West Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter.Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention1513-73685320040301We are What we Eat - but What do we Eat? - A Role for Coordination of Cancer Registration and Dietary Intake22923024261ENJournal Article19700101https://journal.waocp.org/article_24261_60893011f3386c100148897a3bb9ec7f.pdfWest Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter.Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention1513-73685320040301The JICA Training Course, Community-based Cancer Prevention for Asian Pacific Countries, 2004 (Epidemiological Approach)23123624262ENJournal Article19700101https://journal.waocp.org/article_24262_f4129adf4ea8714dd4a2df176f8a2ec2.pdfWest Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter.Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention1513-73685320040301Allium Vegetables in Cancer Prevention: An Overview23724524263ENJournal Article19700101The Allium genus includes approximately 500 species. Commonly used allium vegetables include garlic, onion, leeks, chives, scallions which are used all over the world in different delicacies. Some allium vegetables have been employed for millenia in the traditional medical practice to treat cardiovascular diseases. They have been shown to have applications as antimicrobial, antithrombotic, antitumor, hypolipidaemic, antiarthritic and hypoglycemic agents. In recent years, extensive research has focused on the anticarcinogenic potential of allium vegetables and their constituents, viz., allylsulfides and flavonoids (particularly quercetin which is present abundantly in onion). Epidemiological studies have shown that higher intake of allium products is associated with reduced risk of several types of cancers. These epidemiological findings are well correlated with laboratory investigations. Organosulfur compounds present in Allium vegetables, are considered to be responsible for the beneficial effects of these herbs. Several mechanisms have been proposed to explain the cancer-preventive effects of Allium vegetables and related organosulfur compounds. These include inhibition of mutagenesis, modulation of enzyme activities, inhibition of DNA adduct formation, free-radical scavenging, and effects on cell proliferation and tumor growth. Although there is a large body of evidence supporting these mechanisms, they are still speculative, and further research is needed to support causality between such properties and cancer-preventive activity in experimental animals. This article reviews current knowledge concerning allium vegetables and cancer prevention.https://journal.waocp.org/article_24263_9e02c0447a9eaf4262706d4452473091.pdfWest Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter.Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention1513-73685320040301Helicobacter Pylori Eradication as a Preventive Tool Against Gastric Cancer24625224264ENJournal Article19700101Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), which increases the risk of gastric diseases, including digestive ulcers and gastric cancer, is highly prevalent in Asian countries. There is no doubt that eradication of the bacterium is effective as a treatment of digestive ulcer, but eradication aiming to reduce the gastric cancer risk is still controversial. Observational studies in Japan demonstrated that the eradication decreased the gastric cancer risk among 132 stomach cancer patients undergoing endoscopical resection (65 treated with omeprazol and antibiotics and 67 untreated). In Columbia, 976 participants were randomized into eight groups in a three-treatment factorial design including H. pylori eradication, resulting in significant regression in the H. pylori eradication group. A recent randomized study in China also showed a significant reduction of gastric cancer risk among those without any gastric atrophy, intestinal metaplasia, and dysplasia. Efficacy of eradication may vary in extent among countries with different incidence rates of gastric cancer. Since the lifetime cumulative risk (0 to 84 years old) of gastric cancer in Japan is reported to be 12.7% for males and 4.8% for females (Inoue and Tominaga, 2003), the corresponding values for H. pylori infected Japanese can be estimated at 21.2% in males and 8.0% in females under the assumptions that the relative risk for infected relative to uninfected is 5 and the proportion of those infected is 0.5. Both the fact that not all individuals are infected among those exposed and the knowledge that only a small percentage of individuals infected with the bacterium develop gastric cancer, indicate the importance of gene-environment interactions. Studies on such interactions should provide useful information for anti-H. pylori preventive strategies.https://journal.waocp.org/article_24264_97bacb22f724d16483e68b6837c6e921.pdfWest Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter.Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention1513-73685320040301Helicobacter Pylori Eradication as a Preventive Tool Against Gastric Cancer24625225460ENJournal Article19700101Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), which increases the risk of gastric diseases, including digestive ulcers and gastriccancer, is highly prevalent in Asian countries. There is no doubt that eradication of the bacterium is effective as atreatment of digestive ulcer, but eradication aiming to reduce the gastric cancer risk is still controversial. Observationalstudies in Japan demonstrated that the eradication decreased the gastric cancer risk among 132 stomach cancerpatients undergoing endoscopical resection (65 treated with omeprazol and antibiotics and 67 untreated). In Columbia,976 participants were randomized into eight groups in a three-treatment factorial design including H. pylorieradication, resulting in significant regression in the H. pylori eradication group. A recent randomized study inChina also showed a significant reduction of gastric cancer risk among those without any gastric atrophy, intestinalmetaplasia, and dysplasia. Efficacy of eradication may vary in extent among countries with different incidence ratesof gastric cancer. Since the lifetime cumulative risk (0 to 84 years old) of gastric cancer in Japan is reported to be12.7% for males and 4.8% for females (Inoue and Tominaga, 2003), the corresponding values for H. pylori infectedJapanese can be estimated at 21.2% in males and 8.0% in females under the assumptions that the relative risk forinfected relative to uninfected is 5 and the proportion of those infected is 0.5. Both the fact that not all individuals areinfected among those exposed and the knowledge that only a small percentage of individuals infected with thebacterium develop gastric cancer, indicate the importance of gene-environment interactions. Studies on suchinteractions should provide useful information for anti-H. pylori preventive strategies.https://journal.waocp.org/article_25460_6c8c44cb7c2d73a0e109596c971da6f4.pdfWest Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter.Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention1513-73685320040301Inhibition of Azoxymethane-induced Colon Carcinogenesis in Rats due to JTE-522, a Selective Cyclooxygenase-2 Inhibitor25325824265ENJournal Article19700101Prostaglandin E2, which is produced by cyclooxygenase (COX) during arachidonic acid metabolism, is considered to be related to colon carcinogenesis and selective COX-2 inhibitors may be effective for chemoprevention without the adverse side effects of non-selective, nonsteroid anti-inflammatory drugs. Therefore, the influence of JTE-522 (4-(4-cyclohexyl-2-methyloxazol-5-yl)-2-fluorobenzensulfonamide), a selective COX-2 inhibitor, was examined in azoxymethane(AOM)-induced rat colon carcinogenesis. A total of 40 male F344 rats were randomly divided into two groups. Group 1 received diet containing 0.015% JTE-522 and group 2 the normal diet without supplement as a control group; one week later, all rats were administered axozymethane (AOM) s.c. at a dose of 15 mg/kg body weight once a week for 3 successive weeks. At the termination of the experiment (30 weeks after the start), the multiplicity of colon cancer in group 1 was significantly less than that of group 2. The proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) indices for non-neoplastic cells of the colon mucosa in group 1 were also lower. These data thus suggest that JTE-522 has chemopreventive potential against colon carcinogenesis with decrease of mucosal cell proliferation in rats. https://journal.waocp.org/article_24265_365db838b9123b4a4e40675b502bbbcd.pdfWest Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter.Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention1513-73685320040301The First Cross Sectional Survey on Intracranial Malignancy in Kolkata, India: Reflection of the State of the Art in Southern West Bengal25926724266ENJournal Article19700101Recent increase in the occurrence of intracranial malignancies and poor performance of therapeutic measures have established the disease as an important concern of medical sciences. The lack of information about the disease pattern throughout India creates problems for maintaining community health for prevention. The present study on the hospital population of Kolkata was conducted to determine the incidence pattern of the disease in the population of southern West Bengal, focusing on distribution with age, sex, occupation and religion in different districts of the region, and characterizing diagnostic and therapeutic measures. Among a total of 39,509 cancer patients from 21 health centers of Kolkata, 2.4% had brain cancers and among these more than 60% are gliomas. A cross-sectional study for a period of 3 years reported the occurrence of 15 types of intracranial malignancy, which demonstrated astrocytomas (36.8%), glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) (7.9%) and meningiomas (11.6%) to be predominant. Brain tumors occur more frequently in males with few exceptions and the incidence was found to be highest among the 40- 49 year old group (20.2%). No specific trend for religion and occupation was apparent. However, the district