Trends in incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma, 1990-2009, Khon Kaen, Thailand

Background: Liver cancer is the most frequent cancer among Thais especially people in northeastern Thailand, but there has as yet been no assessment of trend. The data of all cancers in Khon Kaen can be retrieved from data base of the Khon Kaen Cancer Registry (KKCR) which was established in 1984. Objective: To assess the incidence trend of hepatocellular carcinoma in Khon Kaen, Thailand, between 1990 and 2009. Methods: Population-based cases of liver cancer registered between 1985 and 2009 were retrieved from the KKCR data base and cases with diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with the coding C22.0 according to ICD-O were selected. Incidence trends were calculated using the Jointpoint analysis. Results: There were 7,859 cases of HCC during the study period. Males were affected two times more frequently than females. The most common age group of cases was 50 and 69 years (60.3%). Most patients were diagnosed based on radiology imaging (40.6%) while the morphology verification was 7%. The age-standardized rates (ASR) were 13.1 to 49.8 per 100,000 among males and 4.8 to 38.4 per 100,000 among females depending on year of diagnosis since 1985. Remarkably, the ASRs were clearly low during first few years of starting the registration. The overall ASRs of HCC were 30.3 per 100,000 in males (95% CI: 25.9 to 34.6) and 13.1 per 100,000 (95% CI: 10.4 to 15.8) in females. During 1990-2009, the trends in incidences have been decreasing significantly with the annual percent change (APC) of 6.2% per year (95% CI: –7.6 to –4.8) in males and by 6.5% per year in females (95% CI: –8.4 to –4.9). Conclusions: The incidence trends have been decreasing in both sexes. The recent decline in incidence may represent a falling risk.     

Trends in Incidence of Childhood Leukemia,Khon Kaen,Thailand, 1985-2002

Background: The Khon Kaen Cancer Registry (KKCR), providing both hospital and population-based ‍registration, was established in 1984 in the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University. Leukemia is the most ‍common cancer among Thai children in Thailand, including both curable and preventable types, but no assessment ‍of trends has hitherto been performed. Objective: To perform a statistical assessment of the incidence trend of ‍childhood leukemia in Khon Kaen, Thailand, between 1985 and 2002. Methods: Population-based cases of childhood ‍leukemia registered between 1985 and 2002 were retrieved from the KKCR and cases with an ICD-O diagnosis ‍(coding C42) in children under 15 were selected. Incidence trends were calculated using the Generalized Linear ‍Model method (GLM), which generates incidence-rate-based logarithms. Results: Of the 277 cases of leukemia, ‍boys were affected two times more frequently than girls and half of the cases were 0-4 years of age. Most diagnoses ‍were histologically- or cytologically-proven and the most common type (affecting two-thirds, 65.7%) was acute ‍lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). The overall, age-standardized rate (ASR) for leukemia was 31.9 per million (95%CI: ‍28.1 to 35.7); 40.3 per million (95%CI: 34.2 to 46.4) in boys and 27.0 (95%CI: 21.8 to 32.2) in girls. Incidence has ‍been increasing by 2.4% per year in boys (95% CI: -0.5 to 5.3) and 4.1% per year in girls (95% CI: 1.1 to 7.2). ‍Conclusions: This incidence-rate-based logarithm indicates that childhood leukemia has been increasing, suggesting ‍further epidemiological research on causes and possible prevention is needed.     

Trends in Incidences of Stomach and Colorectal Cancer in Khon Kaen,Thailand 1985-2004

