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Incidence trends in head and neck cancers and human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal cancer in Canada, 1992–2009

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Abstract

Purpose

Recently, human papillomavirus (HPV) infection has been causally associated with a subset of head and neck cancers, particularly oropharyngeal cancer. As national cancer reporting systems typically report incidence rates of oropharyngeal cancer grouped with other cancers of the head and neck region, the objective of this study was to present age-standardized incidence trends in oropharyngeal cancer Canada-wide.

Methods

Data were obtained from the Canadian Cancer Registry for cases diagnosed between 1992 and 2009. Trends in age-standardized incidence rates were described for head and neck cancers overall and for HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer using Joinpoint regression.

Results

The age-standardized incidence of head and neck cancers declined significantly in Canada from 1992 to 1998 (annual percentage change [APC] = −3.0, p < 0.01), then remained stable through to 2009. In contrast, the age-standardized incidence of HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer increased significantly during the same time period, from 1.6 per 100,000 in 1992 to 2.6 in 2009 (APC = 2.7, p < 0.001). The increase in HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer was greater in males than in females and increased significantly in all age groups, particularly those aged 50–59 (APC = 5.4, p < 0.001). The age-standardized incidence rate of head and neck cancer overall was stable or declined in all age groups except those aged 50–59 where incidence decreased from 1992 to 1997, then increased through to 2009.

Conclusions

The incidence patterns of HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer and head and neck cancer overall show contrasting trends. Findings highlight the need to surveil HPV-associated oropharyngeal cancer separately from other cancers of the head and neck region in order to monitor these emerging trends.

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Conflict of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Canadian Partnership Against Cancer, 1 University Ave., Toronto, ON, M5J 2P1, Canada

    Tonia Forte, Jin Niu, Gina A. Lockwood & Heather E. Bryant

  2. Dalla Lana School of Public Health, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada

    Gina A. Lockwood

  3. Departments of Community Health Sciences and Oncology, University of Calgary, Calgary, AB, Canada

    Heather E. Bryant

Authors
  1. Tonia Forte
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  2. Jin Niu
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  3. Gina A. Lockwood
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  4. Heather E. Bryant
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Tonia Forte.

Additional information

This document has been made possible through a financial contribution from Health Canada, through the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer.

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Forte, T., Niu, J., Lockwood, G.A. et al. Incidence trends in head and neck cancers and human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal cancer in Canada, 1992–2009. Cancer Causes Control 23, 1343–1348 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-012-0013-z

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-012-0013-z

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