wise distribution showed maximum incidences among industrial areas, namely, Kolkata (33.1%), North 24-Parganas (18.2%), Howrah (9.3%) and Hoogly (7.6%). Diagnosis of the disease was by CT scan, MRI and histological identification (pre and post operative). Therapeutic procedures rely mainly on surgery and radiotherapy, whereas chemotherapy was used as an adjuvant for about 10% of the cases. Evaluation of the scenario regarding intracranial malignancy in this region was a long awaited requirement which should ultimately serve an important function in pointing to risk zones within the population and allow better control measures to be introduced for the disease.https://journal.waocp.org/article_24266_8b4ddc0cfa2ad51af4b2c9461cbf152f.pdfWest Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter.Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention1513-73685320040301Epstein-Barr Virus-Associated Nodal Malignant Lymphoma in Thailand26827224267ENJournal Article19700101Specific subtypes of malignant lymphoma are highly associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection. In the present study, the authors evaluated EBV-encoded RNA (EBER) expression by in situ hybridization in 300 cases of malignant lymphomas diagnosed by lymph node biopsy, with 100 cases of reactive lymphoid hyperplasia in lymph nodes as controls, for comparison. There were 100 consecutive cases of classical Hodgkin’s lymphoma (cHL), 100 consecutive cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, B cell (NHL-B), and 100 consecutive cases of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma, T cell (NHL-T). EBER expression was detected in 46% of reactive lymphoid hyperplasia cases, but the positively stained cells in those cases constituted less than 5 percent of the total cell populations. When using the presence of EBER in 5 percent or more of the cell population and/or the presence of EBER in the Hodgkin’s Reed- Sternberg’s cells as indicators of positivity, 64% of cHL, 13% of NHL-B, and 51% of NHL-T were found to be positive. The study indicates a strong association of cHL and NHL-T with EBV infection, the link apparently being weaker for NHL-B except for the subtypes of Burkitt’s lymphoma and diffuse large B cell lymphoma. https://journal.waocp.org/article_24267_2d6c53bad6e21fa4df35fd8ee87006c2.pdfWest Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter.Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention1513-73685320040301Tobacco Survey Among Youth in South India27327824268ENJournal Article19700101<b>Background:</b> Smoking of cigarettes and, particularly, of “bidis” (which consist of about 0.2-0.3 gm of tobacco rolled up in the leaf of another plant (temburni) has been widespread for many decades among men in India. There have, however, been no substantial studies on the prevalence of tobacco use among youth in India. Hence a Global Youth Tobacco Survey was conducted in schools in Tamil Nadu as part of on-going Global Youth Tobacco survey in over 150 countries in the world. <br/><b>Methods</b>: The two-stage cluster sample method was used to select 100 schools with standards 8, 9 and 10 in Tamil Nadu. The survey used self administered questionnaires, which consisted of 88 multiple choice questions. <br/><b>Results</b>: A total of 4820 students participated (a response rate of 90.1%) in the 99 of 100 schools selected for the survey. About 10% of students aged 13-15 in Tamil Nadu had ever used tobacco. Significantly higher percentages of current tobacco users (one in three students) compared to never tobacco users thought smoking or chewing tobacco makes a boy or girl more attractive. About 3 in 4 current smokers expressed a wish to stop smoking and a similar proportion have already tried to quit the habit. About 80% of students considered using tobacco (smoking or chewing tobacco) to be harmful to their health. Only about half of the students reported that they have been taught in school the health effects of tobacco use during the year preceding the survey. Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and pro-tobacco advertisements is high. <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: The tobacco prevalence among girls is alarming. The results of the survey show the need to increase awareness about health hazards of tobacco use among students. Tobacco control programs focusing on youth are essential in order to reduce the burden of tobacco related diseases in India. Repeat surveys would help in monitoring the tobacco epidemic in the school and to evaluate the efficacy of state level tobacco control programs. https://journal.waocp.org/article_24268_f6002cada80460e4a9796718611648c4.pdfWest Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter.Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention1513-73685320040301Identification of Hydroxyl Radicals after UV Irradiation of Aqueous Extracts of Cigarette Smoke and Evaluation of Urinary 8-OHdG in Smokers27928324269ENJournal Article19700101West Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter.Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention1513-73685320040301Rhabdomyosarcoma in Karachi 1998-200228429024270ENJournal Article19700101The epidemiological features of rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), an uncommon malignancy composed of cells with histopathologic features of striated muscle, were studied in Pakistan. Incident RMS cases recorded at the Karachi Cancer Registry during 1998 to 2004 were reviewed and to ensure maximum completness of data, only those registered between 1998 and 2002 were considered for the present study. Two hundred and seventeen cases were reported to the Karachi Cancer Registry during this five-year period. One hundred and forty eight of the patients (60.4% males; 39.6% females) were residents of Karachi. The crude and standardized annual incidence rates/100,000 were 0.3 for males and 0.2 for females. The incidence was 0.5 in children below 15 years of age. The primary RMS sites in males were head and neck (28.1%), extremities (25.8%), genitourinary (GU) tract (17.9%), trunk (9.0%), orbit (7.9%), and retroperitoneum (3.4%). RMS occurred at other sites in 7.9% of the patients. Corresponding frequencies in females were head and neck (35.6%), extremities (16.9%), GU tract (16.9%), trunk (8.5%), orbit (8.5%) and other sites in 13.6%. Approximately 60% of the cases were childhood RMS and three fourths were below 21 years. The mean age of RMS cases all sites, males, was 18.5 years (95% CI 15.6; 21.4); for childhood RMS, 7.5 years (95% CI 6.0; 9.2); and for adult RMS 34.2 years (95% CI 28.3;40.2). In females, the corresponding figures were 18.2 (95% CI 13.7; 22.7); 6.6 (95% CI 5.0; 8.1) and 33.9 (95% CI 27.5; 40.5), respectively. One hundred cases were retraceable, and the mean survival time, RMS all sites and ages in both genders, was 1.5 years (95% CI 1.1; 1.9). The 5-year survival was 10%, and 3-year survival was 30% whereas 16.7% of the patients died within a year of diagnosis. The indicators of poor prognosis, a late presentation, rapid evolution, advanced disease, tumor burden (tumor size > 5.cms) and regional lymph node involvement, are characteristic of RMS in Karachi. Recent advances in RMS multimodality treatment protocols have improved RMS prognosis in patients with limited disease. Pakistan should focus on early diagnosis and prompt treatment of malignancies. This requires health education for the general population to create awareness and training of health professionals at all levels to promote early diagnosis. An RMS group is required , which would monitor the treatment, recurrence, patient education and provide psychosocial support. Cytogenetic studies are advised for a better understanding of biologic differences in RMS cases in this population. https://journal.waocp.org/article_24270_e86407516a2f3a6796a49864dae38caf.pdfWest Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter.Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention1513-73685320040301Variation of Tumor Markers in 277 Breast Cancer Cases29129324271ENJournal Article19700101Introduction and purpose: Breast cancer is the most frequently diagnosed cancer in women in the world, Advances in paraclinical methods have resulted in dramatic changes in determining the survival of patients. Serial evaluation of serum levels of tumor markers is one of these methods. <br/><b>Methods</b>: During 1993-2002, 277 cases with breast cancer after mastectomy were included in this cross sectional study. Data were extracted from the patients records. Characteristics of the patients associated with serum levels of tumor markers like CEA,CA15-3 and receptor markers like ER,PR with P53,Cathepsin-D and HER -2 were evaluated. <br/><b>Results</b>: The most common involved age was in the 4th decade, accounting for 43.3%of the total. Most of the cases (54.3%) had stage II disease; Ductal carcinoma with frequency of 83.3% was the most common pathology involved and bone metastasis with 59% was prominent. There were elevated serum levels of CEA and CA15-3 in 50.6% and 41.7%, respectively. There was no statistical relation between serum levels of these markers with disease stage (CEA: pearson chi-square = 0.133 CAl5-3: Pearson chi-square = 0.064). There was a great increase in serum level of tumor markers during relapse (CEA P = 0.000 CA15-3 P = 0.000). Discussion and <br/><b>Conclusions</b>: Because diagnosis of breast cancer is generally at advanced stage in our country, serum levels of tumor markers demonstrate great differences from those published for the Western world. It seems, however, that serum levels of tumor markers might be reliable for predicting relapses.https://journal.waocp.org/article_24271_91912e724bb3c64062a9d206fa98f295.pdfWest Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter.Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention1513-73685320040301Oral Cancers in Mumbai, India: a Fifteen Years Perspective with Respect to Incidence Trend and Cumulative Risk29430024272ENJournal Article19700101<br/><b>Objective</b>: We estimated the time trends in the incidence and the risk of developing an oral cancer in Mumbai, Indian population using the data collected by the Bombay Population Based Cancer Registry during the 15 year period from 1986 to 2000. <br/><b>Methods</b>: A total of 9,670 oral cancers (8.2% of all neoplasms) were registered, of which 6577 were in males and 3093 in females (10.7% and 5.4% of the respective totals for the two genders) . For evaluation of the trend, we applied a linear regression model based on the logarithm of the observed incidence rates. The annual percentage changes were also computed for the incidence rates to evaluate the time trend. <br/><b>Results</b>: In males, a statistically significant decreasing trend in the overall age-adjusted incidence rates were observed during the period 1986 to 2000, with an yearly decrease of 1.70%. This decrease was significant for men above the age of 40, but for young adult men below the age of 40, there was no significant decrease, the level being stable. In females, the overall decreasing trend in the age-adjusted incidence rates of oral cancers was not significant, but in the age group 40-59, a significant decline was observed. The probability estimates indicated that one out of every 57 men and one out of every 95 women will contract any oral cancer at some time in their whole life and 97% of the chance is after he or she completes the age of 40. <br/><b>Conclusion</b>: The observed decreasing trend in oral cancers in Indian men may be attributed to a decrease in the usage of pan and tobacco. The high prevalence of the usage of smokeless tobacco among young adult men and women may explain the stable trend in oral cancer incidence in this group. These findings help to strengthen the association between tobacco use and oral cancer risk. https://journal.waocp.org/article_24272_e1e9cf54beee3fbb73a865f285b435f9.pdfWest Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter.Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention1513-73685320040301Reasons for Lower Survival from Non-Hodgkinีs Lymphoma Among Older Patients30130224273ENJournal Article19700101Cancer-registry data for 710 patients, treated for non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) at a South Australian teaching hospital between 1977 and 2000, gave a five-year disease-specific survival of 53%, which was similar to populationbased estimates for Australia, the USA, and Europe. This figure reduced with age at diagnosis from 69% for patients less than 40 years at diagnosis to 30% for those aged 80 years or more. Multivariable analysis indicated that older age was predictive of lower survival (p<0.001), after adjusting for grade (Working Formulation), Ann Arbor stage, bulk disease, B symptoms (weight loss, unexplained fever, night sweats), extra-lymphatic site involvement, and diagnostic period. No other clinical variable, when included in the model, affected the risk coefficient for age. Even among patients gaining complete remission following chemotherapy, the relative risk of death from NHL was 2.11 (95% CL: 1.24, 3.57) for patients aged 70 years or more at diagnosis when compared with younger patients. We conclude that older patients have lower survivals not explained by established risk factors and that this also applies to patients who achieve complete remission following chemotherapy. https://journal.waocp.org/article_24273_1bc60ef224d850194280a01ee017cc3b.pdfWest Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter.Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention1513-73685320040301Population-based Survival from Cancers of Breast, Cervix and Ovary in Women in Mumbai, India30831524274ENJournal Article19700101<b>Background:</b> Breast, cervix and ovarian cancers contribute more than 45% of the total in women in Mumbai and survival proportions for these neoplasms are very high in most developed populations in the World. The authors here report and discuss the population-based survival for these cancers in Mumbai, India. <br/><b>Methods</b>: Follow-up information on 4865 cancers of breast, cervix and ovary, registered in the Mumbai Population Based Cancer Registry for the period 1992-1994 was obtained by a variety of methods, including matching with death certificates from the Mumbai vital statistics registration system, postal/telephone enquiries, home visits and scrutiny of medical records. The survival for each case was determined as the duration between the date of diagnosis and date of death, date of loss to follow-up or the closing date of the study (December 31st, 1999). Cumulative observed and relative survival was calculated by the Hakulinen Method. For comparison of results with other populations, age-standardized relative survival (ASRS) was calculated by directly standardizing age specific relative survival to the specific age distributions of the estimated global incidence of major cancers in 1985. The log rank test was used in univariate analysis to identify the potentially important prognostic variables. The variables showing statistical significance in univariate analysis were introduced stepwise into a Cox Regression model to identify the independent predictors of survival. <br/><b>Results</b>: