Colon cancer: its precursors and companions in Hawaii Japanese.

Following migration to Hawaii, the Japanese have acquired the same risk of developing large bowel cancer as that experienced by Caucasians. This tumor is uncommon in Japan. Other conditions are also more common in Hawaii Japanese, e.g., myocardial infarction, severe atherosclerosis, diverticulosis, and polyposis of the colon. Comparative studies in Hawaii and Japan suggest that the basis of these differences is probably related to the consumption of characteristically western foods by Hawaii Japanese.