Background: The life styles of Thai people are changing with westernization and this would be expected to havean impact on the prevalence of cancer and other non-communicable diseases. For planning control programmes it isnecessary to monitor change over time and the present study was conducted to provide information on stomach andcolorectal cancer incidence rates in Khon Kaen Cancer Registry (KKCR), established in 1984 at the Faculty ofMedicine, Srinagarind Hospital, Khon Kaen University. Objective: To assess trends in urban and rural areas ofKhon Kaen province during 1985 - 2004. Methods: Data for stomach and colorectal cancer with an ICD-O diagnosis(coding C16 , C18 – C20) from the population-based cases of the KKCR, registered between 1985 and 2004, wereretrieved and incidence trends were calculated using the Generalized Linear Model method (GLM), which generatesincidence-rate-based logarithms. Results: The study population comprised 2,530 cases, 721 of stomach (males 449,females 272) and 1809 of colorectal (males 976, females 833) cancer. Most cases were aged 35-75 years. Accordingto the histopathological diagnosis, the most common was adenocarcinoma with over 90 percent. The overall agestandardizedincidence rates (ASR) for stomach cancer were 4.5 and 1.4 per 100 000 in males and females, respectively,during 1985-1989, 3.7 and 2.0 during 1990-1994, 3.0 and 2.2 during 1995-1999 and 3.6 and 1.8 during 2000-2004 .The respective figures for colorectal cancer were 3.3 and 2.6, 4.6 and 3.1, 5.4 and 3.5 and finally 5.8 and 5.3. In bothurban and rural areas males were affected more frequently than females, although a shift was evident towardsdecrease in the se ratio was evident for colorectal cancers over time. Discussion: The results of this study showedslight increase in the incidence of colorectal cancer in Khon Kaen province, while rates for stomach cancer remainedquite stable. The findings indicate a need for continuing research in stomach and colorectal cancer epidemiology,with subdivision into particular sites within these two sections of the gut.     

Childhood Cancer Incidence and Survival 1985-2009, Khon Kaen,Thailand

Background: The Khon Kaen Cancer Registry (KKCR) was established in 1984. Previous population-basedincidences and survivals of childhood cancer in Thailand were determined using a short cancer registration period.Materials and Methods: Data were retrieved of all children residing in Khon Kaen, between 0–15 years, diagnosedas having cancer and registered in the KKCR (1985-2009). The follow-up censored date was December 31, 2012.The childhood cancers were classified into 12 diagnostic groups, according to the International Classificationof Childhood Cancer. The incidence was calculated by the standard method. Survival of childhood cancer wasinvestigated using the KKCR population-based registration data and overall survival calculated using the KaplanMeier method. Results: In the study period, 912 newly diagnosed cases of childhood cancer were registered.The respective mean and median age was 6.4 (SD=4.6) and 6 (0-14) years. The age-peak for incidence was 0–4years. The age-standardized rate (ASR) was 83 per million. Leukemia was the most common cancer (N=360,ASR 33.8) followed by neoplasms of the central nervous system (CNS, N=150, ASR 12.8) and lymphoma (N=79,ASR 7.0). The follow-up duration totaled 101,250 months. The death rate was 1.11 per 100 person-months(95%CI: 1.02 -1.20). The 5-year overall survival was 52% (95%CI: 53-56.9) for all cancers. The respective 5-yearoverall survival for (1) acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), (2) acute non-lymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL), (3)lymphoma, (4) germ cell tumors, (5) renal tumors, (6) retinoblastoma, (7) soft tissue tumors, (8) CNS tumors,(9) bone tumors, (10) liver tumors, and (11) neuroblastoma was (1) 51%, (2) 37%, (3) 63%, (4) 74%, (5) 67%,(6) 55%, (7) 46%, (8) 44%, (9) 36%, (10) 34%, and (11) 25%. Conclusions: The incidence of childhood canceris lower than those of western countries. Respective overall survival for ALL, lymphoma, renal tumors, livertumors, retinoblastoma, soft tissue tumors is lower than that reported in developed countries while survival forCNS tumors, neuroblastoma and germ cell tumors is comparable.     

