Trend Analysis and Prediction of Hepatobiliary Pancreatic Cancer Incidence and Mortality in Korea.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to analyze the current trends and predict the epidemiologic features of hepatobiliary and pancreatic (HBP) cancers according to the Korea Central Cancer Registry to provide insights into health policy. METHODS: Incidence data from 1999 to 2017 and mortality data from 2002 to 2018 were obtained from the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database and Statistics Korea, respectively. The future incidence rate from 2018 to 2040 and mortality rate from 2019 to 2040 of each HBP cancer were predicted using an age-period-cohort model. All analyses, including incidence and mortality, were stratified by sex. RESULTS: From 1999 to 2017, the age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) of HBP cancers per 100,000 population had changed (liver, 25.8 to 13.5; gallbladder [GB], 2.9 to 2.6; bile ducts, 5.1 to 5.9; ampulla of Vater [AoV], 0.9 to 0.9; and pancreatic, 5.6 to 7.3). The age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) per 100,000 population from 2002 to 2018 of each cancer had declined, excluding pancreatic cancer (5.5 to 5.6). The predicted ASIR of pancreatic cancer per 100,000 population from 2018 to 2040 increased (7.5 to 8.2), but that of other cancers decreased. Furthermore, the predicted ASMR per 100,000 population from 2019 to 2040 decreased in all types of cancers: liver (6.5 to 3.2), GB (1.4 to 0.9), bile ducts (4.3 to 2.9), AoV (0.3 to 0.2), and pancreas (5.4 to 4.7). However, in terms of sex, the predicted ASMR of pancreatic cancer per 100,000 population in females increased (3.8 to 4.9). CONCLUSION: The annual incidence and mortality cases of HBP cancers are generally predicted to increase. Especially, pancreatic cancer has an increasing incidence and will be the leading cause of cancer-related death among HBP cancers.

Analysis of the tumor characteristics in young age breast cancer patients using collaborative stage data of the Korea Central Cancer Registry.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to evaluate tumor characteristics in young age (20-39 years old) breast cancer (YABC) patients in Korea. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 10,897 breast cancer patients from 2010 to 2015. The data were collected through 10% systematic sampling of the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database (KNCI DB). Tumor size, lymph node status, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status were collected according to the Collaborative Stage version 2 (CSv2) Data Collection System. RESULTS: Of the 10,897 patients, 1245 (11.4%) were YABC patients. They were found to have larger tumors (T2: 41.6% in 20-39 age group vs 36.4% in 40-49 age group vs 36.5% in 50-59 age group vs 38.4% in ≥ 60 age group; T3: 10.1% vs 7.3% vs 6.5% vs 6.2%, P < .0001), greater rates of lymph node involvement (41.2% vs 32.7% vs 35.7% vs 32.5%, P < .0001), higher tumor grade (High grade: 26.8% vs 19.4% vs 23.5% vs 22.1%, P < .0001), and a larger proportion of triple-negative subtype (18.2% vs 11.0% vs 12.2% vs 13.5%, P < .0001). Compared to the 40-49 age group, breast cancer-related survival (BCRS) rates were worse (91.74% vs 95.04%, P < .0001), and the characteristics of YABC patients were associated with higher risk of death from breast cancer. CONCLUSION: YABC patients have more aggressive tumor characteristics and worse survival rates. Therefore, we need to identify high-risk groups among YABC patients and support active surveillance in them. These findings from a national cohort provide important information for establishing a national cancer care strategy to manage YABC patients.

Incidence and treatment outcomes of ovarian sarcoma compared to epithelial ovarian cancer from the national cancer registry.

