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Comparative Study
. 2008 Nov 1;113(9):2575-96.
doi: 10.1002/cncr.23866.

Childhood and adolescent cancer survival in the US by race and ethnicity for the diagnostic period 1975-1999

Amy M Linabery  1 , Julie A Ross
Affiliations
Comparative Study

Childhood and adolescent cancer survival in the US by race and ethnicity for the diagnostic period 1975-1999

Amy M Linabery et al. Cancer. .

Abstract

Background: Survival trends provide a measure of improvement in detection and treatment over time. In the current study, updated childhood and adolescent cancer survival statistics are presented, overall and among demographic subgroups, including Hispanics, for whom to the authors' knowledge national rates have not been previously reported. These results extend those provided by the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program in their detail and interpretation.

Methods: Survival trends of primary cancers in children and adolescents (ages birth to 19 years) were evaluated using SEER 9 data. Five-year and 10-year relative survival rates across 5-year (1975-1979, 1985-1989, and 1995-1999) and 10-year (1975-1984 and 1985-1994) cohorts were compared via Z-tests. Annual percent change (APC) in survival was computed via weighted least-squares regression. Rates in Hispanic children and adolescents were compared with those in non-Hispanic whites and blacks (SEER 13, 1995-1999).

Results: Five-year survival rates increased significantly overall (1975-1979: 63% vs 1995-1999: 79%; P< .0001) and for nearly all histologic types examined; increases were greatest for ependymoma (+37%; P< .0001) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (+34%; P< .0001). Hispanic children and adolescents had somewhat poorer 5-year rates than non-Hispanic whites overall (74% vs 81%; P< .0001) and for Ewing sarcoma, leukemia, central nervous system tumors, and melanoma. Ten-year rates also increased significantly overall (1975-1984: 61% vs 1985-1994: 72%; P< .0001) and for a majority of cancer types. The largest improvements were noted for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (+19%; P< .0001) and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (+19%; P< .0001).

Conclusions: Observed trends reinforce the need for resources devoted to advancing treatment modalities, reducing disparities among racial/ethnic groups and adolescents, and providing long-term care of survivors.

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Conflict of interest statement

Conflicts of Interest: None

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Observed (data points) and expected (joinpoint regression lines) 5-year relative survival rates from SEER 9 registries for children and adolescents 0–19 years diagnosed in 1975–1999 with: A) leukemias; B) CNS tumors; C) neuroblastoma, Wilms tumor, rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), and non–rhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcomas (NRSTS); D) lymphomas, osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and germ cell tumors.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. WISQARS 10 Leading Causes of Deaths, United States, 2003, All Races, Both Sexes, Ages: 1–19: Office of Statistics and Programming, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (http://webappa.cdc.gov/sasweb/ncipc/leadcaus10.html).

    1. American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts and Figures 2007. Atlanta, GA: American Cancer Society; 2007.
    1. Ries LAG, Smith MA, Gurney JG, et al., editors. Cancer Incidence and Survival among Children and Adolescents: United States SEER Program 1975–1995. Bethesda, MD: National Cancer Institute, SEER Program; 1999. NIH Pub. No. 99–4649.
    1. Linet MS, Ries LA, Smith MA, Tarone RE, Devesa SS. Cancer surveillance series: recent trends in childhood cancer incidence and mortality in the United States. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1999 Jun 16;91(12):1051–1058. - PubMed

    1. Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program (www.seer.cancer.gov) SEER*Stat Database: Incidence - SEER 17 Regs Limited-Use, Nov 2006 Sub (1973–2004 varying): National Cancer Institute, DCCPS, Surveillance Research Program, Cancer Statistics Branch; released April 2007, based on the November 2006 submission.

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