Environmental factors of cancer of the colon and rectumII. Japanese epidemiological data

Abstract

This is an epidemiological study of 107 patients with large bowel cancer and 307 control patients interviewed in Japan. Colon cancer is significantly less common in Japan, but rectal cancer is as common in Japan as it is in the United States. Japanese patients with cancer of the colon have a higher socioeconomic status than rectal cancer patients. Associated with the higher status is a more Western style diet. It is suggested that perhaps dietary fat influences the make-up of the bacterial flora and thus affects the pathogenesis of cancer of the colon. No significant relationship was found to medical and surgical diseases nor to the cholesterol and weight levels.