PURPOSE: To investigate the incidence and survival outcomes of primary ovarian sarcoma compared to those of epithelial ovarian cancer. METHODS: Data on primary ovarian sarcoma patients (n = 1361) and epithelial ovarian cancer patients (n = 30,366) between 1999 and 2017 were obtained from the Korea Central Cancer Registry, and their respective age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) and relative survival rate were calculated and compared. RESULTS: Based on the ASR, the incidence of epithelial ovarian cancer was 4.75 per 100,000 women, while that of primary ovarian sarcoma was 0.22 per 100,000 women. The ASR ratio was 21.94 without significant change of ASR during the study period. Primary ovarian sarcoma had a better survival curve compared with epithelial ovarian cancer, though the difference was not statistically significant (5 yr overall survival 64.0% vs. 61.5%; p = 0.6030). In addition, among the pure sarcomas, the fibrosarcoma histologic subtype showed the best overall survival, and that of liposarcomas and stromal cell sarcoma were behind that (5 yr overall survival 85.0%, 76.7%, and 72.7%; p < 0.0001). CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of primary ovarian sarcoma is quite low, with an ASR of 0.22/100,000 during the last 20 years. There were no significant differences between survival rates of primary ovarian sarcoma and epithelial ovarian cancer.

Incidence and outcomes of malignant ovarian germ cell tumors in Korea, 1999-2017.

OBJECTIVE: Malignant ovarian germ cell tumor (MOGCT) is a rare ovarian malignancy accounting for less than 5% of all ovarian cancers. We aimed to evaluate the incidence, survival, and subsequent malignancies after the diagnosis of MOGCT. METHODS: Data from the Korea Central Cancer Registry were used to identify MOGCTs between 1999 and 2017. The age-standardized rates (ASRs), 5-year relative survival rates (RSR) and standardized incidence ratio (SIR) for subsequent cancer after diagnosis of MOGCT were estimated. RESULTS: Of 2125 cases of newly diagnosed MOGCTs, 596 (28.0%) were diagnosed with dysgerminoma and 1529 (72.0%) with non-dysgerminoma. The ASR per 100,000 women-years was 0.539; ASR slightly increased over the study period (annual percent change [APC] = 1.01%; p = 0.02). There was an increase and decrease in the incidence of MOGCTs in the age groups 0-19 years (APC = 1.96%; p < 0.01) and ≥ 50 years (APC = -6.51%; p < 0.01), respectively. Patients with dysgerminoma showed significantly higher RSR than patients with non-dysgerminoma (98.0% vs. 94.9%, p < 0.01). Patients aged ≥50 years showed worst 5-year RSR (68.7%) than patients aged 0-19 years (97.8%) and 20-34 years (96.4%) (p < 0.01). The overall SIR for a subsequent cancer occurrence was 2.07, with the most frequent site of subsequent primary cancer being the thyroid (SIR = 2.78). CONCLUSIONS: Our data demonstrated an excellent prognosis of MOGCTs among Korean women. There was a slight increase in MOGCT prevalence, which was more pronounced among those aged <19 years. After MOGCT diagnosis, the risk of developing a subsequent malignancy was doubled compared with the general population.

Second primary cancer after primary peritoneal, epithelial ovarian, and fallopian tubal cancer: a retrospective study.

BACKGROUND: In this retrospective study, data from patients listed in the Korea Central Cancer Registry during 1993-2014 were analysed, to investigate the incidence and survival of second primary cancers (SPCs) after a diagnosis of primary peritoneal, epithelial ovarian, and fallopian tubal (POFT) cancer. METHODS: The standardised incidence ratio (SIR) and survival outcomes of patients with SPCs among POFT cancer survivors were analysed. RESULTS: Among 20,738 POFT cancer survivors, 798 (3.84%) developed SPCs, at an average interval of 5.50 years. SPC risk in POFT survivors (SIR, 1.29) was higher compared to the general population. The most high-risk type of SPC was leukaemia (3.07) followed by the lung and bronchus (1.80), colon (1.58), rectum and rectosigmoid junction (1.42), thyroid (1.34), and breast (1.26). In women aged < 60 years, cancer of the breast (1.30), ascending colon (2.26), and transverse colon (4.07) as SPCs increased. Up to 10 years after POFT cancer treatment, leukaemia risk increased, especially in those < 60 years, with serous histology, and with distant stage, which required aggressive chemotherapy. The median overall survival time was 12.8 years and 14.3 years in women with POFT cancer and SPCs, respectively. Thyroid and breast cancers were favourable prognostic markers among SPCs. CONCLUSIONS: The overall SPC risk increases in POFT cancer survivors, especially in those < 60 years. The cancer risk of breast and the proximal colon increase based on hereditary predisposition, while leukaemia likely develops from aggressive treatment. The median overall survival is favourable in POFT cancer survivors with SPCs.

