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The effect of multiple primary rules on cancer incidence rates and trends

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Abstract

Purpose

An examination of multiple primary cancers can provide insight into the etiologic role of genes, the environment, and prior cancer treatment on a cancer patient’s risk of developing a subsequent cancer. Different rules for registering multiple primary cancers (MP) are used by cancer registries throughout the world making data comparisons difficult.

Methods

We evaluated the effect of SEER and IARC/IACR rules on cancer incidence rates and trends using data from the SEER Program. We estimated age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) and trends (1975–2011) for the top 26 cancer categories using joinpoint regression analysis.

Results

ASIRs were higher using SEER compared to IARC/IACR rules for all cancers combined (3 %) and, in rank order, melanoma (9 %), female breast (7 %), urinary bladder (6 %), colon (4 %), kidney and renal pelvis (4 %), oral cavity and pharynx (3 %), lung and bronchus (2 %), and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (2 %). ASIR differences were largest for patients aged 65+ years. Trends were similar using both MP rules with the exception of cancers of the urinary bladder, and kidney and renal pelvis.

Conclusions

The choice of multiple primary coding rules effects incidence rates and trends. Compared to SEER MP coding rules, IARC/IACR rules are less complex, have not changed over time, and report fewer multiple primary cancers, particularly cancers that occur in paired organs, at the same anatomic site and with the same or related histologic type. Cancer registries collecting incidence data using SEER rules may want to consider including incidence rates and trends using IARC/IACR rules to facilitate international data comparisons.

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Abbreviations

IACR:

International Association of Cancer Registries

IARC:

International Agency for Research on Cancer

SEER:

Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank Ms. Jessica King for help with the joinpoint regression analyses of the SEER 9 data. There are no financial disclosures from any of the authors.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy. MS-F76, Atlanta, GA, 30341, USA

    Hannah K. Weir

  2. Cancer Data Registry of Idaho, Boise, ID, USA

    Christopher J. Johnson

  3. Georgia Center for Cancer Statistics, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, USA

    Kevin C. Ward

  4. London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK

    Michel P. Coleman

Authors
  1. Hannah K. Weir
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  2. Christopher J. Johnson
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Correspondence to Hannah K. Weir.

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Disclaimer: The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

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Weir, H.K., Johnson, C.J., Ward, K.C. et al. The effect of multiple primary rules on cancer incidence rates and trends. Cancer Causes Control 27, 377–390 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-016-0714-9

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