An increased incidence of
ovarian cancer in Japan caused caused by increase in carcinoma
(Osaka
Medical Center-June 25, 2003)
"The incidence of
ovarian cancer among Japanese has increased since the 1970s. Histologic
diversity is a characteristic of this cancer. However, there has been no
population-based study made on the incidence and survival by histologic
type," researchers in Japan report.
"Osaka Cancer Registry's
data were used for incidence and survival analyses of ovarian cancer by
histologic type in this study. Seven thousand one hundred sixty-seven
incident cases were registered during the period 1975 to 1998. According to
the IARC's histologic classification, types of ovarian cancer were
classified into five categories," wrote A. Ioka and colleagues, Osaka
Medical Center, Cancer & Cardiovascular Diseases, Department of Cancer
Control & Statistics.
"Survival analysis was
restricted to the reported 2431 cases who lived in Osaka Prefecture (except
for Osaka City) and were diagnosed in 1975-1994, since active follow-up data
on vital status 5 years after the diagnosis were available," the researchers
wrote.
"The age-standardized
incidence rate of ovarian cancer increased from 4.0 to 5.4 per 100,000 women
(standard: world population) in Osaka during the period 1975-1998.
Carcinoma, the major histologic category, also increased (from 3.4 to 4.8
per 100 000 women), while sex cordstromal tumors decreased after 1980 and
germ cell tumors remained stable," the researchers stated.
"The 5-year relative
survival was 36.4% for ovarian cancer patients diagnosed in 1975-1994. The
survival for carcinoma was 38.3%, which was lower than that in sex cord-stromal
tumors or germ cell tumors (55.3% and 58.6%, respectively). The increase in
the incidence of ovarian cancer was caused by the increase in carcinoma,"
they added.
The researchers
concluded: "The relative 5-year survival of ovarian cancer improved over the
period, but was different by histologic type."
Ioka and colleagues
published their study in Cancer Science (Ovarian cancer incidence and
survival by histologic type in Osaka, Japan. Cancer Sci,
2003;94(3):292-296).
For additional
information, contact A. Ioka, Osaka Medical Center, Cancer & Cardiovascular
Diseases, Department of Cancer Control & Statistics, Higashinari Ku, 1-3-3
Nakamichi, Osaka 5378511, Japan.
The information in this
article comes under the major subject areas of Epidemiology, Oncology,
Survival & Mortality. This article was prepared by Biotech Week editors from
staff and other reports.
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