CANCER INCIDENCE IN ASIAN MIGRANTS TO NEW-SOUTH-WALES, AUSTRALIA

Cancer incidence during 1972-90 in Asian migrants to New South Wales, Australia, is described. Overall cancer incidence was lower than in th e Australia born in most migrant groups, and this reached significance in migrants born in China/Taiwan, the Philippines, Vietnam and India/ Sri Lanka, and in male migrants born in Indonesia. For the majority of cancers, rates were more similar to those in the Australia born than to those in the countries of birth. For cancers of the breast, colorec tum and prostate, rates were relatively low in the countries of birth. but migrants generally exhibited rates nearer those of the Australia born. For cancers of the liver and cervix and, in India/Sri Lanka-born migrants, of the oral cavity, incidence was relatively high in the co untries of birth but tended to be lower, nearer Australia-born rates, in the migrants. For these cancers, environmental Factors related to t he migrant's adopted country, and migrant selection, appeared to have a major effect on the risk of cancer. For certain other cancers, incid ence was more similar to that in the countries of birth. Nasopharyngea l cancer, and lung cancer in females, had high rates in both the count ries of birth and in migrants to Australia. Nasopharyngeal cancer rate s were highest in China/Taiwan- and Hong Kong-born migrants, and were also significantly high in migrants from Malaysia/Singapore, Vietnam a nd the Philippines. Rates of lung cancer were significantly high in wo men born in China/Taiwan, and the excess was greater for adenocarcinom a than for squamous cell carcinoma. Melanoma had low rates in both the migrants and in the countries of birth. For these cancers, it was pro bable that generic factors, or environmental factors acting Drier to m igration, were important in causation.