European country comparisons provide evidence of a link between colon cancer and adenocarcinoma development in the lung but not the oesophagus

Relative incidence rates of lung cancers demonstrate marked international v ariation in values for the different histological sub-types, In order to de termine whether adenocarcinomas (ACs) in this site might share risk factors with other ACs, for example, in the breast, prostate, oesophagus and colon , a comparison of data in the IARC/WHO Cancer Incidence in Five Continents (Volume VII) was made for selected registries in Europe. Significant correl ations were found between lung AC incidences/100,000 population and prostat e and colon cancers in males (P < 0.005 and P < 0.05, respectively) and for breast and colon in females (P < 0.05 for both), Partial correlation coeff icients were significant for lung and colon (P < 0.001) and prostate and co lon (P < 0.005) in men, and for breast and colon in women (P < 0.005), A si gnificant negative correlation with prostate cancer was noted for lung ACs in men, The results provide support for shared risk factors between lung AC s and colon cancers but do not indicate any link with AC development in the oesophagus, Data from registries in the UK and Italy were remarkable for h igh incidences of oesophageal and lung ACs, respectively, pointing to major differences in environmental risk factors or beneficial influence acting o n these sites between the two countries. (C) Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.