Trends in Liver Cancer Incidence between 1985 and 2009, Khon Kaen,Thailand: Cholangiocarcinoma

Background: The Khon Kaen Cancer Registry (KKCR), having both hospital and population-based registration, was established in 1984 at the Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University. Liver cancer is the most frequent malignancy among Thais from northeastern Thailand, but there has hitherto been no assessment of trends over time. Objective: To perform a statistical assessment of the incidence trends between 1985 and 2009 of liver cancer, specifically focusing on cholangiocarcinoma (CHCA). Methods: Cases of CHCA, registered between 1985 and 2009, were retrieved from the KKCR and all those with a specific ICD-O-3rd diagnosis with a coding of C22.1, C24.0, C24.8 and C24.9 were selected. Incidence trends were calculated using the generalized linear model method (GLM), which generates incidence rate based logarithms. Jointpoint analysis was used to identify the best fitting model. Results: Of the 18,589 cases of liver cancer 42% (7,859) were hepatocellular carcinoma and 58% (10,731) were CHCA. Among persons with CHCA, males were affected two times more frequently than females. Three-quarters of the cases were between 55 and 69 years of age. Morphology verified through a cytological or histological examination of tissue from the primary site (%MV) was only 10.8 % (1,141). The respective overall Age Standardized Rate (ASR) for CHCA from 1985 to 2009 was 16.8 to 62.0 per 100,000 among males and 4.8 to 25.6 per 100,000 among females. The respective, overall, ASR of CHCA among males vs. females was 44.3 per 100,000 (95% CI: 38.9 to 49.7) vs. 17.6 (95% CI: 14.5 to 20.7). Among males vs. females, the respective incidence from 1990 to 2009 has been significantly decreasing by –0.7% per year (annual percent change, APC: –0.7%, 95%CI: –2.1% to +0.8%) vs. –0.4% per year (APC: –0.4%, 95% CI: –2.1% to +1.4%).Conclusions: The rate increase in the first 5 to 6 years may be due to improved completeness of the registry, since in the subsequent 10 to 12 years there is a rather stable rate. It may be, however, that the recent decline in incidence represents a real fall in risk.     

Incidences,Trends and Long Term Outcomes of Retinoblastoma in Three Cancer Registries,Thailand

Background: Retinoblastoma (RB) is rare, albeit the most common primary intraocular malignancy amongchildren. To elucidate the true incidence, trend and survival, we studied incidences and trends of retinoblastomain a large population with long-term follow-up using data from 3 population-based cancer registries. Objective:To describe the incidence, trends and survival of RB between 1990 and 2009 in Khon Kaen, Songkhla and ChiangMai, Thailand. Materials and Methods: We sourced the data from the cancer registries in Khon Kaen, Songkhlaand Chiang Mai on children with retinoblastoma, diagnosed between 1990 and 2009. Retinoblastoma was definedas per the International Classification of Disease for Oncology version 3 using the code 9510/3. Incidence wasanalyzed using the standard method with the criteria of the International Association of Cancer Registries. TheKaplan-Meier method was applied to calculate cumulative survival. Trends were calculated using the log ranktest. Results: We identified 75 cases of children between 0 and 15 years of age diagnosed with RB (Khon Kaen31, Chiang Mai 20, Songkhla 24). Males and females were equally affected. The most common age group was0-4 years. The morphological verification of the disease was 90.7%. The respective ASR in Khon Kaen, ChiangMai and Songkhla was 4.4, 4.0 and 4.6 per million; for which the overall ASR for all 3 areas was 4.3 per million.The respective trend in incidence was 4, 2.8, 5.8 and 5.4 during 1990-4, 1995-9, 2000-4 and 2005-9. Overall,incidence trended gradually upward by 2% annually. The respective survival rate in Khon Kaen, Chiang Maiand Songkhla was 50, 40 and 75% (differences not significantly different at p=0.14) and the overall survival forall centers was 60%. Conclusions: Over the last two decades, the incidence and overall survival of retinoblastomahas increased. The ASRs and survival in Thailand were less than those in resource-rich countries.     

