A Note on the Distribution of Cancer in Some Endogamous Groups in Western India

Endogamous groups in Western India have been known to have a wide degree of genetic diversity. Analysis of the data available on some of the endogamous groups belonging to two main communities attending the Tata Memorial Hospital, Bombay, viz. Hindus from Maharashtra, and Hindus from Gujarat show that one of the endogamous groups, the Maharashtrian Brahmin has a significantly different pattern of cancer site distribution compared to the other groups studied. Maharashtrian Brahmins have a low relative frequency of cancer of the oral cavity and high relative frequencies of cancer of the oropharynx and cancer of the oesophagus. The tobacco chewing habit pattern seems to have a bearing on the proportion of cancer of the oral cavity observed in the groups studied. However, in the case of cancer of the oropharynx and cancer of the oesophagus, factors besides smoking and chewing habits seem to be playing a role. A further study is indicated to clarify the points raised by the study.