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. 2015 Sep 3:15:613.
doi: 10.1186/s12885-015-1615-0.

Relationships between cancer pattern, country income and geographical region in Asia

Chirk Jenn Ng  1 , Chin Hai Teo  2 , Nurdiana Abdullah  3 , Wei Phin Tan  4 , Hui Meng Tan  5   6
Affiliations

Relationships between cancer pattern, country income and geographical region in Asia

Chirk Jenn Ng et al. BMC Cancer. .

Abstract

Background: Cancer incidence and mortality varies across region, sex and country's economic status. While most studies focused on global trends, this study aimed to describe and analyse cancer incidence and mortality in Asia, focusing on cancer site, sex, region and income status.

Methods: Age-standardised incidence and mortality rates of cancer were extracted from the GLOBOCAN 2012 database. Cancer mortality to incidence ratios (MIRs) were calculated to represent cancer survival. The data were analysed based on the four regions in Asia and income.

Results: Cancer incidence rate is lower in Asia compared to the West but for MIR, it is the reverse. In Asia, the most common cancers in men are lung, stomach, liver, colorectal and oesophageal cancers while the most common cancers in women are breast, lung, cervical, colorectal and stomach cancers. The MIRs are the highest in lung, liver and stomach cancers and the lowest in colorectal, breast and prostate cancers. Eastern and Western Asia have a higher incidence of cancer compared to South-Eastern and South-Central Asia but this pattern is the reverse for MIR. Cancer incidence rate increases with country income particularly in colorectal and breast cancers but the pattern is the opposite for MIR.

Conclusion: This study confirms that there is a wide variation in cancer incidence and mortality across Asia. This study is the first step towards documenting and explaining the changing cancer pattern in Asia in comparison to the rest of the world.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Countries by region in Asia according to United Nation World Population Prospects 2012 [18]
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Comparison of age-standardised cancer incidence, mortality and MIR in Asia by sex and cancer site
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
Comparison of top five male cancers MIR to GNI per capita in Asian countries
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
Comparison of top five female cancers MIR to GNI per capita in Asian countries
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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