Cervical Cancer in Khon Kaen,Thailand: Analysis of 1990-2014 Incidence Data and Prediction of Future Trends

Background: Cervical cancer is the second most common cancer of women in Thailand. There have been no reportsof incidence and future in Khon Kaen, a province in northeastern Thailand, where the relatively high prevalence givesevaluation of cervical cancer screening a high priority. Objectives: To determine cervical cancer incidence rates inKhon Kaen for 1990–2014 and predict future trends until 2029. Methods: Cancer incidence data from the Khon Kaenpopulation-based cancer registry were analyzed and age-standardized incidence rates (ASR) were estimated. Joinpointanalysis and age-period-cohort modeling were applied for data from 1990 to 2014 and the Nordpred package wasemployed to project trends from 2015 to 2029. Results: Between 1990 and 2014, a total of 3,258 cases were diagnosedwith ICD-O code C53 (invasive cervical cancer). Before 2005, an annual percentage change (APC) varied widely, withoutliers in 1993 and 1999. The APC computed with the Joinpoint software decreased at -2.8% (95% CI;-4.5 to -1.1)per year on average. After 2005, a rise was noted until 2008, after which a drop became apparent with an APC of-8.0% (95% CI; -14.5 to -1.1) per year on average. Both period and cohort effects played a role in shaping the decreasein incidence. The three projection method suggested that incidence rates would continue to decrease in the future.Conclusions: A decreasing trend in incidence of cervical cancer in Khon Kaen was noted from 1990 to 2014 with aprediction of continuous decrease until 2029. Maintenance and improvement of the screening program is advised.     

Trends in Incidence of Childhood Lymphoma in Khon Kaen,Thailand, 1985-2008

Background: Lymphoma is the second most common of childhood cancer in Thailand, but data on trendsover time are limited. Objective: To perform a statistic assessment of the incidence trend of childhood lymphomain Khon Kaen, Thailand, between 1985 and 2008. Method: All children aged < 15 years newly diagnosed withlymphoma according to International Childhood Cancer Classification (ICCC) during January 1, 1985- December31, 2008 were collected from data base of Khon Kaen Provincial Registry. Aged-adjusted incidence rates (ASRs)were calculated by standard method and trends were calculated using the generalized linear model method, which utilizes incidence-rate-base logarithms. Results: During 1985-2008 there were 72 children (47boys and 25 girls) who were diagnosed with lymphoma in Khon Kaen province. The peak age-group of diseasewas in the 5-9 year olds for both sexes. All cases were pathologically proven. Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL)was more common than Hodgkin disease (ratio 7:1). The overall ASR was 6.04 per million (95%CI: 4.64 to 7.45)and the ASR was 7.64 per million (95%CI: 5.44 to 9.84) in boys and 4.37 per million (95%CI: 2.64 to 6.10) ingirls. Significant increases were observed for boys, since the 2006 to 2008 ASR was 15.3 per million (95%CI:5.73 to 25.0). Trend analyses during 1985 - 2008 showed that incidence among boys for lymphoma increasedby 1.38 percent per year (95%CI:- 4.6-8.3) while the incidence among girl decreased by 2.6 percent per year(95%CI:- 12-6.8). Conclusions: Our data showed that the incidence of childhood lymphoma in Khon Kaenprovince was similar to the one of Thailand but lower than those of western countries. During the past 24 years,the incidence trend seems to be increasing in boys but decreasing in girls. Interpretation is difficult without abetter understanding of what underlies the reported changes.     

Reproductive Risk Factors for Thyroid Cancer: A Prospective Cohort Study in Khon Kaen,Thailand

Background: Because of the gender disparity in the incidence of thyroid cancer, this study aimed to determinethe association between reproductive factors and thyroid cancer. Methods: A total of 10,767 eligible women fromthe Khon Kaen Cohort, recruited and interviewed between 1990 and 2001, were followed up until 2011. Thedata were linked to the Khon Kaen Population-Based Cancer Registry to detect thyroid cancer cases. Results:There was 17 thyroid cancer cases detected, an incidence of 11.2 per 100,000 person-years, of which 70.6 % werepapillary tumors. The incidence was apparently greater among those with an early age of menarche, nulligravidawomen, and oral contraceptive users. Conlusions: There was a trend for thyroid cancer to develop in relationto longer estrogen exposure. This evidence is inconclusive but warrants further investigation.     

