Epidemiologic and clinical profiles of colorectal cancer in Southern Egypt

Abstract Purpose To calculate the incidence of colorectal cancer in Southern Egypt and to describe the epidemiological profiles of people with colorectal cancer in this region. Introduction Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the common cancers in high income countries but historically CRC has been un...

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Main Authors: Doris W. Chiu, Noha Rashad, Nashwa Kordy, Emad Shash, Amr Soliman
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2025-08-01
Series:BMC Gastroenterology
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-04164-8
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author Doris W. Chiu
Noha Rashad
Nashwa Kordy
Emad Shash
Amr Soliman
author_facet Doris W. Chiu
Noha Rashad
Nashwa Kordy
Emad Shash
Amr Soliman
author_sort Doris W. Chiu
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Purpose To calculate the incidence of colorectal cancer in Southern Egypt and to describe the epidemiological profiles of people with colorectal cancer in this region. Introduction Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the common cancers in high income countries but historically CRC has been uncommon in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Egypt was among the first countries to report higher incidence of early-onset CRC under age 40. While previous studies on CRC in Egypt over the past 3 decades have focused on Cairo and the northern Nile delta regions, this study focused on CRC in the Southern Egypt, an underserved region with distinct socioeconomic and patient constitutional characteristics. Methods We identified 613 CRC patients who received care during 2018-2022 at the Shefa Al-Orman Cancer Hospital (SOH), the main cancer hospital in the Luxor province in Southern Egypt. Data retrieved from the medical records included demographic, clinical, and family history of all patients managed at SOH. We calculated the incidence by two age groups, under age 45 vs. 45 + years, the incidence rate (IR), age- and sex-specific rates, and distribution of clinical characteristics. Results Twenty-three percent of patients were diagnosed under age 45. The 5-year incidence was 4.5 per 100,000, and the incidence rate (IR) of early-onset was 1.3 vs 18.3 per 100,000 for those 45 + years. Distant metastasis was identified in 28% of patients, and 38% of patients had rectal cancers and 58% of the patients were alive at last follow-up. Conclusion The incidence of early-onset and late-onset CRC is lower in Southern Egypt than the reported incidence from other regions of the country. Future etiologic studies should focus on investigating the socioeconomic and lifestyle factors of Southern Egypt. Clinical studies should also explore factors related to late-stage presentation and low survival in this population. The study may have global implications for the etiology and management of colorectal cancer.
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spelling doaj-art-c40ddd7d0e414e369df87c399fb0ba582025-08-20T03:05:25ZengBMCBMC Gastroenterology1471-230X2025-08-012511810.1186/s12876-025-04164-8Epidemiologic and clinical profiles of colorectal cancer in Southern EgyptDoris W. Chiu0Noha Rashad1Nashwa Kordy2Emad Shash3Amr Soliman4Graduate School of Public Health and Policy, The City University of New York (CUNY)Shefaa Al-Orman HospitalShefaa Al-Orman HospitalShefaa Al-Orman HospitalSchool of Medicine, The City University of New York (CUNYAbstract Purpose To calculate the incidence of colorectal cancer in Southern Egypt and to describe the epidemiological profiles of people with colorectal cancer in this region. Introduction Colorectal cancer (CRC) is one of the common cancers in high income countries but historically CRC has been uncommon in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs). Egypt was among the first countries to report higher incidence of early-onset CRC under age 40. While previous studies on CRC in Egypt over the past 3 decades have focused on Cairo and the northern Nile delta regions, this study focused on CRC in the Southern Egypt, an underserved region with distinct socioeconomic and patient constitutional characteristics. Methods We identified 613 CRC patients who received care during 2018-2022 at the Shefa Al-Orman Cancer Hospital (SOH), the main cancer hospital in the Luxor province in Southern Egypt. Data retrieved from the medical records included demographic, clinical, and family history of all patients managed at SOH. We calculated the incidence by two age groups, under age 45 vs. 45 + years, the incidence rate (IR), age- and sex-specific rates, and distribution of clinical characteristics. Results Twenty-three percent of patients were diagnosed under age 45. The 5-year incidence was 4.5 per 100,000, and the incidence rate (IR) of early-onset was 1.3 vs 18.3 per 100,000 for those 45 + years. Distant metastasis was identified in 28% of patients, and 38% of patients had rectal cancers and 58% of the patients were alive at last follow-up. Conclusion The incidence of early-onset and late-onset CRC is lower in Southern Egypt than the reported incidence from other regions of the country. Future etiologic studies should focus on investigating the socioeconomic and lifestyle factors of Southern Egypt. Clinical studies should also explore factors related to late-stage presentation and low survival in this population. The study may have global implications for the etiology and management of colorectal cancer.https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-04164-8Colorectal cancerColonRectumEgyptPopulation-basedEarly-onset
spellingShingle Doris W. Chiu
Noha Rashad
Nashwa Kordy
Emad Shash
Amr Soliman
Epidemiologic and clinical profiles of colorectal cancer in Southern Egypt
BMC Gastroenterology
Colorectal cancer
Colon
Rectum
Egypt
Population-based
Early-onset
title Epidemiologic and clinical profiles of colorectal cancer in Southern Egypt
title_full Epidemiologic and clinical profiles of colorectal cancer in Southern Egypt
title_fullStr Epidemiologic and clinical profiles of colorectal cancer in Southern Egypt
title_full_unstemmed Epidemiologic and clinical profiles of colorectal cancer in Southern Egypt
title_short Epidemiologic and clinical profiles of colorectal cancer in Southern Egypt
title_sort epidemiologic and clinical profiles of colorectal cancer in southern egypt
topic Colorectal cancer
Colon
Rectum
Egypt
Population-based
Early-onset
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s12876-025-04164-8
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