Changes in ovarian cancer survival during the 20 years before the era of targeted therapy.

BACKGROUND: The survival of patients with ovarian cancer has improved because of surgery and chemotherapy. This study aimed to estimate the changes in survival rates among Korean women with ovarian cancer prior to the introduction of targeted therapy for ovarian cancer. METHODS: Data were obtained from the Korea Central Cancer Registry regarding patients who were diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer between 1995 and 2014. The relative survival rates were calculated for 5-year periods using the Ederer II method. Cox proportional hazard models were created to assess the associations of demographic and clinicopathological factors with ovarian cancer survival. RESULTS: During the study period, 22,880 women were diagnosed with epithelial ovarian cancer. The 5-year relative survival rate improved from 57.2% during 1995-1999 to 63.8% during 2010-2014 (P < 0.001). Survival outcomes improved between 1995 and 1999 and 2010-2014 for the serous and endometrioid carcinoma subtypes (P < 0.001). However, no improvements were observed for the mucinous and clear cell carcinoma subtypes (P = 0.189 and P = 0.293, respectively). Multivariate analysis revealed that younger age, early stage, recent diagnosis, primary surgical treatment, and non-serous histological subtype were favorable prognostic factors. CONCLUSION: Survival outcomes have improved for serous and endometrioid epithelial ovarian cancer in the last 20 years. However, no improvement was observed for patients with mucinous and clear cell carcinoma subtypes.

Risk of second primary Cancer among bladder Cancer patients: a population-based cohort study in Korea.

BACKGROUND: For the expanding population of bladder cancer survivors in Korea, the development of subsequent cancers is a significant concern. Here, we provide the second primary cancer incidence rates and types in Korean patients with bladder cancer. METHODS: Using population-based data from the Korea Central Cancer Registry from 1993 to 2013, we studied the standardized incidence ratios among 48,875 individuals with an initial diagnosis of bladder cancer. Standardized incidence ratios for second primary cancers were evaluated according to age at diagnosis, latency, diagnostic year, and treatment. RESULTS: Over the same period, the overall risk of a second primary cancer was reduced by 6% in patients with bladder cancer compared with the development of a new malignancy in the general population (standardized incidence ratio = 0.94; 95% CI, 0.91-0.97, p < 0.05). For specific cancers, the standardized incidence ratios for stomach, colon, liver, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma were significantly lower in patients with bladder cancer. However, the risk of prostate and kidney cancer in patients with bladder cancer were significantly increased. The risk of lung squamous cell carcinoma and lung adenocarcinoma as second primary cancers was significantly elevated in patients with bladder cancer. CONCLUSION: Korean patients with bladder cancer have a 6% lower risk of developing a second primary cancer. However, they have a higher risk of developing subsequent prostate and kidney cancers, lung squamous cell carcinoma, and lung adenocarcinoma, suggesting the need for continual intensive cancer surveillance among bladder cancer survivors.

