Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

A cancer incidence survey in Tianjin: the third largest city in China—between 1981 and 2000

  • Original Paper
  • Published:
Cancer Causes & Control Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

During the past three decades, the social/natural environment and lifestyle of people in China have undergone a marked transformation to westernization. However, age-standardized cancer rates have not been determined to any great extent in China. In this study, we tracked the cancer incidence between 1981 and 2000 in Tianjin, to identify the changes in incidence associated with social and economic changes. Cancer incidence data were collected by the Tianjin Cancer Registry. Sex, age, and organ site-specific incidence trends were analyzed by the “join-point regression” method. Overall crude cancer incidence increased, but the age-standardized incidence slightly decreased during the study period. The incidence of lung cancer increased between 1981 and 1996 but decreased between 1996 and 2000. The incidences of uterine, esophageal, stomach, and liver cancers decreased. However, the incidences of colorectal, pancreatic, breast, ovarian, and prostate cancers all increased during the study period. There was an aging-related increase in the overall crude cancer incidence and an alteration in the distribution of cancer types in Tianjin. The incidences of cancer types that are more prevalent in developed countries appeared to increase in China, whereas the incidences of cancer types that are more prevalent in developing countries appeared to decline.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Twombly R (2005) Cancer surpasses heart disease as leading cause of death for all but the very elderly. J Natl Cancer Inst 97:330–331

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Parkin DM, Bray F, Ferlay J et al (2005) Global cancer statistics, 2002. CA Cancer J Clin 55:74–108

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Parkin DM (2001) Global cancer statistics in the year 2000. Lancet Oncol 2:533–543

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  4. Kanavos P (2006) The rising burden of cancer in the developing world. Ann Oncol Suppl 8:15–23

    Google Scholar 

  5. Brennan P (2002) Gene–environment interaction and aetiology of cancer: what does it mean and how can we measure it? Carcinogenesis 23:381–387

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  6. Thun M, Henley S, Calle E (2001) Tobacco use and cancer: an epidemiologic perspective for geneticists. Oncogene 21:7307–7325

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  7. Notani PN (2001) Global variation in cancer incidence and mortality. Current Science 81:10

    Google Scholar 

  8. Parkin DM (2004) International variation. Oncogene 38:329–340

    Google Scholar 

  9. Ferlay J, Bray F, Parkin DM et al (2001) Cancer incidence and mortality Worldwide, Globocan 2000. Lyon: IARC

    Google Scholar 

  10. Lowenfels A, Maisonneuve P (2002) Epidemiologic and etiologic factors of pancreatic cancer. Hematol Oncol Clin N 16:1–16

    Article  Google Scholar 

  11. Giovannucci E, Goldin B (1997) The role of fat. Fatty acids, and total energy intake in the etiology of human colon cancer. Am J Clin Nutr 66:S1564–S1571

    Google Scholar 

  12. Franceschi S, Bidoli E, Herrero R et al (2000) Comparison of cancers of the oral cavity and pharynx worldwide: etiological clues. Oral Oncol 36:106–115

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Muir C, Waterhouse J, Mack T et al (1987) Cancer incidence in five continents vol. V. Lyon: IARC

    Google Scholar 

  14. Parkin DM, Whelan SL, Ferlay J et al (1990) Cancer incidence in five continents vol.VI. Lyon: IARC

    Google Scholar 

  15. Parkin DM, Whelan SL, Ferlay J et al (1997) Cancer incidence in five continents vol. VII. Lyon: IARC

    Google Scholar 

  16. Parkin DM, Whelan SL, Ferlay J et al (2002) Cancer incidence in five continents vol. VIII. Lyon: IARC

    Google Scholar 

  17. World Health Organisation (1992) International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems, tenth revision ICD-10. Geneva: WHO

    Google Scholar 

  18. Kim HJ, Fay MP, Feuer EJ et al (2000) Permutation tests for joinpoint regression with application to cancer rates. Stat Med 19:335–351

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Joinpoint Regression Program, Version 3.0 (2005) In: Statistical research and applications branch national cancer institute. Bethesda, USA

  20. Chen JG, Zhu J, Parkin DM et al (2006) Trends in the incidence of cancer in Qidong, China, 1978–2002. Int J Cancer 6:1447–1454

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Jin F, Devesa SS, Chow WH et al (1999) Cancer incidence trends in urban Shanghai, 1972–1994: an update. Int J Cancer 4:435–440

