Cancer pattern among Greenlandic Inuit migrants in Denmark, 1968-1982

A Prener,Om Jensen,Jph Hansen,Nh Nielsen

doi:10.1038/bjc.1987.265

Abstract

For several cancer sites the incidence among Inuit (Eskimos) in Alaska, Canada and Greenland differs markedly from that in non-Inuit in adjacent areas. This is the first study of Inuit migrants. Among 11,571 Inuit Greenlandic people living in Denmark in the period 1968-1982 we found 69 cases of cancer. Significantly increased risks compared to the Danish population were found for cancer of the rectum (RR = 5.5) in males and for nasopharyngeal cancer (RR = 185.2) and cancer of the cervix uteri (RR = 1.9). The significance of these findings in relation to the role of environmental factors in the aetiology of cancer in Inuit is discussed.

Highlights

Inuit (Eskimos) in Alaska, Canada and Greenland have a remarkable cancer pattern and for several sites the incidence differs markedly from that in non-Inuit in adjacent areas (Blot et al, 1975; Nielsen & Hansen, 1982a; Lanier et al, 1976; Hildes & Schaeffer, 1984)
Studies in Alaska and Canada have in recent years shown a change towards a more westernized cancer pattern (Lanier et al, 1976; Schaeffer et al, 1975)
Similar changes have not yet been observed in Greenland (Nielsen & Hansen, 1985) and the Greenlandic population still presents an increased risk for specific types of cancer compared to the population in Denmark

Summary

Introduction

Inuit (Eskimos) in Alaska, Canada and Greenland have a remarkable cancer pattern and for several sites the incidence differs markedly from that in non-Inuit in adjacent areas (Blot et al, 1975; Nielsen & Hansen, 1982a; Lanier et al, 1976; Hildes & Schaeffer, 1984). Studies in Alaska and Canada have in recent years shown a change towards a more westernized cancer pattern (Lanier et al, 1976; Schaeffer et al, 1975). Cancer of the salivary glands occurs in general with uniform low incidence all over the world except for the Inuit populations in Canada, Alaska and Greenland, and possibly among the populations of the Doubs, France and in Hawaii (Waterhouse et al, 1982)

Methods

Results

Discussion

Conclusion