Epidemiological study on nasopharyngeal cancer in Morocco: Case of the University Hospital Center Mohammed VI in Marrakech.

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.sidebar##

Published May 1, 2025
https://doi.org/10.62438/tunismed.v103i5.5578
Download
pdf
Vol. 103 No. 5 (2025): Tunis Med May 2025

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.main##

Kaoutar Anejdam
Department of Biology, Health-environment team, Laboratory of Improvement of Agricultural Production Biotechnology and Environment, Faculty of Sciences,University Mohammed I,60 000 Oujda Morocco
https://orcid.org/0000-0003-1942-1887
Abdellatif Maamri
Department of Biology, Health-environment team, Laboratory of Improvement of Agricultural Production Biotechnology and Environment, Faculty of Sciences,University Mohammed I,60 000 Oujda Morocco

Abstract

Introduction: Globally, nasopharyngeal cancer has a varied geographic distribution, occurring more frequently in certain areas and less often in others (1).


Aim: This article presents the epidemiological situation of this cancer in the Marrakech-Safi region, Morocco.


Methods: Our retrospective study analyzed the epidemiological profile of nasopharyngeal cancer in the Marrakech-Safi region (Morocco) based on 226 cases evaluated at the University Hospital Center MOHAMMED VI of Marrakech from 2014 to 2018. We used descriptive and analytical statistics to create this profile.


 Results: The cases studied were 61.9% male (140 cases), and 38.1% female (86 cases), with a mean age of 47.95 ± 16.54 years and a sex ratio of 1.62 (p <0.001). The majority, 76.5%, were married, 16.4% single, 5.8% widowed and 1.3% divorced. The Medical Assistance Plan (RAMED) was the most widespread medical coverage (86.73%). The provinces most affected were Marrakech (42.92%), Safi (10.62%) and El Kelaa (9.73%). These cases were without profession (55.31%), housewives (13.72%), farmers (7.08%), and workers (3.98%). This may be due to the multifactorial etiology of the disease, including occupational exposure to chemical carcinogens.


Conclusions: The study reveals the incidence of nasopharyngeal cancer and identifies the age group most affected in the region studied, highlighting a link with formaldehyde. Further studies are recommended to determine the probable risk factors for this cancer.

Keywords:

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma, Formaldehyde, Epidemiology, Marrakech-Safi, MOROCCO

##plugins.themes.academic_pro.article.details##

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.