    Article  Google Scholar 

  22. Remontet L, Estève J, Bouvier AM et al (2003) Cancer incidence and mortality in France over the period 1978–2000. Rev Epidemiol Sante 51:3–30

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Edwards BK, Brown ML, Wingo PA et al (2005) Annual report to the nation on the status of cancer, 1975–2002, featuring population-based trends in cancer treatment. J Natl Cancer I 19:1407–1427

    Google Scholar 

  24. Stracci F, Canosa A, Minelli L et al (2007) Cancer mortality trends in the Umbria region of Italy 1978–2004: a joinpoint regression analysis. BMC Cancer 7:10–18

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  25. Crocetti E, Capocaccia R, Casella C et al (2004) Population-based incidence and mortality cancer trends (1986–1997) from the network of Italian cancer registries. Eur J Cancer Prev 4:287–295

    Article  Google Scholar 

  26. Firket J (1955) Frequency, etiological factors and geographical distribution of lung cancer. Rev Med Liege 1:3–12

    Google Scholar 

  27. Weiderpass E, Pukkala E (2006) Time trends in socioeconomic differences in incidence rates of cancers of gastro-intestinal tract in Finland. BMC Gastroenterol 6:41

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Lu SN, Su WW, Yang SS et al (2006) Secular trends and geographic variations of hepatitis B virus and hepatitis C virus-associated hepatocellular carcinoma in Taiwan. Int J Cancer 8:1946–1952

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  29. Statistical Bureau of Tianjin (1986–2001) Yearbooks of Tianjin in 1985–2000. Beijing: China Statistical Press

  30. Ji J, Couto E, Hemminki K (2005) Incidence differences for gallbladder cancer between occupational groups suggest an etiological role for alcohol. Int J Cancer 3:492–493

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Tsugane S (2004) Dietary factor and cancer risk–evidence from epidemiological studies. Gan To Kagaku Ryoho 6:847–852

    Google Scholar 

  32. Palmer S (1985) Diet, nutrition, and cancer. Prog Food Nutr Sci 3–4:283–341

    Google Scholar 

  33. Gonzalez CA (2006) Nutrition and cancer: the current epidemiological evidence. Br J Nutr 96:42S–45S

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  34. Koo LC, Mang OW, Ho JH (1997) An ecological study of trends in cancer incidence and dietary changes in Hong Kong. Nutr Cancer 3:289–301

    Article  Google Scholar 

  35. Wu Y, Zhou B (2002) The current status and future trend of adult overweight and obesity in China. Zhong Hua Liu Xing Bing Xue Za Zhi 1:11–15

    Google Scholar 

  36. Rodriguez C, Calle EE, Fakhrabadi-Shokoohi D et al (2002) Body mass index, height, and the risk of ovarian cancer mortality in a prospective cohort of postmenopausal women. Cancer Epidem Biomar 9:822–828

    Google Scholar 

  37. Franceschi S, Favero A, La Vecchia C et al (1996) Body size indices and breast cancer risk before and after menopause. Int J Cancer 2:181–186

    Article  Google Scholar 

  38. Lukanova A, Bjor O, Kaaks R et al (2006) Body mass index and cancer: results from the Northern Sweden Health and Disease Cohort. Int J Cancer 2:458–466

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  39. Chen KX, Wang PP, Sun BC et al (2006) Twenty-year secular changes in sex specific lung cancer incidence rates in an urban Chinese population. Lung Cancer 51:13–19

    Article  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgements

This work was supported by the Department of Health of Tianjin. The authors thank all the colleagues in the Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics of the Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital and Institute for their contribution to this study and the Tianjin Central Disease Control for the contributions in data collection. The authors also thank Ms. Beth Notzon of Department of Scientific Publications of The University of Texas M. D. Anderson for her editorial assistance.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital and Institute, Tianjin, 300060, P.R. China

    Fengju Song, Min He, Haixin Li, Biyun Qian, Kexin Chen & Xishan Hao

  2. Department of Epidemiology, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Qingyi Wei

  3. Department of Pathology, M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, The University of Texas, 1515 Holcombe Blvd., Houston, TX, 77030, USA

    Wei Zhang

Authors
  1. Fengju Song
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Min He
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Haixin Li
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Biyun Qian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Qingyi Wei
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Wei Zhang
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Kexin Chen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  8. Xishan Hao
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kexin Chen.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Song, F., He, M., Li, H. et al. A cancer incidence survey in Tianjin: the third largest city in China—between 1981 and 2000. Cancer Causes Control 19, 443–450 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-007-9105-6

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-007-9105-6

Keywords

Search

Navigation