Survey of cancer incidence in Alaskan natives.

A survey of cancer incidence among Alaskan Natives for the 5-year period 1969--73 revealed fewer cases overall than expected in relation to rates in the United States. However, significantly increased risks were seen for certain sites: the nasopharynx in both sexes (with excesses over 15-fold), the liver in males, and the salivary glands, gallbladder, kidney, and thyroid in females. Compared with earlier reports, the observations suggested marked changes in cancer incidence among Alaskan Natives over the past two decades, with declines in esophageal and invasive cervical cancers, and increases in neoplasms of the lung, colon, and rectum.