References

  1. Arfaoui A, Soulaymani A, A Q, Habib F, K C. Nasopharyngeal cancer in Morocco. Epidemiological study of the sample: AL Azhar oncology centre in Rabat. Antropo. 2007;14:75-82.
  2. Lafqih MB. Cancer du cavum chez le sujet jeune [PhD thesis]. Marrakech: University of Marrakech;2017.
  3. Chen Y-P, Chan ATC, Le Q-T, Blanchard P, Sun Y, Ma J. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma. The Lancet. 2019;394(10192):64-80 https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(19)30956-0.
  4. Mat Lazim N, Abdullah B. 2 - Risk factors and etiopathogenesis of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. In: Abdullah B, Balasubramanian A, Lazim NM, editors. An Evidence-Based Approach to the Management of Nasopharyngeal Cancer: Academic Press; 2020. p. 11-30.
  5. Burtness B. Head and Neck Cancer. In: Bertino JR, editor. Encyclopedia of Cancer (Second Edition). 2. New York: Academic Press; 2002. p. 339-46.
  6. Maamri A. Epidemiological data on cancer in the world and Morocco Bibliographic Review. Annales des Sciences de la santé. 2015;1:20-9.
  7. GLOBOCAN. IARC’s Global Cancer Observatory [Internet]. LYON: WHO; 2018 [cited 2020 Nov 26]. Available from: http://gco.iarc.fr/
  8. He YQ, Xue WQ, Xu FH, Xu YF, Zhang JB, Yu HL, et al. The Relationship Between Environmental Factors and the Profile of Epstein-Barr Virus Antibodies in the Lytic and Latent Infection Periods in Healthy Populations from Endemic and Non-Endemic Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma Areas in China. EBioMedicine. 2018;30:184-91 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ebiom.2018.02.019.
  9. Ammor S, Abdellatif B, Annie H, Mohamed C. Epidemiological approach of the nasopharyngeal carcinoma in the region of Marrakech. Antropo. 2003;5:39-47 https://doi.org/10.4000/bmsap.935.
  10. Lourembam DS, Singh AR, Sharma TD, Singh TS, Singh TR, Singh LS. Evaluation of Risk Factors for Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma in a High-risk Area of India, the Northeastern Region. Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention : APJCP. 2015;16(12):4927-35 https://doi.org/10.7314/APJCP.2015.16.12.4927.
  11. Maamri A. Le Cancer au Maroc Oriental : Etat et évolution entre 2005 et 2010 - Cancer in Eastern Morocco: Status and Evolution between 2005 and 2010. Annales des Sciences de la santé. 2016;1:3-19.
  12. Mimi CY, Yuan J-M. Epidemiology of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Semin Cancer Biol. 2002;12(6):421-9 https://doi.org/10.1016/S1044579X02000858
  13. Sahraoui S, Acharki A, Benider A, Bouras N, Kahlain A. Nasopharyngeal carcinoma in children under 15 years of age: A retrospective review of 65 patients. Ann Oncol. 1999;10(12):1499-502 https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008325925164.
  14. Ammor S, Baali A, Cherkaoui M, Hubert A. Food and environmental factors of risk for NPC in Morocco and their geographical distribution. Bull Mem Soc Anthropol Paris. 2005(17 (1-2)):73-88 https://doi.org/10.4000/bmsap.935.
  15. Feng RM, Chang ET, Liu Z, Liu Q, Cai Y, Zhang Z, et al. Reproductive history and risk of nasopharyngeal carcinoma: A population-based case-control study in southern China. Oral Oncol. 2019;88:102-8 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oraloncology.2018.11.025
  16. Ababou M, Benkirane W. The persistence of inequalities in a program designed to tackle medical inequalities: Access to cancer care in Fez and Meknes. Mondes Dev. 2019;47(3):85-96.
  17. Maamri A. Cancer in Eastern Morocco: social determinants and risk factors [PhD thesis]. Oujda: University of Oujda;2016.
  18. MONOGRAPH-GENERAL. Portail National Des Collectivités Territoriales, Royaume du Maroc Ministère de L’intérieur Direction Générale des Collectivités Locales La Région de Marrakech-Safi [Internet]. Rabat: DGCT; 2015 [cited 2020 Nov 08]. Available from: https://www.collectivites-territoriales.gov.ma/fr/la-region.
  19. Sekarutami SM, Gondhowiardjo S, Yuliasti R, Syarifah L, Adham M. Survival of nasopharyngeal cancer in national referral hospital of Indonesia: A study on radiotherapy patients. Oral Oncol. 2020;106:5 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.oraloncology.2020.104707.
  20. Bendjemana K, Satta D, Adjabi K, Miali A, Aiddoudi S, Kadri A. Étude du profil épidémiologique et des facteurs de risque alimentaires du cancer du nasopharynx dans le Nord-Est algérien. J Afr Cancer. 2011;3(1):59-62 https://doi.org/10.1007/s12558-010-0141-x.
  21. Feng BJ, Jalbout M, Ayoub WB, Khyatti M, Dahmoul S, Ayad M, et al. Dietary risk factors for nasopharyngeal carcinoma in Maghrebian countries. Int J Cancer. 2007;121(7):1550-5 https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.22813.
  22. Elidrissi Errahhali M, Elidrissi Errahhali M, Ouarzane M, Boulouiz R, Bellaoui M. Cancer incidence in eastern Morocco: cancer patterns and incidence trends, 2005-2012. BMC cancer. 2017;17(1):587 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12885-017-3597-6.
  23. Nachouane NE, Knidiri A. Les fondouks d’artisanat de Marrakech : de l’immatérialité du patrimoine à sa mise en scène touristique - Marrakesh's fondouks: from intangible heritage to tourist attraction. Hesperis Tamuda. 2019;54(1):285-303.
  24. Maamri A. Impact of the environment on human health. Annales des Sciences de la Santé. 2017;1:1-8.
  25. Chattopadhyay NR, Das P, Chatterjee K, Choudhuri T. Higher incidence of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in some regions in the world confers for interplay between genetic factors and external stimuli. Drug Discov Ther. 2017;11(4):170-80 https://doi.org/10.5582/ddt.2017.01030.
  26. Feng BJ, Khyatti M, Ben-Ayoub W, Dahmoul S, Ayad M, Maachi F, et al. Cannabis, tobacco and domestic fumes intake are associated with nasopharyngeal carcinoma in North Africa. Br J Cancer. 2009;101(7):1207-12 https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.bjc.6605281.
  27. Farrow DC, Vaughan TL, Berwick M, Lynch CF, Swanson GM, Lyon JL. Diet and nasopharyngeal cancer in a low-risk population. Int J Cancer. 1998;78(6):675-9 https://doi.org/10.1002/(SICI)1097-0215(19981209)78:6<675::AID-IJC2>3.0.CO;2-J.
  28. Kwon SC, Kim I, Song J, Park J. Does formaldehyde have a causal association with nasopharyngeal cancer and leukaemia? Annals of occupational and environmental medicine. 2018;30:5 https://doi.org/10.1186/s40557-018-0218-z.
  29. Chang ET, Adami H-O. The enigmatic epidemiology of nasopharyngeal carcinoma. Cancer Epidemiology and Prevention Biomarkers. 2006;15(10):1765-77.