The 5-year relative survival rates were 46.2% for breast, 47.7% for the cervix and 25.4% for the ovary. Higher survival was observed for those younger than 35 years for all these three sites. For each, survival declined with advancing age. Single patients who remained unmarried had better survival. For all sites Muslims had a better and Christians a lower survival as compared to Hindus. Education did not appear to be of significance. Survival decreased rapidly with advancing clinical extent of disease for all sites. With localized cancer, 5-year rates ranged from 54.7% to 69.3%, for regional spread 20.4% to 41.6% and distant metastasis not a single site recorded more than 5%. On multivariate analysis, age and extent of disease emerged as independent predictors of survival for all the sites. <br/><b>Conclusion</b>: All the sites included in the study demonstrated moderate survival rates with significant variation. Comparison with other populations revealed lower survival rates as compared to developed countries, particularly for breast and ovary. In Indian populations survival proportions did not show much variation for these cancers. Early detection and treatment are clearly important factors to reduce the mortality from these cancers. https://journal.waocp.org/article_24274_285b6b99fbc4962837b2d27f7f4e5852.pdfWest Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter.Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention1513-73685320040301The Role of Depression in the Development of Breast Cancer: Analysis of a Single Institute Registry Data31631924275ENJournal Article19700101Although controversial, the belief that developing breast cancer may be associated with psychological distress is not uncommon. The present study examined the role of psychological variables in the development of breast cancer in women attending a breast clinic for medical examination in Tehran, Iran. During a three-year period (1997-1999) a trained female nurse interviewed all women attending the Iranian Center for Breast Cancer (ICBC) before a confirmed diagnosis was made (N = 3000). Data were collected on demographic variables (age, education and marital status), known risk factors (age at menarche, age at first time full term pregnancy, family history of breast cancer, menopausal status, and oral contraceptive use), psychological variables, including history of psychiatric medications, depression (depressed mood, hopelessness, and loss of interests and pleasures), anxiety (mental and somatic signs) and two single measures of overall health and quality of life. In all, 243 patients were diagnosed as having breast cancer. A total of 486 patients with benign disease were randomly selected from the original cohort as controls. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to determine the predictive effect of each factor on the risk of breast cancer. There were no significant differences between cases and controls except for age at menarche (P = 0.007) and family history of breast cancer (P < 0.001). With regard to psychological variables studied, the results showed that there were significant differences between cases and controls regarding depression (depressed mood P < 0.0001, hopelessness P = 0.001, and loss of interest and pleasures P = 0.001), and anxiety (mental signs P = 0.006). Finally, after performing multiple logistic regression analysis in addition to family history and age at menarche, depressed mood and hopelessness showed significant results (odds ratios of 1.90, and 1.63 respectively). The findings of the present study suggest that in addition to the known risk factors, psychological determinants such as depressed mood may play an important role in etiology of breast cancer and deserve further investigation, especially in different populationshttps://journal.waocp.org/article_24275_5977275af54967b26aad89853094eedc.pdfWest Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter.Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention1513-73685320040301Estimation of Cancer Incidences in Aichi Prefecture: Use of a Model Area with Good Quality Registry Data32032724276ENJournal Article19700101In Japan, local government is responsible for organization of population-based cancer registries and the quality of the registration remains modest, mainly due to dependence on voluntary-based operations without legal obligations. Aichi Prefecture cancer registry covers a large population, estimated at 7 million, and its quality has yet to reach the level required internationally. The derived cancer incidences for Aichi Prefecture therefore tend to be underestimated. In the present study we set up a model area, located in the central part of Aichi Prefecture, with a good quality of registry data, covering a reasonable population, including both urban and rural areas. Our model area has typical demographic features of Aichi Prefecture. The materials were data on cancer incidence and deaths during the period of 1996-2000 in this model area of Aichi prefecture, with a population of approximately one million, under the jurisdiction