SANDRA MILENA COLORADO YOHAR¹, Mónica Ballesta Ruiz¹, MARIA DOLORES CHIRLAQUE¹

(1) INVESTIGACIÓN EN EPIDEMIOLOGÍA Y SALUD PÚBLICA, IMIB, España

Pancreatic cancer is the most lethal cancer worldwide. Its rising incidence and poor survival are a matter of global concern. This study aims to provide long-term population-based incidence and survival trends of pancreatic cancer in a Southeast Spanish Region.

Data were obtained from the population-based Murcia Cancer Registry. All primary invasive incident pancreatic cancer cases occurring during the 1983-2012 period were included. Age-specific and age-standardized incidence rates were obtained, and Joinpoint regression analysis was used to estimate annual percentage changes (APC) in pancreatic cancer incidence. Cases diagnosed within the 1990-2010 period were followed up until December 31st, 2015, to calculate 5-year observed and net survival rates. All the results were stratified by sex and age group.

A total of 2716 new patients were diagnosed with pancreatic cancer between 1983 and 2012. Incidence rates doubled between the 1983-1987 and the 2008-2012 time periods. Incidence were slightly higher in men than women, with an estimated annual rise (APC) of 2.3% in men and 3.2% in women. The rise in incidence remained stable in men over the entire study period for patients below 70 years old, whereas the increasing in women was mainly due to a sharp increase in incidence among younger women (APC=21%). Net survival was 7.2%, (6.7% in men and 8.3% in women), and gradually decreased with age.

The incidence of pancreatic cancer in the Region of Murcia has significantly increased by 2.2-fold in the last 30 years, especially among younger women, whereas net survival increased slightly from 6 to 7.7% in the last two decades, and remains very low in both sexes (<10%). Further efforts are needed to identify novel risk factors early diagnostic markers of pancreatic cancer in order to improve prevention and survival of this cancer.