Coffee Consumption and Lung Cancer Risk: A Prospective Cohort Study in Khon Kaen Thailand

Background:  Lung cancer is a major cause of cancer death worldwide. The incidence of lung cancer in Thailand increasing, but risk factors are rarely reported. Objective: To investigate the effect of coffee consumption on lung cancer in Thai population. Methods: Between 1990 and 2001, lifestyle and demographic data were collected from 24,528 participants in the Khon Kaen Cohort Study (KKCS), who were followed through 2016, by linking to the Khon Kaen Population-based Cancer Registry. A total of 12,668 eligible participants (68.8% females, mean age 51.0 years at baseline) having complete datasets (239,488 person-years of follow up with 138 incident cases of lung cancer observed) were analyzed using a multi-variable adjusted Cox proportional hazard models. Results: Coffee consumption was associated with reduced risk for lung cancer (adj. HR = 0.54; 95% CI: 0.35-0.84) after adjusting for age and gender.  Cigarette smoking (adj. HR = 2.76; 95% CI: 1.32-5.78) and family history of cancer (adj. HR = 1.65; 95% CI: 1.10-2.48) were associated with higher risk. Conclusion: This study suggests coffee consumption may be a protective factor for lung cancer in among this cohort.     

Incidence of Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Children in Khon Kaen before and after National Hepatitis B Vaccine Pogram

Background: Hepatitis B virus infection is one of the most important risk factors for hepatocellular carcinoma.Hepatitis B vaccination has been obligatory in the Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) in Khon Kaensince 1990. Objective: To compare the incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma in children in Khon Kaen provincebefore and after the introduction of national hepatitis B vaccination program. Methods: Cases of liver tumors inchildren under 18, diagnosed during 1985-2007, were retrieved from the population-based cancer registry ofKhon Kaen. Patients were divided into 2 groups, vaccinated and non-vaccinated with hepatitis B vaccine regardingthe year of birth before or after 1990. Patients with diagnosis of liver cancer from any basis of diagnosis inpopulation-based registration, except hepatoblastoma, were included. Patients without verified histology wereassumed as having hepatocellular carcinoma if the age at diagnosis was over 10. Age-standardized incidencerates (ASRs) were analyzed and expressed as numbers per 1,000,000 population. Results: Fifteen patients aged13 to 18 years were included to this study. The mean and median ages at diagnosis were 15.7 and 15 yearsrespectively. Four children had a verified histology (age 14 to 18 years, median and mean = 16). The remaining11 patients were diagnosed based on history & physical examination, radiology and death certificate, at theaged of 13 to 18 years. The ASRs for liver cancer in children over 10 years of age of non-vaccinated and vaccinatedchildren were 0.88 and 0.07 per million respectively (p = 0.039). When calculated by including children at orolder the 5 years of age, the ASRs for non-vaccinated and vaccinated cases were 0.97 and 0.24 per millionrespectively (p = 0.007). Conclusions: The incidence of hepatocellular carcinoma is significantly lower in Thaichildren who receive hepatitis B vaccine at birth.     

Incidence and Survival Rates among Pediatric Osteogenic Sarcoma Cases in Khon Kaen,Thailand, 1985-2010

