West Asia Organization for Cancer Prevention (WAOCP), APOCP's West Asia Chapter. Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 1513-7368 7 2 2006 02 01 Gastrointestinal Cancer Occurrence in East Azarbaijan : A Five Year Study from North Western Iran 309 312 25461 EN Journal Article 1970 01 01 Background and aims: Regardless of the fact that neoplasms of the GI tract have been reported as the mostcommon fatal cancers in east Azerbaijan, there is a serious lack of population based studies in this region. The aim ofthis pathology-based cancer registry report is to document epidemiologic aspects of gastrointestinal tract cancers inEast Azerbaijan for further medical programs for treatment and screening of high-risk groups and study changesover time. <br/><b>Methods</b>: A survey team reviewed and collected all records of cancer cases from all referral and validpathology laboratories, hospitals and out patient public and private clinics of East Azerbaijan province during a fiveyear period (September 1999 to 2004). <br/><b>Results</b>: 5417 new cases of histologically confirmed GI tract cancers wereregistered, 61.7% of the subjects being male. The mean (± SD) ages were 63.25 ± 12.79 and 59.45±13.39 yr for menand women, respectively .Gastric cancer was the most common GI tract cancer with an annual ASR of 21.3 per 105for males and 8.2 for females . The annual ASRs for esophagus and colorectal cancers were 9.4 and 6 in males and 7.1and 9.2 in females. Gastric cancer was significantly more common among men although women were more likely todevelop cancer in younger age. Some 14% of our subjects with colorectal cancer were under the age of 40. <br/><b>Conclusion</b>:This first report from East Azarbaijan, suggests a need for further evaluations to map out the risk factors andinterventions. https://journal.waocp.org/article_25461_e9e14ed50f613519d3033755083c9805.pdf