Factor analysis of international cancer mortality data and per capita food consumption.

It has long been recognized that international death rates for many cancer sites tend to be associated and are higher in the more "westernized" countries. The specific sites, with respect to cancer deaths among men, were identified in the present study through factor analysis of death rates by cancer site in 41 countries. Rates from the following cancer sites were found to be associated with a westernization factor: intestine, rectum, lung, skin, leukaemia and prostate.