Temporal improvement in survival of patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in a hepatitis B virus-endemic population.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: Over the past decade, the management of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) and viral hepatitis has been improved. We explored survival trends and factors affecting survival of HCC in a hepatitis B virus (HBV)-endemic population. METHODS: From 31 521 and 38 167 HCC registrants to the population-based national cancer registry in Korea, an HBV-endemic country, in the period of 2003-2005 and 2008-2010, we randomly sampled cohorts of 4515 and 4582 patients, respectively, for the investigation of clinical characteristics and survival. RESULTS: Compared with Cohort 2003-2005, Cohort 2008-2010 had significantly better liver function (Child-Turcotte-Pugh class A, 64.2% vs 71.6%; P < 0.001) and had more advanced tumor stages (Barcelona Clinic Liver Cancer stage B-D, 45.8% vs 50.4%; P < 0.001). HBV was the predominant cause of HCC in both cohorts (62.5% vs 62.2%; P = 0.70). Cohort 2008-2010 had significantly better overall survival than Cohort 2003-2005 by age-adjusted univariate, multivariable, and propensity score-matched analyses (median survival time, 17.2 vs 28.4 months; P < 0.001). In a subcohort analysis, a consistently significant inter-cohort improvement in survival was observed only in patients with HBV-related HCC (median survival, 16.1 vs 30.4 months; P < 0.001). The annual number of patients with HCC receiving oral antiviral agents for HBV precipitously increased from 93 in 2005 to 28 520 in 2010 in the country. CONCLUSIONS: The consistent improvement in survival of patients with HCC was confined to HBV-related HCC subcohort over the last decade in an HBV-endemic population. The survival improvement coincided with the exponential use of oral antiviral agents for HBV in the patients.

Trends in incidence and survival of esophageal cancer in Korea: Analysis of the Korea Central Cancer Registry Database.

BACKGROUND AND AIM: The diagnostic and therapeutic modalities of esophageal cancer have recently improved in Asia, and its prognosis is expected to change. This study provides a population-based report on the epidemiology of esophageal cancer in Korea. METHODS: Cancer incidence data from 1999 to 2013 were obtained from the Korea Central Cancer Registry, covering the entire population. Age-standardized incidence rates and annual percent changes were calculated according to subsites and histological types. Five-year relative survival rates were estimated for cases diagnosed between 1993 and 2013. Relative excess rates were compared between patients diagnosed from 2009 to 2013 and 2006 to 2008. RESULTS: The age-standardized incidence rates decreased from 8.8 per 100 000 populations in 1999 to 5.9 in 2013 with an annual percent change of -2.6% in men and -2.2% in women. The most common histological type was squamous cell carcinoma, accounting for 90.2% of all esophageal cancers in 2013, followed by adenocarcinomas (3.1%), and their incidences decreased. The proportion of localized and regional cancer tended to increase compared with that of distant cancer. Five-year relative survival of squamous cell carcinoma improved from 12.1% (1993-1995) to 34.6% (2009-2013). Relative excess rate was 0.72 (95% confidence interval 0.65-0.80) in localized stage and 0.88 (95% confidence interval, 0.82-0.95) in regional stage comparing patients diagnosed from 2009 to 2013 and 2006 to 2008. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of esophageal cancer has decreased in Korea for the past 15 years, and 5-year survival rates have improved significantly. These increases may be attributable to more effective detection of early-stage disease.

Alanine aminotransferase and gamma-glutamyl transferase have different dose-response relationships with risk of mortality by age.

BACKGROUND & AIMS: It remains unclear whether the respective dose-response relationships between serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) levels and risk of mortality are consistent by age. METHODS: We used sampled cohort data from the National Health Insurance Corporation to conduct a retrospective cohort study. A total of 313 252 participants who received medical health check-ups from 2002 to 2008 were assessed for risk of death according to serum ALT and GGT levels over an average of 6 years. The hazard ratios (HRs) for mortality were analysed with Cox proportional hazard model. RESULTS: The crude mortality rate increased linearly with increasing serum ALT and GGT levels in adults aged <60 years. However, the all-cause mortality rate showed a J-shaped relationship with increasing serum ALT levels whereas all-cause mortality rate showed a linear relationship with increasing serum GGT levels in adults aged ≥60 years. The HR of death showed U-shaped relationships with increasing serum ALT levels in adults aged ≥60 years. On the contrary, the HR of death from any cause had a linear association with increasing serum GGT levels among all age groups. CONCLUSIONS: In this study, U-shaped relationship patterns were demonstrated between serum ALT levels and risk for all-cause mortality in adults aged ≥60 years while serum GGT levels showed a linear relationship with risk for all-cause death. Very low levels of serum ALT in elderly patients suggest that they are at high risk of mortality.

