Population-based cancer survival surveillance in Latin America and the Caribbean: A scoping review

To map the methodological strategies used to analyze population-based cancer survival among patients in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC).

Scoping Review.

This review was conducted in accordance with JBI guidance and reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA-ScR). Searches were performed in MEDLINE, Cochrane, LILACS, Scopus, Embase, LIVIVO, and Web of Science, along with additional gray literature sources. Studies published in any language and any year were included if they analyzed population-based cancer survival using data from LAC countries. Two reviewers independently selected studies. Data were extracted using a standardized tool and summarized descriptively.

Out of 958 identified publications, 86 studies were included. More than half were published between 2021 and 2026. Most were single-country analyses (89.5%) evaluating one type of cancer (74.4%). Scientific output was concentrated in Brazil and Colombia, while 21 of 33 countries had no identified studies. Population-based cancer registries (PBCRs) linked to mortality information systems were the main data source, vital status follow-up was predominantly passive, and 5-year survival was the most frequently reported time horizon. Net/relative survival was the most common measure, and the Pohar-Perme estimator was the most frequently used method.

Population-based cancer survival research in LAC is geographically concentrated and methodologically heterogeneous. Despite methodological progress, notable gaps remain. Improving cancer registries, strengthening linkage with mortality data, and standardizing analytical techniques are essential for improving surveillance and reducing disparities in cancer care throughout the region.