of three public health centers, covering nine municipalities. The percentage of death certificated notified (DCN) cases for all sites was around 14% and the incidence/death ratio was around 1.9. Estimated age-adjusted incidence rates were found to be 256.0 (per 100,000) for males and 177.6 for females, these values being 10~15 % higher than those generated using data for the whole prefecture, and quite close to incidence rates in Japan estimated from the highest quality of data available. It is suggested that the cancer incidence in the Aichi prefecture is indeed being underestimated and that the actual figures may be closer to the estimates provided here. https://journal.waocp.org/article_24276_23ae8cb5ae1e1319e7631669cd6c22aa.pdfWest Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter.Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention1513-73685320040301Fight Against Cancer in Countries with Limited Resources: The Post-genomic Era Scenario32833324277ENJournal Article19700101The enormous advances in science and technology in the 20th century have facilitated the process of globalization with the aim of a better quality of life for all. Paradoxically, the gap between the rich and the poor, for both nations and people, is constantly widening. The actual trends in human genome research are leading towards promising genomic medicine, but it will be expensive and inaccessible for many. Also, it may not offer a quick fix ‘cure’ for various types of cancers. The biggest challenge before the clinicians now is the management of the rising incidence of cancer in developing countries, with little prospect of more resources becoming available to fight the disease. The death rate from cancer in the developing countries is set to rise at least 3-fold by the year 2025 largely due to the increased life expectancy, containment of infectious diseases and changing lifestyles. It is estimated that about 50% of cancers are curable if they are detected early and treated appropriately. Screening has a major role in early diagnosis. However, in the developing world around 80% of cancer patients have late stage incurable disease when they are diagnosed. Moreover, in a developing country like India, about 70% of the population obtain medical help from private practitioners. Nearly half of those who seek medical help utilize alternative and traditional systems of medicine. Appalling poverty, poor hygiene and complex social dynamics, pose major hurdles in this regard. Many in the private sector who call themselves doctors have no medical degree. By 2030 tobacco is expected to kill 10 million people worldwide, out of which 70% of the deaths will occur in the developing countries. Control of usage of tobacco has still not achieved a conducive atmosphere. It is now realized that the research information and knowledge generated in the west may neither be relevant nor applicable to developing countries, due to differences in social and cultural attitudes, lifestyles and lack of sophisticated technologies. Though the sequencing of the human genome will have a major impact on the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, monitoring, and outcome of cancer, the cancer scenario in the developing countries for the next 20 years is likely to be more or less the same, rather than presenting a radically different picture. Cancer awareness and screening programs for early detection thus should be continue to be given utmost attention .https://journal.waocp.org/article_24277_45e32dd5e612b64c1d114bdfa6f04ad4.pdfWest Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter.Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention1513-73685320040301Herbs as a Food Source in Turkey33433924278ENJournal Article19700101Medical benefits of herbs have been known for centuries. Many examples contain powerful active components that, if used correctly, can help in healing the living organism. These herbs can also be provided in the form of capsules and powders, as dietary supplements, and thus differ from conventional foods or food ingredients. The traditional Turkish kitchen is rich of various herbs which have been employed as ingredients since ancient times. The present paper provides a brief overview of some important herbs in the Turkish flora, including fennel, sage, rosemary, mallow, sweet basil, savory, chicory, nettle, thyme, flax, cumin, caper, coriander, milk thistle, spanish lavender, marjoram, dandelion, rocket, purslane, spanish salsify, amaranthus, wild radish, and wild mustard. Studies on these herbs have revealed that they contain powerful active components that might be effective for increasing human health and preventing cancer.https://journal.waocp.org/article_24278_45969ef4f1870a2d21438d2a5f28b1aa.pdfWest Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter.Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention1513-73685320040301Second APOCP General Assembly Conference - Seoul National University, 1st-3rd November, 2004, Seoul, Korea New Paths to Cancer Prevention in the Asian-Pacific Region34034124279ENJournal Article19700101