Background: Digestive cancers are a major contributor to global cancer-related morbidity and mortality. With an estimated 19 million new cases and 9 million deaths annually, cancer now exceeds HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria as a cause of death worldwide. Several studies from Benin and sub-Saharan Africa have reported a relatively young age at diagnosis of digestive cancers. This study aimed to describe the epidemiological, diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic characteristics of digestive cancers in young adults in Benin. Methods: We conducted a retrospective descriptive and analytical study over a six-year period, from January 2017 to December 2022. Patients aged 18 - 49 years diagnosed with digestive cancers were included. Results: A total of 175 patients were analyzed. Liver cancer was the most frequent digestive malignancy (34.9%), followed by colorectal cancer (28.0%) and gastric cancer (17.1%). A male predominance was observed (sex ratio = 2.3). The mean age was 38.1 ± 8.4 years (range: 18 - 49). Identified risk factors included alcohol consumption (43%), chronic hepatitis B infection (22.9%), gastroduodenal ulcer disease (16%), and tobacco use (3%). Adenocarcinoma was the predominant histological subtype (88%). The highest crude mortality rates were observed in esophageal, colorectal, liver, and pancreatic cancers. Conclusion: Digestive cancers represent a substantial burden among young adults in Benin and are associated with high mortality. Improving access to early detection, strengthening prevention and control of modifiable risk factors, and optimizing prognostic and therapeutic capacities are essential to enhance patient management and survival outcomes.
References
[1]
International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and World Health Organization (2022) Cancer Today: GLOBOCAN 2022. IARC. https://gco.iarc.who.int/media/globocan/factsheets/populations/900-world-fact-sheet.pdf
[2]
Sawadogo, A., Ilboudo, P.D., Durand, G., Peghini, M., Branquet, D., Sawadogo, A.B., et al. (2000) Épidémiologie des cancers du tube digestif au Burkina-Faso: Apport de 8000 endoscopies effectuées au Centre Hospitalier National Sanou Souro (CHNSS) de Bobo Dioulasso. Médecined’Afrique Noire, 47, 342-345.
[3]
Salamatou, M.G., Hinde, H., Abdelmadjid, S., Ali, Q., Harouna, M.Z. and Hassan, N. (2014) Les cancers digestifs au Niger. Fréquence relative sur une étude rétrospective de 1992 à 2009. European Scientific Journal, 10, 339-349.
[4]
Kpossou, A.R., Gbessi, D.G., Gnangnon, F.H.R., Kanhonou, K.D.C.E., Sokpon, C.N.M., Vignon, R.K., et al. (2020) Épidémiologie des cancers digestifs primitifs de l’adulte dans trois centres sanitaires spécialisés de Cotonou (République du Bénin). Bulletindelasociétédepathologieexotique, 113, 254-257. https://doi.org/10.3166/bspe-2020-0152
[5]
Jemal, A., Bray, F., Forman, D., O’Brien, M., Ferlay, J., Center, M., et al. (2012) Cancer Burden in Africa and Opportunities for Prevention. Cancer, 118, 4372-4384. https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.27410
[6]
Bray, F., Parkin, D.M., Gnangnon, F., Tshisimogo, G., Peko, J., Adoubi, I., et al. (2022) Cancer in Sub-Saharan Africa in 2020: A Review of Current Estimates of the National Burden, Data Gaps, and Future Needs. TheLancetOncology, 23, 719-728. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1470-2045(22)00270-4
[7]
Lopes-Júnior, L.C. (2025) The Emerging Epidemic of Early-Onset Cancer: Global Patterns, Biological Complexity, and Urgent Calls for Action. CancerControl, 32. https://doi.org/10.1177/10732748251386505
[8]
Muller, C., Ihionkhan, E., Stoffel, E.M. and Kupfer, S.S. (2021) Disparities in Early-Onset Colorectal Cancer. Cells, 10, Article 1018. https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10051018
[9]
Gnangnon, F.H.R., Kpossou, A.R., Alaladé, M., Seto, D.M., Gbessi, D.G., Imorou Souaibou, Y., et al. (2018) Prise en charge des présumés cancers digestifs primitifs de l’adulte au Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Départemental de l’Ouémé-Plateau de Porto-Novo. Annales de l’Université de Parakou, 8, 25-28.
