Trends in brain cancer incidence and survival in the United States: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program, 1973 to 2001

Abstract

<jats:sec> <jats:title>Object</jats:title> <jats:p>An increasing incidence of brain cancer has been reported for the last three decades. In this study of brain cancer incidence and patient survival in the US, the authors attempt to update information on trends by examining data provided by the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program.</jats:p></jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Methods</jats:title> <jats:p>Population-based data from the SEER Program were used to calculate the incidence of and survival rates for people with brain cancer. The approximate Poisson method was used to calculate relative risks for brain cancer and to determine a 95% confidence interval. Annual age-standardized incidence rates were calculated, and time-trend analysis was conducted using joinpoint regression analysis.</jats:p> <jats:p>The relative risks of brain cancer were 1.48 for men compared with women, 3.18 for elderly persons compared with young adults, 1.86 for Caucasian patients compared with African-American patients, and 1.35 for those in metropolitan counties compared with those in nonmetropolitan counties. The incidence of brain cancer increased until 1987, when the annual percentage of change reversed direction, decreasing from 1.68 to −0.44%. The elderly experienced an increase until 1985, but their rates were stable thereafter. Rising trends were noticed for glioblastoma multiforme (GBM), oligodendroglioma, anaplastic astrocytoma, medulloblastoma, and mixed glioma, and falling trends were observed for astrocytoma not otherwise specified and malignant glioma. The survival rate for patients with GBM has not shown improvement in the last two decades.</jats:p></jats:sec> <jats:sec> <jats:title>Conclusions</jats:title> <jats:p>Increased risk of brain cancer is associated with being male, Caucasian, elderly, and residing in a metropolitan county. The incidence rate of brain cancer in the US is gradually declining, but the rising trend of GBM combined with its poor survival rate is disconcerting and needs further exploration.</jats:p></jats:sec>

Glioblastoma survival in the United States improved after Food and Drug Administration approval of bevacizumab: A population‐based analysis

“…A previous SEER analysis of glioblastoma survival demonstrated a long period without any notable improvement, despite presumed incremental improvement in supportive care, surgical technique, and radiation therapy methods. 23 More recently, SEER studies demonstrated that survival improved following FDA approval of temozolomide, which was last chemotherapy approved for use in glioblastoma prior to bevacizumab approval. 17,18 The longer survival observed for patients who had access to bevacizumab (2010 group) compared with those who did not have access (2008 group) was unlikely to be related to improvements in supportive care over this 2-year interval.…”

Central nervous system tumors: a histopathological study

“…9 Possible reasons for the observed gender variations may arise as a result of possible variabilties in the susceptibility of X and Y chromosomes to tumorigenic stimuli, while others postulate a protective effect of female sex hormones against brain tumors. 19 A review of data obtained from the SEER program suggested a higher incidence of meningiomas in females…”

Prognostic Factors in Elderly Patients With Supratentorial Malignant Gliomas

“…9,11,12,14,18,36,44) Numbers of primary brain tumors have nearly doubled in the 65-to 74-year-old population and have more than doubled in the 75-to 84-year-old population. 11) These increasing trends may result from a combination of a true increase in the incidence, a gain in life expectancy, and exposure to increasing environmental carcinogens, 18) as well as improved diagnostic procedures and better access of the elderly to health care.…”