Elevated risks of subsequent primary malignancies in patients with thyroid cancer: a nationwide, population-based study in Korea.

BACKGROUND: Thyroid cancer affects relatively young adults, and its overall survival is excellent. With long life expectancy, the development of subsequent cancers is an important concern for survivors of thyroid cancer. The objective of this study was to investigate the incidence and types of second primary malignancies in Korean patients with thyroid cancer. METHODS: The study cohort included 178,844 registrants with thyroid cancer from the Korea Central Cancer Registry (KCCR) database between 1993 and 2010. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) were calculated using a statistical software program (SEER*Stat 8.0.4). RESULTS: Among 178,844 patients with thyroid cancer, 2895 (1.6%) were diagnosed with subsequent second primary malignancies. The overall risks of a second primary cancer were elevated by 6% in patients who had thyroid cancer compared with the general population during the same period. The elevated risks for developing second cancers were observed in all sites except the stomach and cervix. The elevated risk of second primary cancers was observed within the first 10 years of follow-up. Leukemia and cancers of the salivary gland, kidney, prostate, lung, and breast had the most significantly elevated risks as secondary cancers and presented as early as during the first 5 years after the initial diagnosis of thyroid cancer. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest, standardized, population-based study to date using nationwide data from the entire Korean population. The risks of several cancers were elevated significantly during follow-up, thus alerting physicians to pay special attention in their care of patients with thyroid cancer and long-term survivors.

Incidence and treatment outcomes of ovarian carcinosarcoma from the national cancer registry of Korea.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the incidence and survival outcomes of ovarian carcinosarcoma in Korea between 1999 and 2018. METHODS: Patients diagnosed with ovarian carcinosarcoma between 1999 and 2018 were identified from the Korea Central Cancer Registry (KCCR) and their information was collected. Age-standardized incidence rates (ASRs), annual percent changes (APC), and relative survival rates of ovarian carcinosarcoma were calculated and compared to those of epithelial ovarian cancer. RESULTS: According to the KCCR, 458 cases of ovarian carcinosarcoma were detected, and accounted for 1.5% (458/30,679) of all epithelial ovarian cancers in Korea between 1999 and 2018. The ASR of ovarian carcinosarcoma between 1999 and 2018 was 0.064 per 100,000 women. The incidence rate of ovarian carcinosarcoma increased during the study period, with an ASR of 0.029 per 100,000 in 1999 and 0.073 per 100,000 in 2018. The APC of ovarian carcinosarcoma during 1999-2018 was 5.86 (p<0.001). The median overall survival (OS) of patients with ovarian carcinosarcoma was 39 months, and the 5-year OS rate was 42.5%. Among ovarian carcinosarcomas, patients with localized stages showed better clinical outcomes than those with regional or distant stages (5-year OS, 60.8%, 57.9%, and 32.8%, respectively; p<0.001). In addition, younger (<50 years) patients showed better OS than older (≥50 years) patients (5-year OS, 52.6% vs. 40.2%; p<0.001). CONCLUSION: Our nationwide registry-based study demonstrated that the incidence of ovarian carcinosarcoma increased from 1999 to 2018 in Korea. Patients with advanced-stage disease and older age (≥50 years) had poorer survival outcomes.

