Patterns of cancer in geographic and endogamous subdivisions of the Hutterite Brethren of Canada.
The Hutterite Brethren comprise a religious isolate and live on communal agricultural farms (colonies) in North America. In 1976 there were approximately 15,000 Canadian Brethren living in 179 colonies of the three endogamous subdivisions, the Dariusleut, Lehrerleut, and Schmiedeleut. Dariusleut and Lehrerleut colonies are located in both Alberta and Saskatchewan, and the Schmiedeleut are in Manitoba. Brethren were identified on population-based cancer registries of the three Prairie Provinces and among death registrations in the vital statistics of Alberta and Saskatchewan. The method of ascertainment was by a search for the 15 contemporary surnames and verification by address. 89 male and 91 female Brethren were identified who had cancer during the period, 1956--1975. The numbers of observed cancers were less than expected from provincial incidence rates for males and females in each province. The largest deficits were for female Brethren in Manitoba and Saskatchewan. There is a marked deficiency of cancer of the uterine cervix among female Brethren. In males there is a significant deficit of lung cancer. The Hutterite way of life contributes to a low risk for cancers of smoking-associated sites. However, there is evidence that male Brethren in Alberta may be at relatively increased risk for stomach cancer and leukemias. The site distribution patterns of cancers among the three endogamous leut are similar.