Epidemiology, Genetic, and Risk Factors of Esophageal Malignancy in Asia-Pacific Region; A Review Study

Abstract

Background:

Esophageal cancer (EC) continues to be a largely deadly malignancy worldwide, with overall 5-year survival less than 20% due to poor prognosis. Current statistics on EC incidence and consequences are essential for the prevention and therapeutic strategies of the malignancy.

Materials and Methods

This overview was compiled from up-to-date epidemiological and clinical information on EC to reflect the status of EC in the Asia-Pacific region. We performed this review using Medline, PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar, ISI Web of Knowledge (Science Citation Index Expanded), and Cochrane databases. The following MeSH terms and keywords were used for searching: ‘esophagus cancer’, ‘epidemiology’, ‘incidence’, ‘mortality’, ‘risk factors’, and ‘Asia-Pacific region’. In addition, we reviewed age-standardized rates (ASRs) of EC occurrence and mortality for Asia-Pacific countries from GLOBOCAN, national databases using frequency rates, and the WHO mortality database in 2020.

Results

Based on these findings, EC incidence rates range from 0.33 to 18.5 per 100,000 in Asia-Pacific countries. Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) was the predominant subtype in East and South-East Asia and was followed by Central Asia, with rates of 8.9 and 4.7 per 100,000 in both sexes, respectively. The highest incidence rates of esophageal adenocarcinoma (ADC) in the Asian-Pacific region were found in Australia and New Zealand (1.8/100,000).

Conclusion:

In this region, an unhealthy lifestyle is considered the leading risk factor for EC. Thus, changing lifestyle and community awareness of EC risk factors and healthy lifestyle learning is promising.