BACKGROUND: Southeast Asia is undergoing a transition from infectious to chronic diseases, including a dramatic increase in adult cancers. Childhood cancer research in Thailand has focused predominantly on leukemias and lymphomas or only examined children for a short period of time. This comprehensive multisite study examined childhood cancer incidence and survival rates in Thailand across all International Classification of Childhood Cancer (ICCC) groups over a 20-year period. METHODS: Cancer cases diagnosed in children ages 0-19 years (n = 3574) from 1990 to 2011 were extracted from five provincial population-based Thai registries, covering approximately 10% of the population. Descriptive statistics of the quality of the registries were evaluated. Age-standardized incidence rates (ASRs) were calculated using the Segi world standard population, and relative survival was computed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Changes in incidence and survival were analyzed using Joinpoint Regression and reported as annual percent changes (APC). RESULTS: The ASR of all childhood cancers during the study period was 98.5 per million person-years with 91.0 per million person-years in 1990-2000 and 106.2 per million person-years in 2001-2011. Incidence of all childhood cancers increased significantly (APC = 1.2%, P < 0.01). The top three cancer groups were leukemias, brain tumors, and lymphomas. The 5-year survival for all childhood cancers significantly improved from 39.4% in 1990-2000 to 47.2% in 2001-2011 (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Both childhood cancer incidence and survival rates have increased, suggesting improvement in the health care system as more cases are identified and treated. Analyzing childhood cancer trends in low- and middle-income countries can improve understanding of cancer etiology and pediatric health care disparities.
BACKGROUND: Southeast Asia is undergoing a transition from infectious to chronic diseases, including a dramatic increase in adult cancers. Childhood cancer research in Thailand has focused predominantly on leukemias and lymphomas or only examined children for a short period of time. This comprehensive multisite study examined childhood cancer incidence and survival rates in Thailand across all International Classification of Childhood Cancer (ICCC) groups over a 20-year period. METHODS:Cancer cases diagnosed in children ages 0-19 years (n = 3574) from 1990 to 2011 were extracted from five provincial population-based Thai registries, covering approximately 10% of the population. Descriptive statistics of the quality of the registries were evaluated. Age-standardized incidence rates (ASRs) were calculated using the Segi world standard population, and relative survival was computed using the Kaplan-Meier method. Changes in incidence and survival were analyzed using Joinpoint Regression and reported as annual percent changes (APC). RESULTS: The ASR of all childhood cancers during the study period was 98.5 per million person-years with 91.0 per million person-years in 1990-2000 and 106.2 per million person-years in 2001-2011. Incidence of all childhood cancers increased significantly (APC = 1.2%, P < 0.01). The top three cancer groups were leukemias, brain tumors, and lymphomas. The 5-year survival for all childhood cancers significantly improved from 39.4% in 1990-2000 to 47.2% in 2001-2011 (P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Both childhood cancer incidence and survival rates have increased, suggesting improvement in the health care system as more cases are identified and treated. Analyzing childhood cancer trends in low- and middle-income countries can improve understanding of cancer etiology and pediatric health care disparities.
Authors: Richard Sullivan; Jerzy R Kowalczyk; Bharat Agarwal; Ruth Ladenstein; Edel Fitzgerald; Ronald Barr; Eva Steliarova-Foucher; Ian Magrath; Scott C Howard; Mariana Kruger; Maria Grazia Valsecchi; Andrea Biondi; Paul Grundy; Malcolm A Smith; Peter Adamson; Gilles Vassal; Kathy Pritchard-Jones Journal: Lancet Oncol Date: 2013-02-20 Impact factor: 41.316
Authors: Kathryn Demanelis; Hutcha Sriplung; Rafael Meza; Surapon Wiangnon; Laura S Rozek; Michael E Scheurer; Philip J Lupo Journal: Pediatr Blood Cancer Date: 2015-05-11 Impact factor: 3.167
Authors: Audrey Bonaventure; Rhea Harewood; Charles A Stiller; Gemma Gatta; Jacqueline Clavel; Daniela C Stefan; Helena Carreira; Devon Spika; Rafael Marcos-Gragera; Rafael Peris-Bonet; Marion Piñeros; Milena Sant; Claudia E Kuehni; Michael F G Murphy; Michel P Coleman; Claudia Allemani Journal: Lancet Haematol Date: 2017-04-11 Impact factor: 18.959
Authors: Eva Steliarova-Foucher; Murielle Colombet; Lynn A G Ries; Florencia Moreno; Anastasia Dolya; Freddie Bray; Peter Hesseling; Hee Young Shin; Charles A Stiller Journal: Lancet Oncol Date: 2017-04-11 Impact factor: 41.316
Authors: Mohd Yusran Othman; Sally Blair; Shireen A Nah; Hany Ariffin; Chatchawin Assanasen; Shui Yen Soh; Anette S Jacobsen; Catherine Lam; Amos H P Loh Journal: JCO Glob Oncol Date: 2020-08