Abstract
The outcome of different studies on the role of Zn & Mo in esophageal cancer (EC) is conflicting. Here, the levels of those elements in hair as well as food grain of two different ethnic populations across two continents have been studied to explore their role in EC. Two different ethnic populations are taken from (i) Eastern Cape, South Africa (RSA), an area of very high incidence of EC and (ii) West Bengal, India, an area of low incidence of that disease. Each ethnic population is divided into two groups: case and control (n=30 for all groups). Hair samples from all groups and food grains from RSA and India are analyzed for Zn & Mo content. This study shows a strong correlation between reduced levels of those elements in hair and the development of EC in RSA (both Zn & Mo: p<0.0001), though it is only suggestive in Indian context (both Zn & Mo: p≥0.05). Interestingly, control group of RSA shows significantly reduced level of those elements in hair even with respect to Indian case group (Zn: p<0.001 & Mo: p<0.00001). Food grain from RSA has significantly reduced level of those elements with respect to India (both Zn & Mo: p<0.0001). This deficiency of Zn & Mo in food grains can be correlated to the deficiency of those elements in hair of RSA population. The deficiency of Zn & Mo can be correlated to the development of EC.
Highlights
In South Africa, esophageal cancer (EC) is the third most common cancer in males but the incidence is moderately high among black males (17.14% of all cancers) (Sitas, Terblanche, & Madhoo, 1996)
This study shows a strong correlation between reduced levels of those elements in hair and the development of EC in RSA, though it is only suggestive in Indian context
Our results shows that EC patient of South African case group has significantly reduced level of Zn & Mo in hair with respect to the South African control group (Figure 1 & Figure 2; Table 1)
Summary
In South Africa, esophageal cancer (EC) is the third most common cancer in males (incidence is 5.4% of all cancers) but the incidence is moderately high among black males (17.14% of all cancers) (Sitas, Terblanche, & Madhoo, 1996). One in 32 men have a lifetime risk of developing EC while in Eastern Cape, South Africa it is twenty times more common that the second common cancer (Halperin, Perez, & Brady, 2008; Sitas et al, 1996). For black males the incidence rate is 13.07/100000 (crude rate) and 25.17/100000 (ASIR). As a whole in Eastern Cape, RSA 25% of all cancers is EC, whereas in Transkei, Eastern Cape, it is 50/100000 (ASIR) for both males and females (Sitas et al, 1996). In eastern India in the state of West Bengal it has been found that the incidence of EC is 3.1/100000 and 2.9/100000 (crude rate) for males and females respectively www.ccsenet.org/gjhs
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