Esophageal cancer in Kenya

Joab Otieno Odera; Elizabeth Odera; Jessie Githang'a; Edwin Oloo Walong; Fang Li; Zhaohui Xiong; Xiaoxin Luke Chen

Esophageal cancer in Kenya

Am J Dig Dis (Madison). 2017;4(3):23-33. Epub 2017 Jun 30.

Authors

Joab Otieno Odera^{1

2}, Elizabeth Odera³, Jessie Githang'a³, Edwin Oloo Walong³, Fang Li^{1

4}, Zhaohui Xiong¹, Xiaoxin Luke Chen^{1

5}

Affiliations

¹ Cancer Research Program, JLC-BBRI, North Carolina Central University, Durham 27707, NC, USA.
² Integrated Biosciences PhD Program, North Carolina Central University, Durham 27707, NC, USA.
³ Department of Human Pathology, University of Nairobi, P. O. Box 19676, Kenyatta National Hospital, Nairobi 00202, Kenya.
⁴ Department of Dentistry, Dalian University Affiliated Zhongshan Hospital, 6 Jiefang Street, Zhongshan District, Dalian 116001, Liaoning Province, China.
⁵ Center for Esophageal Disease and Swallowing, Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Medicine, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill 27519, NC, USA.

PMID: 29082268
PMCID: PMC5659304

Abstract

Kenya belongs to a high incidence region known as Africa's esophageal cancer (EC) corridor. It has one of the highest incidence rates of EC worldwide, but research on EC in Kenya has gone highly unnoticed. EC in Kenya is unique in its high percentage of young cases (< 30 years of age). In this review, we show the current status of EC in the country. We mainly focus on significant risk factors such as alcohol drinking, genetic factors, malnutrition and hot food/drink. Future directions in the study and prevention of EC in Kenya are also discussed.

Keywords: Esophageal cancer; Kenya; alcohol; selenium; zinc.

Abstract

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