Reviewer's report
Title:Reproductive factors and oesophageal cancer in Chinese women: a
case-control study
Version: 2Date:28 March 2011
Reviewer: Neal D Freedman
Reviewer's report:
Minor Essential Revisions:
The authors have done an excellent job responding to my comments and those
of the other reviewers.
I have several additional points which should be addressed by the reviewers
before the manuscript is acceptable for publication.
1. Please add the results for age at menopause to the abstract and to the results
section (top of page 9).
2. Update global cancer incidence rates using globalcan 2008:
http://globocan.iarc.fr/
3. The authors mention that the male/female ratio is up to 8:1 in Western
countries; yet somewhat lower in Asian countries. According to globalcan 2008,
the overall sex ratio for esophageal cancer is about 2 in China. Thus, the authors
statement is misleading.
4. On the top of page 5, the authors mention that “tobacco smoking plays only a
moderate role as a risk factor for this cancer.” This statement is false. Smoking is
a strong cause of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and is a consistent risk
factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma as well. In most western populations, men
and smoke similar amounts. Thus, in Western populations, differences in
smoking use between men and women are not likely to cause higher rates of
esophageal cancer in men.
In China, however, men tend to smoke more cigarettes and drink more alcoholic
beverages than women. It is possible that these differences in cigarette smoking
and alcohol drinking may explain part of the difference in esophageal cancer
incidence rates in men and women in China. The authors should mention these
points.
5. The authors should clearly indicate in their introduction that while several
studies have investigated the association of menstrual and reproductive factors
with esophageal adenocarcinoma, few studies have examined associations with
esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. As currently written, this section implies
that esophageal adenocarcinoma in Western countries is comparable to
esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in China, it is not.
6. Replace “cot-off” with “cut-off” in the top of page 8.
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests.
Reviewer's report
Title:Reproductive factors and oesophageal cancer in Chinese women: a
case-control study
Version: 2Date:28 March 2011
Reviewer: Neal D Freedman
Reviewer's report:
Minor Essential Revisions:
The authors have done an excellent job responding to my comments and those
of the other reviewers.
I have several additional points which should be addressed by the reviewers
before the manuscript is acceptable for publication.
1. Please add the results for age at menopause to the abstract and to the results
section (top of page 9).
2. Update global cancer incidence rates using globalcan 2008:
http://globocan.iarc.fr/
3. The authors mention that the male/female ratio is up to 8:1 in Western
countries; yet somewhat lower in Asian countries. According to globalcan 2008,
the overall sex ratio for esophageal cancer is about 2 in China. Thus, the authors
statement is misleading.
4. On the top of page 5, the authors mention that “tobacco smoking plays only a
moderate role as a risk factor for this cancer.” This statement is false. Smoking is
a strong cause of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and is a consistent risk
factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma as well. In most western populations, men
and smoke similar amounts. Thus, in Western populations, differences in
smoking use between men and women are not likely to cause higher rates of
esophageal cancer in men.
In China, however, men tend to smoke more cigarettes and drink more alcoholic
beverages than women. It is possible that these differences in cigarette smoking
and alcohol drinking may explain part of the difference in esophageal cancer
incidence rates in men and women in China. The authors should mention these
points.
5. The authors should clearly indicate in their introduction that while several
studies have investigated the association of menstrual and reproductive factors
with esophageal adenocarcinoma, few studies have examined associations with
esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. As currently written, this section implies
that esophageal adenocarcinoma in Western countries is comparable to
esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in China, it is not.
6. Replace “cot-off” with “cut-off” in the top of page 8.
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests.
Please review this paper.
user
Reviewer's report
Title:Reproductive factors and oesophageal cancer in Chinese women: a
case-control study
Version: 2Date:28 March 2011
Reviewer: Neal D Freedman
Reviewer's report:
Minor Essential Revisions:
The authors have done an excellent job responding to my comments and those
of the other reviewers.
I have several additional points which should be addressed by the reviewers
before the manuscript is acceptable for publication.
1. Please add the results for age at menopause to the abstract and to the results
section (top of page 9).
2. Update global cancer incidence rates using globalcan 2008:
http://globocan.iarc.fr/
3. The authors mention that the male/female ratio is up to 8:1 in Western
countries; yet somewhat lower in Asian countries. According to globalcan 2008,
the overall sex ratio for esophageal cancer is about 2 in China. Thus, the authors
statement is misleading.
4. On the top of page 5, the authors mention that “tobacco smoking plays only a
moderate role as a risk factor for this cancer.” This statement is false. Smoking is
a strong cause of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma and is a consistent risk
factor for esophageal adenocarcinoma as well. In most western populations, men
and smoke similar amounts. Thus, in Western populations, differences in
smoking use between men and women are not likely to cause higher rates of
esophageal cancer in men.
In China, however, men tend to smoke more cigarettes and drink more alcoholic
beverages than women. It is possible that these differences in cigarette smoking
and alcohol drinking may explain part of the difference in esophageal cancer
incidence rates in men and women in China. The authors should mention these
points.
5. The authors should clearly indicate in their introduction that while several
studies have investigated the association of menstrual and reproductive factors
with esophageal adenocarcinoma, few studies have examined associations with
esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. As currently written, this section implies
that esophageal adenocarcinoma in Western countries is comparable to
esophageal squamous cell carcinoma in China, it is not.
6. Replace “cot-off” with “cut-off” in the top of page 8.
Level of interest: An article of importance in its field
Quality of written English: Acceptable
Statistical review: No, the manuscript does not need to be seen by a
statistician.
Declaration of competing interests:
I declare that I have no competing interests.
assistant