Trends in the incidence and survival outcomes of endometrial cancer in Korea: a nationwide population-based cohort study.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate trends in the incidence and survival outcomes of endometrial cancer (EC) based on the year of diagnosis, stage, age, and histologic types. METHODS: Women with primary EC diagnosed between 1999 and 2018, and who were followed up with until 2019, were identified from the Korea Central Cancer Registry using the International Classification of Diseases, 10th revision. The age-standardized rates (ASRs) of incidence, annual percent changes (APCs), and survival were estimated according to age, stage, histology, and year of diagnosis. RESULTS: The ASR for EC increased from 2.38 per 100,000 in 1999 to 7.29 per 100,000 in 2018 across all histologic types (APCs of 9.82, 15.97, and 7.73 for endometrioid, serous, and clear cell, respectively, p<0.001). There were significant differences in the 5-year survival rates based on histology (90.9%, 55.0%, and 68.5% for endometrioid, serous, and clear cell, respectively, p<0.001), stage (93.4%, 77.0%, and 31.0% for localized, regional, and distant, respectively, p<0.001), and age (93.0% for <50 years and 80.6% for ≥50 years, p<0.001). The 5-year survival was significantly better in the group diagnosed between 2000 and 2018 (85.9%) than that in the 1999-2008 group (83.3%) (p<0.001). This trend was only observed for endometrioid cancer (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The incidence of EC increased across the all 3 subtypes. Survival of patients with endometrioid histology improved over the past two decades, but remained static for serous or clear cell histology. Healthcare strategies to prevent EC incidence in at-risk populations and apply effective treatments for high-risk histology are needed.

Incidence and treatment outcomes of uterine cervical cancer in Korea 1999-2018 from the national cancer registry.

OBJECTIVE: To describe the incidence and survival outcomes of uterine cervical cancer during 1999-2018. METHODS: Patients who were diagnosed with cervical cancer during 1999-2018 were identified in the Korea Central Cancer Registry. Age-standardized incidence rates (ASRs) and annual percent changes (APCs) were calculated. Survival rates by histology, year of diagnosis (1999-2008 vs. 2009-2018), stage, and age at diagnosis were analyzed. RESULTS: The absolute incidence of cervical cancer decreased over 20 years from 4,488 in 1999 to 3,500 in 2018, with an APC of -3.42% (p<0.0001). While ASR of squamous cell carcinoma (SCCA) more than halved from 13.27 per 100,000 in 1999 to 6.16 in 2018 (APC, -4.04%), adenocarcinoma continued to rise (ASR, 1.30 per 100,000 to 1.92; APC, 1.52%; p<0.0001). Patients with adenocarcinoma were younger than those with SCCA (mean, 49.9±12.7 vs. 52.9 ±14.6 years; p<0.0001). Five-year survival rate of cervical cancer patients overall was 78.0%. Adenocarcinoma had poorer survival than SCCA (5-year survival rate, 76.8% vs. 79.8%; p<0.0001). There was no survival difference between patients who were diagnosed between 1999-2008 and 2009-2018. Earlier-stage disease had better survival (5-year survival rate for localized, regional, and distant disease, 90.0% vs. 69.9% vs. 26.5%; p<0.0001). Younger patients aged <50 years had better survival than those aged ≥50 years (87.1% vs. 69.8%; p<0.0001). CONCLUSION: The incidence of SCCA of the uterine cervix declined while adenocarcinoma continued to increase slowly but significantly from 1999 to 2018 in Korea. Adenocarcinoma was diagnosed at a younger age, but had poorer survival outcome than SCCA.

Exocrine pancreatic cancer as a second primary malignancy: A population-based study.

