Elsevier

Annals of Oncology

Volume 22, Issue 6, June 2011, Pages 1435-1442
Annals of Oncology

original articles
epidemiology
Population attributable fraction of infection-related cancers in Korea

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Abstract

Background

A number of infectious agents have been classified as human carcinogens. The purpose of the current study was to provide an evidence-based assessment of the burden of infection-related cancers in the Korean population.

Materials and methods

The population attributable fraction was calculated using infection prevalence data from 1990 or earlier, relative risk estimates from meta-analyses using mainly Korean studies and national data on cancer incidence and mortality for the year 2007.

Results

The fractions of all cancers attributable to infection were 25.1% and 16.8% for cancer incidence in men and women, and 25.8% and 22.7% of cancer mortality in men and women, respectively. Among infection-related cancers, Helicobacter pylori was responsible for 56.5% of cases and 45.1% of deaths, followed by hepatitis B virus (HBV) (23.9% of cases and 37.5% of deaths) and human papillomavirus (HPV) (11.3% of cases and 6% of deaths) and then by hepatitis C virus (HCV) (6% of cases and 9% of deaths). Over 97% of infection-related cancers were attributable to infection with H. pylori, HBV, HCV and HPV.

Conclusion

Up to one-quarter of cancer cases and deaths would be preventable through appropriate control of infectious agents in Korea.

Keywords

cancer burden
infection
population attributable fraction

Cited by (0)

These authors equally contributed to this work.

Present address: International Prevention Research Institute, Lyon, France.

§

The Tisch Cancer Institute, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, USA.