Nasopharyngeal malignancies in Denmark diagnosed from 1980 to 2014

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Epidemiology
• Public Health

Background:

• Nasopharyngeal malignancies incidence and mortality rates are reportedly decreasing globally.
• This study provides a nationwide update on nasopharyngeal cancer (NPC) incidence and survival trends in Denmark.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the incidence and survival rates of nasopharyngeal malignancies in Denmark from 1980 to 2014.
• To identify trends and potential contributing factors to changes in NPC incidence and survival.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from the Danish Cancer Registry (DCR) and Central Population Register (CPR) for patients diagnosed between 1980 and 2014.
• Calculated age-adjusted incidence rate (AAIR), average annual percent change (AAPC), and relative survival (RS).
• Employed age-population-cohort (APC) models to analyze incidence patterns.

Main Results:

• Identified 911 patients with nasopharyngeal malignancies; median age 57.7 years, male:female ratio 2.2:1.
• Observed a non-significant decrease in AAIR from 0.39 to 0.28 per 100,000 between 1980 and 2014 (AAPC -3.2%).
• Reported a significant increase in overall 1-year (76.3%) and 5-year (42.1%) relative survival rates since 1980, with a significant age effect but no cohort or period effects.

Conclusions:

• Nasopharyngeal carcinoma incidence has shown a slight, though insignificant, decline over four decades in Denmark.
• Relative survival for nasopharyngeal malignancies has significantly improved since 1980.
• Improved survival may be linked to advancements in treatment modalities.