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Progress of anticancer drugs in reducing mortality from selected cancers in Europe: an assessment
C La Vecchia1, F Levi, F Lucchini
1Istituto di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri, Milano, Italy.
Abstract:
Trends in mortality from four groups of cancers amenable to anti-cancer treatments (testicular cancer, Hodgkin's disease, leukemias and childhood cancers) between the late 1950s and the late 1980s were analyzed for the 23 larger European countries. In Western Europe, newer treatments led to the avoidance of approximately 1000 deaths from testicular cancer, 4000 from Hodgkin's disease, 4000 from leukemias, and 2500 from childhood cancers. In Eastern Europe, declines in mortality were observed only for childhood cancers, for a total of about 500 fewer deaths per year. Thus, approximately 11,000 deaths per year were avoided in Europe by newer cancer treatments, corresponding to 1% cancer deaths registered in the 23 larger European countries. A few thousand further deaths from these cancers could be avoided through more widespread and rational utilization of currently available therapies, particularly in Eastern Europe.
Insights
Newer cancer treatments significantly reduced deaths from testicular cancer, Hodgkin's disease, leukemias, and childhood cancers across Europe. Approximately 11,000 deaths were avoided annually, with potential for more through wider therapy use.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Cancer mortality trends vary significantly across Europe.
- Certain cancers, including testicular cancer, Hodgkin's disease, leukemias, and childhood cancers, are amenable to modern treatments.
Purpose of the Study:
- To analyze mortality trends for specific treatable cancers in Europe from the late 1950s to the late 1980s.
- To quantify the impact of newer anti-cancer treatments on reducing cancer deaths.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of mortality data for 23 European countries.
- Comparison of cancer mortality trends between Western and Eastern Europe.
- Estimation of deaths avoided due to advancements in cancer therapy.
Main Results:
- Western Europe saw significant reductions in deaths from testicular cancer, Hodgkin's disease, leukemias, and childhood cancers, totaling around 11,000 avoided deaths annually.
- Eastern Europe experienced mortality declines primarily in childhood cancers, with approximately 500 fewer deaths per year.
- The overall impact of newer treatments represented about 1% of total cancer deaths in the studied countries.
Conclusions:
- Modern cancer treatments have demonstrably saved lives across Europe, particularly in Western regions.
- There is a substantial opportunity to further reduce cancer mortality by optimizing the use of existing therapies, especially in Eastern Europe.
- Widespread and rational application of current cancer treatments could prevent several thousand additional deaths annually.