Background. Epidemiological studies of cancer among migrant groups are
beneficial in that they can provide insight into genetic and environm
ental factors in disease aetiology. Seven studies in the epidemiologic
al literature have examined cancer mortality in migrants from China; m
ethodological features and findings, which display remarkable consiste
ncies between studies, are reviewed here. Methods. Papers were include
d that compare site-specific cancer mortality patterns in first and se
cond generation migrants to the experience in the host regions using v
ital statistics and census data. Rates had to be standardized either i
ndirectly (using age-specific rates from the host regions) or directly
(using a standard age structure) and standardized mortality ratios (S
MR) or rate ratios (RR) were calculated. Results. Migrant males had ov
erall mortality from cancer that was often in significant excess compa
red to the host experience; results for females (for overall cancer) w
ere equivocal. Both sexes had large and significant excess mortality f
rom nasopharyngeal and liver cancer; SMR and RR were also consistently
elevated for cancers of the stomach and oesophagus. There was notable
attenuation in the high risk at these four sites in the second genera
tion. All studies reported pronounced and significant reduced risk for
prostatic cancer and female breast cancer, with little or no increase
in mortality in the second generation. The SMR and RR also tended to
be below unity for brain, bladder and kidney cancer. Conclusions. The
results of this review indicate that cancer risk at several sites amon
g Chinese migrants appears to be in transition, and that these finding
s are consistent across studies.