LSU Health Tumor Registry Finds Acadiana Colon Cancer Rates Among Highest In The Nation

LSU Health New Orleans School of Public Health's Louisiana Tumor Registry has just released information on a special study that finds colon cancer rates in Acadiana are among the highest in the nation. Why is this happening? Is it the food? Is it genetics? Or, is it environmental? Here's what they found out.

Cajuns are what is called a "Founder Population" meaning "a new population founded by a small number of individuals who have limited genetic variation relative to the larger original population." What that means is that it could be a genetic predisposition to the cancer.

From eurekalert.com -

The research team chose to study the Acadian parishes where French is spoken as these parishes are home to the Cajun population that migrated to the region in the 1700s from Canada and France. Founder populations are important to study as diseases with a hereditary basis, such as certain genetic conditions and cancers, can be seen with increased frequency. Results can yield important information about cancer susceptibility genes not only for the population being studied, but for others worldwide who may share a similar heritage.

The research team identified 18 Acadian parishes and stratified 2005-2009 cancer incidence data by age, ethnicity and gender by utilizing French language census data. A total of 3,288 colorectal cancer cases were identified in the Acadian region and 11,737 in Louisiana. They identified a subgroup of 9 parishes with higher proportions of French speakers, a marker for the Cajun population. Colorectal cancer rates in whites and white males in the 18 parishes were statistically significantly higher than both Louisiana and US rates. In the 9 parishes, rates increased further; whites had an incidence of 56.1 per 100,000, 13% higher than Louisiana and 23% higher than the US rate. In white males, incidence was 72.6 per 100,000, 19% higher than Louisiana and 37% higher than the US rate. If the 9-parish region were considered a "state," white males would have the highest colorectal cancer incidence in the United States by 11% compared with other white male populations."

For a more in depth look at the study, head over to www.eurekalert.com