Report of Cancer Incidence and Mortality in China, 2012

Objective:  The National Central Cancer Registry (NCCR) collected registration data in 2012 from local cancer registries in 2015, and analyzed to estimate cancer incidence and mortality in China.  Methods:  On basis of the criteria of data quality from NCCR, data submitted from 261 registries were checked & evaluated and 193 registries’ data qualified for cancer registry annual report. Descriptive analysis included of incidence and mortality stratified by areas (urban/rural), gender, age group and cancer site. The top 10 common cancers in different groups, proportion and cumulative rate were also calculated. Chinese population census in 2000 and Segi’s population were used for age-standardized incidence/mortality.  Results:  All 193 cancer registries (74 in urban and 119 in rural) covered a total of 198 060 406 population (100 450 109 in urban and 97 610 297 in rural areas). The estimates of new cancer cases and cancer deaths were 3586 thousands and 2187 thousands in 2012, respectively. The morphology verified cases (MV %) accounted for 69.13% and 2.38% of incident cases were identified through death certifications only (DCO %) with mortality to incidence ratio of 0.62. The crude incidence rate in Chinese cancer registration areas was 264.85/105 (males 289.30/105, females 239.15/105), age-standardized incidence rates by Chinese standard population (ASIRC) and by world standard population were 191.89/105 and 187.83/105 with the cumulative incidence rate (0~74 age years old) of 21.82%. The cancer incidence and ASIRC were 277.17/105 and 195.56/105 in urban areas whereas in rural areas, they were 251.20/105 and 187.10/105, respectively. The cancer mortality in Chinese cancer registration areas was 161.49/105 (198.99/105 in male and 122.06/105 in female), age-standardized incidence by Chinese standard population (ASMRC) and by world standard population were 112.34/105 and 111.25/105, and the cumulative incidence rate (0〜74 age years old) was 12.61%. The cancer mortality and ASMRC were 159.00/105 and 107.23/105 in urban areas, whereas in rural areas, they were 164.24/105 and 118.22/105 respectively. Cancers of lung, stomach, liver, colon and rectum, esophagus, breast, thyroid, cervix, brain and pancreas were the most common cancers, accounting for about 75% of all cancer cases in urban and rural areas. Lung cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer, esophageal cancer, colorectal cancer, pancreatic cancer, breast cancer, brain cancer, leukemia and lymphoma were the most fatal cancer deaths, accounted for about 80% of all cancer deaths.  Conclusion:  The National Central Cancer Registry reports cancer statistics, providing basic data for policy making and scientific research. Along with the increase of population coverage and improvement of data quality, cancer registry is playing an important role in cancer control.