CANCER MORTALITY IN ITALIAN MIGRANTS TO CANADA

The present study reports on the analysis of cancer mortality in Itali an first-generation migrants resident in Canada, deceased in the perio d between 1964-1985 (5,801 males: 3,267 females). Mortality in migrant s is compared to that of the host population as well as to that in the migrants' country of origin. This is carried out both on a national l evel (Italy), and on a regional level with those regions that have mad e the greatest contribution to the Italian migratory flow (Southern It aly). Compared with the Canada-born population, significantly higher r isks were evident for nasopharynx, stomach, liver and gallbladder tumo rs in migrants. Lower risks were observed for the oral cavity, esophag us, colon, rectum, pancreas (females), larynx, lung, melanoma, breast, ovary, prostate, bladder (females), and non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in mig rants. This is consistent with that evidenced in the comparison betwee n Italy and Canada. The data are discussed in relation to the results of other studies on Italian migrants and the prevalence of main risk f actors.