Backgrounds/Aims: Although cancer survivors are at higher risk of developing second primary malignancies, cancer surveillance strategies for them have not yet been established. This study aimed to identify first primary cancers that had high risks of developing second primary exocrine pancreatic cancer (EPC). Methods: Data on individuals diagnosed with primary cancers between 1993 and 2017 were obtained from the Korea Central Cancer Registry. The standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) of second primary EPCs were analyzed according to the primary tumor sites and follow-up periods. Results: Among the 3,205,840 eligible individuals, 4,836 (0.15%) had second primary EPCs, which accounted for 5.8% of the total EPC patients in Korea. Between 1 and 5 years after the diagnosis of first primary cancers, SIRs of second primary EPCs were increased in patients whose first primary cancers were in the bile duct (males 2.99; females 5.03) in both sexes, and in the small intestine (3.43), gallbladder (3.21), and breast (1.26) in females. Among those who survived 5 or more years after the diagnosis of first primary cancers, SIRs of second primary EPCs were elevated in patients whose first primary cancers were in the bile duct (males 2.61; females 2.33), gallbladder (males 2.29; females 2.22), and kidney (males 1.39; females 1.73) in both sexes, and ovary (1.66) and breast (1.38) in females. Conclusions: Survivors of first primary bile duct, gallbladder, kidney, ovary, and female breast cancer should be closely monitored for the occurrence of second primary EPCs, even after 5 years of follow-up.

Characteristics of second primary breast cancer after ovarian cancer: a Korea central cancer registry retrospective study.

Background: Second primary cancer has become an important issue among cancer survivors. This study sought to determine the differences in clinicopathologic outcomes between second primary breast cancer (SPBC) after ovarian cancer and primary breast cancer (PBC) in the Republic of Korea. Methods and materials: We searched the Korea Central Cancer Registry and identified 251,244 breast cancer cases that were diagnosed between 1999 and 2017. The incident rate and standardized incidence ratio (SIR) were calculated. Demographic and clinical characteristics and overall survival (OS) rates were estimated according to age, histological type, and cancer stage. Results: Among the 228,329 patients included, 228,148 were patients with PBC, and 181 patients had SPBC diagnosed after ovarian cancer (OC). The mean ages at diagnosis were 56.09 ± 10.81 years for SPBC and 50.65 ± 11.40 years for PBC. Patients with SPBC were significantly less likely than patients with PBC to receive adjuvant radiotherapy (14.92% vs. 21.92%, p = 0.02) or adjuvant chemotherapy (44.75% vs. 55.69%, p < 0.01). Based on the age-standardized rate (ASR), the incidence of SPBC after OC was 293.58 per 100,000 ovarian cancer patients and the incidence of PBC was 39.13 per 100,000 women. The SIR for SPBC was 1.27 (1.09-1.46, 95% Confidence interval) in the patients overall. The 5-year OS rates were 72.88% and 89.37% for SPBC and PBC (p < 0.01). The OS rate in SPBC decreased significantly with advanced stage and older age. Conclusion: The incidence of breast cancer is about 1.27 times higher in ovarian cancer patients than in healthy people. The survival outcomes were worse for SPBC than for PBC and were related to older age and advanced stage. Active screening for breast cancer is necessary in ovarian cancer patients.

Clinical Trials for Oral, Inhaled and Intravenous Drug Delivery System for Lung Cancer and Emerging Nanomedicine-Based Approaches.

Lung cancer is one of the most common malignant tumors worldwide and is characterized by high morbidity and mortality rates and a poor prognosis. It is the leading cause of cancer-related death in the United States and worldwide. Most patients with lung cancer are treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy, or surgery; however, effective treatment options remain limited. In this review, we aim to provide an overview of clinical trials, ranging from Phase I to III, conducted on drug delivery systems for lung cancer treatment. The trials included oral, inhaled, and intravenous administration of therapeutics. Furthermore, the study also talks about the evolving paradigm of targeted therapy and immunotherapy providing promising directions for personalized treatment. In addition, we summarize the best results and limitations of these drug delivery systems and discuss the potential capacity of nanomedicine.

Population-based survival data for brain tumors in Korea.

