[Aging and cancer. An analysis of cancer mortality in Germany 1900 to 1990]

The unification of Germany rendered possible the comprehensive overall calculation and subsequent analysis of cancer mortality of an entire population of 60 to 80 million people over a period of 90 years. 1. The total mortality rates (all forms) in the various age groups are largely constant. The increase in absolute terms is a consequence of the changing age distribution in the German population resulting in a larger number of people in higher age groups. 2. The age-related constancy of total cancer mortality can be confirmed statistically via longitudinal and cross-sectional approaches focussing on changing subject groups per calendar year as well as in a diagonal manner using the same group of subjects per year of birth. 3. Each age group has its own characteristic and exponentially-at higher age-increase cancer mortality rate which is independent of influences by e.g. personal environment or "generation". 4. The constancy of total cancer mortality implies a change in the distribution of organ manifestations which equilibrates any increases or decreases. Available data on organ manifestation of cancer from the year 1950 on are the basis of this observation. 5. Age-related constancy of total cancer mortality is a basic principle of cancer epidemiology.