Comparison of Time Trends in Uterine Cancer Incidence (1973 1997) in East Asia, Europe and USA, from Cancer Incidence in Five Continents, Vols IV VIII

Time trends of age-standardized rate (ASR) of uterine cancer incidence (ICD-10: cervix uteri (C53), corpus uteri (C54)) were compared among 18 selected cancer registries and ethnic/racial groups in East Asia, Europe and the USA. The data source was the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents, Vols IV–VIII (years at diagnosis: 1973–1977, 1978–1982, 1983–1987, 1988–1992 and 1993–1997, respectively). World population was used for age-standardization. Figure 1 shows the time trends of ASR of cervix uteri cancer incidence. In East Asia, Hong Kong (China), Osaka (Japan) and Shanghai (China) the ASR decreased sharply during the overall study period. The ASR in Miyagi (Japan) decreased from 1973–1977 to 1983–1987, followed by a slow increase and a slow decrease. Nagasaki (Japan) showed a decreasing trend from 1973–1977 to 1988–1992 followed by an increase, which exceeded that in Hong Kong, and showed the highest ASRs in the most recent period (1993–1997). The ASR in Shanghai decreased rapidly from 1973–1977 and showed lower ASRs than the other registries from 1983–1987. In Europe, Denmark, Bas-Rhin (France), Sweden and Varese Province (Italy) the rate decreased until 1993–1997. The trend in South Thames (UK) changed parallel to that in the West Midlands (UK), which increased from 1973–1977 to 1983–1987 and decreased thereafter. In the most recent period, Denmark showed higher ASRs and Varese Province showed lower ASRs compared with the other registries. In the USA, the ASR in both white (SEER) and black (SEER) populations decreased from 1973–1977, and the decrease was sharper in black populations. Black populations also showed higher ASRs compared with white people and East Asian immigrants except for in LA Korean people. The LA Korean polulation, which showed higher ASRs than the other East Asian immigrants, increased sharply from 1973–1977 to 1978–1982, decreased until 1988–1992 and then leveled off. Hawaii Japanese and Hawaii Chinese showed no clear tendency. LA Chinese showed a slow decrease from 1973–1977, and the decrease accelerated from 1983–1987, while LA Japanese decreased from 1973–1977 to 1988–1992 and then increased slowly. East Asian immigrants except for LA Koreans tended to converge in the most recent period.