[10]
Kissi Anzouan-Kacou, H.Y., Doffou, S.A., Bangoura, A.D., Kouamé, D.H., Fanou, C.D., Bathaix, Y.F., et al. (2016) Prise en charge des cancers digestifs en Côte-d’Ivoire: Expérience du service d’hépatogastroentérologie du CHU de Yopougon. JournalAfricaind’Hépato-Gastroentérologie, 11, 13-18. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12157-016-0699-8
[11]
Maiga, M.Y., Diallo, G., Dembele, M., Ndiaye, M., Ongoiba, N., Sanogo, Z., et al. (2002) Cancer de l’œsophage: Aspects épidémiologiques, cliniques et pronostiques. Acta Endoscopica, 32, 455-459. https://doi.org/10.1007/bf03020579
[12]
Diarra, M., Konate, A., Traoré, C., Souckho-Kaya, A., Diarra, C., Doumbia-Samaké, K., et al. (2012) Épidémiologie des cancers digestifs en milieu hospitalier à Bamako. Hegel, 1, 12-22. https://doi.org/10.3917/heg.021.0012
[13]
Peko, J.F., Ibara, J.R., Dangou, J.M. and Mbalawa, C.G. (2004) Profil histoépidémiologique de 375 cancers digestifs primitifs au CHU de Brazzaville. MédecineTropicale (Mars), 64, 168-170.
[14]
Smith, G.L., Banegas, M.P., Acquati, C., Chang, S., Chino, F., Conti, R.M., et al. (2022) Navigating Financial Toxicity in Patients with Cancer: A Multidisciplinary Management Approach. CA: ACancerJournalforClinicians, 72, 437-453. https://doi.org/10.3322/caac.21730
[15]
Gnangnon, F.H.R., Kpossou, A.R., N’tcha, K., Amidou, S.A., Zossou, V., Toume, C., et al. (2024) Survie et facteurs pronostiques du cancer primitif du foie à Cotonou (République du Bénin), 2014-2020. Médecine Tropicale et Santé Internationale, 4, mtsi.v4i3.2024.418.
[16]
Sullivan, R., Alatise, O.I., Anderson, B.O., Audisio, R., Autier, P., Aggarwal, A., et al. (2015) Global Cancer Surgery: Delivering Safe, Affordable, and Timely Cancer Surgery. TheLancetOncology, 16, 1193-1224. https://doi.org/10.1016/s1470-2045(15)00223-5
[17]
Gnangnon, F.H.R., Assogba, H.M.A., Zannou, K.M.J.V., Goudou, R., Djohou, S.F.J., Aboubakar, M., et al. (2025) Contribution of Surgical Oncology to the Surgical Volume of Tertiary Hospitals in Benin. WorldJournalofSurgicalOncology, 24, Article No. 27. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12957-025-04147-9
[18]
Qiu, H., Wang, Z., Liu, B., Sun, R., Tian, X. and Hao, C. (2024) Surgical Outcomes of Locally Advanced Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumors after Multivisceral Resection: A Retrospective Study of 64 Patients at a Single Institution. Intractable&RareDiseasesResearch, 13, 51-56. https://doi.org/10.5582/irdr.2023.01112
[19]
Kivuyo, N.E., Kitua, D.W., Misidai, M.A., Mushi, F.A., Mwanga, A.H., Nyongole, O.V., et al. (2025) The Surgical Implications of Advanced Cancers in Low-and Middle-Income Countries: Challenges, Opportunities, and Call to Action. EuropeanJournalofSurgicalOncology, 51, Article ID: 110368. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejso.2025.110368
