Ten-Year Retrospective Study of Gastric and Gastroesophageal Cancers in South-East Nigeria: Insights into Demographics and Tumour Characteristics
Abstract
Background: Gastric and gastro‑oesophageal junction cancers remain major contributors to global cancer mortality. In Nigeria, late diagnosis is common, and this pattern continues to drive high cancer‑related deaths.
Materials and Methods: Clinico‑pathological data were retrieved from four major histopathology laboratories in Anambra State, southeast Nigeria. Statistical analysis was conducted using the Chi‑square test in SPSS version 25 to assess differences in proportions.
Results: Gastric and gastro‑oesophageal junction cancers were most frequently diagnosed in individuals in their sixth and seventh decades of life, with a median age of 56.7 years. There was no clear sex predilection in the study population. The pylorus and antrum were the most common tumour locations, and intestinal‑type adenocarcinoma was the predominant histological subtype. Most cases presented at advanced stages, with the majority staged as T3 or T4.
Conclusion: Gastric and gastro‑oesophageal junction cancers in this setting are characterised by late presentation and are predominantly antral adenocarcinomas. These findings highlight the need for a regional screening initiative aimed at earlier detection and improved outcomes.
Keywords
Downloads
References
- Sung H, Ferlay J, Siegel RL, Laversanne M, Soerjomatarm, Jemal A, Bray F. Global Cancer Statistics 2022 GLOBOCAM Estimates of Incidence and Mortality Worldwide for 36 Cancers in 185 Countries. CA Cancer J Clin. 2022;72:209-249
- Morounke SG, Ayorinde JB, Benedict AO, Adedayo FF, Adewale FO, Soyemi S et al. Epidemiology and Incidence of Common Cancers in Nigeria. J Cancer Biol Res. 2017;5(3):1105.
- Ebili HO, Oluwasola AO, Akang EE, Ogunbiyi JO. Clinicopathological Features of Gastric Cancer in Ibadan, Nigeria. Niger Med J. 2015;56(2):126-31.
- Ukah CO, Nwofor OM. Cancer Incidence in South-East Nigeria: A Report from Nnewi Cancer Registry.Orient Journal of Medicine 2017;29:48-55.
- Bakari AA, Ibrahim AG, Gali BM, Dogo D, Ngadda HA. Pattern of gastric cancer in Northeastern Nigeria: A clinicopathological study. J Chinese Med. 2010;5:211-215.
- Abdulkareem FB, Onyekwere CA, Awolola NA, Ajekigbe AT. Clinico-pathological review of malignant gastric tumours in Lagos, Nigeria.Nig Q J Hosp Med. 2010; 20(2):49-54.
- Díaz P, Valenzuela Valderrama M, Bravo J and Quest AFG Helicobacter pylori and Gastric Cancer: Adaptive Cellular Mechanisms Involved in Disease Progression. Front Microbiol.2018; 9(5):1-8.
- Etemadi A, Saeid S, Ikuta K, Catherine B, Shakeri R, Molly RN, et al. The Global, regional and national burden of stomach cancer in 195 countries, 1990-2017: a system analysis for the Global Burden of Diseases Study, 2017. The Lancet Gastroenterology and Hepatology. 2017;5(1):42-54.
- Mandong BM, Manasseh AN, Tanko MN, Echejoh GO, Madaki AJ. Epidemiology of
- gastric cancer in Jos University Teaching Hospital Jos a 20 year review of cases. Niger J Med. 2010;19(4):451-4.
- Machlowska, J.; Baj, J.; Sitarz, M.; Maciejewski, R.; Sitarz, R. Gastric Cancer: Epidemiology, Risk Factors, Classification, Genomic Characteristics and Treatment Strategies. Int. J. Mol. Sci. 2020; 21(11):4012.
- Kwaghe BV, Mandong BM, Manasseh AN, Ngadda HA, Emmanuel I, Amos AG. Clinicopathological Study of Gastric Malignancies in Jos University Teaching Hospital(JUTH), Jos, Nigeria. Jos Journal of Medicine. 2017;11(1):51-59
- Mabula JB, Mchembe MD, Koy M, Chalya PL, Massaga F, Rambau PF. Gastric Cancer in a University Teaching Hospital Northwestern Tanzania: a retrospective review of 232 cases. W J SurgOncol. 2012; 10(257)
- Agbakwuru EA, Fatusi AO, Ndububa DA, Alatise OI, Arigbabu OA, Akinola DO. Pattern and validity of clinical diagnosis of upper gastrointestinal diseases in southwest Nigeria. Afr Health Sci. 2006 Jun;6(2):98-103.
- Komolafe AO, Ojo SO, Olasode BJ. Gastric malignancies and associated pre-malignant lesions in a teaching hospital in South West Nigeria. African Journal of Biotechnology. 2008 July;7(13):2104-2111
- Juárez-Salcedo LM, Sokol L, Chavez JC, Dalia S. Primary Gastric Lymphoma, Epidemiology, Clinical Diagnosis, and Treatment. Cancer Control. 2018 Jan-Mar;25(1)
- Wu H, Rusiecki JA, Zhu K, Potter J, Devesa SS. Stomach carcinoma incidence patterns in the United States by histologic type and anatomic site. Cancer Epidemiol BiomarkersPrev.2009 Jul;18(7):1945-52
- Thrift AP, El-Serag HB. Burden of Gastric Cancer. ClinGastroenterolHepatol. 2020 Mar;18(3):534-542.
- Akwi WA, Rubayat R, Jamal A I. Gastric Cancer in Africa: Current management and Outcomes. World J of Gastroenterology 2014 April 14: 20(14)
- Esha K, Sheraz R, Amish A, Yeol K, Young-Woo K, George BH. The Influence of Gastric Cancer Screening on the Stage at Diagnosis and Survival. J ClinGastroenterol 2016;50:190-197