Lymphoid Malignancies in U.S. Asians

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BlankLymphoid Malignancies in U.S. Asians: Incidence Rate Differences by

Birthplace and Acculturation

1.. A. e1,2,

2.. Sally L. Glaser1,2,

3.. Scarlett L. Gomez1,2,

4.. Sophia S. Wang3,

5.. Theresa H. Keegan1,2,

6.. Yang1, and

7.. Ellen T. Chang1,2

+ Author Affiliations

1.. Authors' Affiliations:1Cancer Prevention Institute of California, Fremont;

2Division of Epidemiology, Department of Health Research and Policy, Stanford

University School of Medicine, Stanford; 3Department of Cancer Etiology, City of

Hope and the Beckman Research Institute, Duarte, California

1.. Corresponding Author:

A. e, Cancer Prevention Institute of California, 2201 Walnut

Avenue, Suite 300, Fremont, CA 94538. Phone: 510-608-5044; Fax: 510-608-5085.

E-mail: tina@...

Abstract

Background: Malignancies of the lymphoid cells, including non-Hodgkin lymphomas

(NHL), HL, and multiple myeloma, occur at much lower rates in Asians than other

racial/ethnic groups in the United States. It remains unclear whether these

deficits are explained by genetic or environmental factors. To better understand

environmental contributions, we examined incidence patterns of lymphoid

malignancies among populations characterized by ethnicity, birthplace, and

residential neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) and ethnic enclave status.

Methods: We obtained data about all Asian patients diagnosed with lymphoid

malignancies between 1988 and 2004 from the California Cancer Registry and

neighborhood characteristics from U.S. Census data.

Results: Although incidence rates of most lymphoid malignancies were lower among

Asian than white populations, only follicular lymphoma (FL), chronic lymphocytic

leukemia/small lymphocytic lymphoma (CLL/SLL), and nodular sclerosis (NS) HL

rates were statistically significantly lower among foreign-born than U.S.-born

Asians with incidence rate ratios ranging from 0.34 to 0.87. Rates of CLL/SLL

and NS HL were also lower among Asian women living in ethnic enclaves or lower

SES neighborhoods than those living elsewhere.

Conclusions: These observations support strong roles of environmental factors in

the causation of FL, CLL/SLL, and NS HL.

Impact: Studying specific lymphoid malignancies in U.S. Asians may provide

valuable insight toward understanding their environmental causes. Cancer

Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev; 20(6); 1064–77. ©2011 AACR.