal cancer have been reported in Ethiopia, especially in the Bale and Arsi Zones, as well as in other countries, including Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi [ 55 , 56 ]. Several contextual factors may help explain these patterns.…”

Five-year single-centre experience of carcinoma of the oesophagus from Blantyre, Malawi

“…We noted a female preponderance in the upper third of the oesophagus, but a male preponderance overall which accords with previous Africa-wide data in 2012 8 (though there ares heterogeneous demographic data across the continent).…”

Clinico-Pathological Findings and Spatial Distributions of Esophageal Cancer in Arsi Zone, Central Ethiopia

“…Besides, 44.2% of the cases were from the highland agro-climatic zone. The nding is in agreement with the study that reported high altitude areas as the main location of EC in Arsi Zone (42). The predominance of EC in those areas seems to be related to the population sizes because the eastern, north-eastern, and highland agro-ecological zone are the most populated areas in Arsi Zone (53,54).…”

Spatial clustering of esophageal cancer in central Oromia, Ethiopia: A spatial autocorrelation and scan statistics analysis

“…The observed clustering is in agreement with findings from the East African esophageal cancer corridor, where localized high-incidence areas of esophageal cancer have been reported in Ethiopia, especially in the Bale and Arsi Zones, as well as in other countries, including Kenya, Tanzania and Malawi [ 55 , 56 ]. Several contextual factors may help explain these patterns.…”

Five-year single-centre experience of carcinoma of the oesophagus from Blantyre, Malawi

“…We noted a female preponderance in the upper third of the oesophagus, but a male preponderance overall which accords with previous Africa-wide data in 2012 8 (though there ares heterogeneous demographic data across the continent).…”