Primary brain tumors are relatively uncommon but particularly lethal cancers. Although survival is useful for monitoring the effects of early cancer detection and treatment, there are few population-based estimates of survival for subjects with brain tumors, especially in Asian countries. Using the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database, 4,721 newly diagnosed cases of histologically confirmed malignant primary brain tumors from 1999 to 2004 were analyzed for observed survival. For trend analyses of glioblastomas, we included 2,751 glioblastoma cases diagnosed between 1999 and 2007. We compared survival by age group and histological type by use of the Kaplan-Meier method. For all ages and all brain tumor types in Korea, five-year survival was 37.5 %. For each histological type of brain tumor survival of pediatric and younger adult populations was much better than that of older adults. Five-year survival for glioblastoma, astrocytoma, anaplastic astrocytoma, and oligodendroglioma was 8.9, 51.6, 25.2, and 73.5 %, respectively. Two-year survival for glioblastoma increased from 18.6 % for cases diagnosed in 1999-2001 to 21.3 % for cases diagnosed in 2002-2004 and to 24.7 % for cases diagnosed in 2005-2007. These results may help clinicians and patients to assess long-term prognoses for brain tumors, and the data presented here could serve as master control data set for single-arm clinical trials, especially in Asian populations.

Cause of death and cause-specific mortality for primary liver cancer in South Korea: A nationwide population-based study in hepatitis B virus-endemic area.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Primary liver cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer mortality worldwide. However, the causes of death have not been studied in detail in patients with liver cancer. METHODS: The causes of death and cause-specific mortality risks in patients with primary liver cancer, diagnosed during 2000-2016, were investigated using the nationwide population-based cancer registry data in South Korea (n=231,388). The cumulative incidence function and Fine-Gray models were used to estimate the cause-specific mortality under the competing risks. Risks of non-cancer deaths relative to the general population were compared by standardized mortality ratios (SMRs). RESULTS: Among 179,921 total deaths, 92.4%, 1.7%, and 6.0% of patients died of primary liver cancer, cancer from other sites, and non-cancer illnesses, respectively. Proportionate mortality from liver cancer remained high. The 5-year competing risks probability of death from liver cancer varied by tumor stage, from 42% to 94%, and it remained high 10 years after the diagnosis (61-95%). Competing mortality from other causes has continuously increased. The most common non-cancer causes of death were underlying liver diseases (SMR, 15.6; 95% confidence interval [CI], 15.1-16.1) and viral hepatitis (SMR, 46.5; 95% CI, 43.9-49.2), which demonstrated higher mortality risks compared to the Korean general population. Higher mortality risks of suicide (SMR, 2.6; 95% CI, 2.4-2.8) was also noted. CONCLUSION: Patients with liver cancer are most likely to die from liver cancer and related liver disease, even 10 years after the diagnosis, highlighting a need for specialized long-term follow-up care.

Trends in the Incidence and Survival Rates of Primary Ovarian Clear Cell Carcinoma Compared to Ovarian Serous Carcinoma in Korea.

Objective: To compare the incidence and survival rates of primary ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) and ovarian serous carcinoma (OSC) from a nationwide collected database. Methods: We extracted information of patients with primary OCCC and OSC from the Korea Central Cancer Registry recorded between 1999 and 2018, including age at diagnosis and the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results summary stage. Age-standardized incidence rates (ASRs) and annual percent changes (APCs) were calculated. Baseline characteristics and overall survival (OS) were compared between the OCCC and OSC groups. Results: Overall, the incidence rate of primary OCCC increased markedly from 1999 (ASR, 0.16/100,000) to 2018 (0.76/100,000) (APC, 7.85%; P<0.0001). Patients with OCCC were significantly younger and had early-stage disease more frequently than those with OSC. Patients diagnosed with OCCC before the age of 50 showed better OS than those diagnosed after the age of 50 (P=0.0048). The 5-year OS of the OCCC group did not differ by study period [73.5% (1999-2008) vs. 75.4% (2009-2018), P=0.3187], whereas the 5-year OS of the OSC group improved from 54.4% to 58% (P=0.0003). Conclusions: Our nationwide registry-based study demonstrated that the incidence of OCCC in Korea increased significantly from 1999 to 2018. Early-stage OCCC had a relatively good prognosis, but advanced-stage OCCC had a worse OS than advanced-stage OSC. Therefore, the development of optimal treatment strategies for OCCC is warranted.