Cancer of the Esophagus: Approaches to the Etiology

The book deals briefly with the normal structure, functioning and biochemistry of the esophagus and with the histological and genetic changes accompanying the development of esophageal cancer in humans and animals. Factors implicated in causing esophageal cancer are described in relation to its very dramatic epidemiology. Thus dietary deficiencies and consumption of foods contaminated by Fusaria mycotoxins are discussed in connection with the extremely high incidence of the disease in certain sharply demarcated regions in China and South Africa, and alcohol and tobacco use are discussed in relation to the epidemiology in Europe and USA. Other hazards mentioned include opium in Iran, betel nut in Asia and bracken in Japan. The sole group of chemicals known to be very potent esophageal carcinogens in animal experiments, the nitrosamines, are described especially in terms of the widespread human exposure.