Background: Osteosarcoma is the most common bone cancer in children, responsible for a high rate ofamputation and death. This is the first long-term, population-based, epidemiologic and survival study inThailand. Objective: To study the incidence and survival rates of pediatric osteosarcoma in Khon Kaen.Method: Childhood osteosarcoma cases (0-19 years) diagnosed between 1985-2010 were reviewed. The datawere retrieved from the population-based data set of the Khon Kaen Cancer Registry and medical recordsfrom Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University. All cases were censored until the endof April 2012. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) was calculated using the standard method. Survivalexperience was analyzed using the standard survival function (STATA 9.0) and presented with a Kaplan-Meiercurve. Results: 58 cases were enrolled. The overall ASR was 14.1 per million. Males and females were equallyaffected. The peak incidence was for 15-19 year-olds in both sexes (ASR=10.4 per million in males and 8.5 infemales). The 5-year overall survival rate was 27.6% (95% CI: 15.8-40.8%). The median survival time was 1.6years (95% CI: 1.2-2.1). In a subgroup analysis, the patients who received only chemotherapy survived longer(5-year survival 45.7%, median survival time 4.1 years, p=0.12). Conclusion: The incidence rate for childhoodosteosarcoma was slightly less than those reported for Western countries. The survival rate was also lower thanreports from developed countries. Further evaluation of the treatment protocol and risk factor stratification isneeded.     

Cancer survival in Khon Kaen province,Thailand

Thailand is one of the few developing countries for which population-based cancer survival data are available. Using clinical follow-up information and reply-paid postal enquiries, 10,333 residents of Khon Kaen province registered with cancer in the period 1985–1992 were followed-up to the end of 1993. The sites of the most common cancers in the province were liver (5-year relative survival rate 9.2%), cervix (60.1%), lung (15.4%), breast (48.1%) and large bowel (41.9%). Results for Khon Kaen were compared with age-standardized survival data for the US and Scotland. Survival was consistently higher for US whites compared to Khon Kaen residents for those cancers whose prognosis is associated with early diagnosis (breast, cervix and large bowel) or the availability of intensive therapy (leukaemia and lymphoma). The main implication of these results for cancer control in Thailand is that the interventions of greatest potential benefit are those designed to promote early detection. More than one-third of all cancers in Thailand are liver tumours: primary prevention through control of hepatitis-B infection and liver fluke infestation is the only effective strategy for their control. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

Trends in Survival of Childhood Cancers in a University Hospital,Northeast Thailand, 19932012

Background: In Thailand, a national treatment protocol for childhood leukemia and lymphoma (LL) was implemented in 2006. Access to treatment has also improved with the National Health Security system. Since these innovations, survival of childhood LL has not been fully described. Materials and Methods: Trends and survival of children under 15 with childhood cancers diagnosed between 1993 and 2012 were investigated using the hospitalbased data from the Khon Kaen Cancer Registry, Srinagarind Hospital, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University, Thailand. Childhood cancers were classified into 12 diagnostic groups, according to the ICCC based on the histology of the cancer. Survival rates were described by period, depending on the treatment protocol. For leukemias and lymphomas, survival was assessed for 3 periods (199399, 20005, 200612) while for solid tumors it was for 2 periods (before and after 2000). The impacts of sex, age, use of the national protocol, and catchment area on leukemia and lymphoma were evaluated. Overall survival was calculated using the KaplanMeier method while the Cox proportional hazard model was used for multivariate analysis. Trends were calculated using the R program. Results: A total of 2,343 childhood cancer cases were included. Survival for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) from 19939, 20005, and 200612 improved significantly (43.7%, 64.6%, and 69.9%). This was to a lesser extent true for acute nonlymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) (28.1%, 42.0%, and 42.2%). Survival of nonHodgkin lymphoma (NHL) also improved significantly (44%, 65.5%, and 86.8%) but not for Hodgkin disease (HD) (30.1%, 66.1%, and 70.6%). According to multivariate analysis, significant risk factors associated with poor survival in the ALL group were age under 1 and over 10 years, while not using the national protocol had hazard ratios (HR) of 1.6, 1.3, and 2.3 respectively. In NHL, only nonuse of national protocols was a risk factor (HR 3.9). In ANLL and HD, none of the factors influenced survival. Survival of solid tumors (liver tumors, retinoblastomas) were significantly increased compared to after and before 2000 while survival for CNS tumors, neuroblastoma and bone tumors was not changed. Conclusions: The survival of childhood cancer in Thailand has markedly improved. Since implementation of national protocols, this is particularly the case for ALL and NHL. These results may be generalizable for the whole country.     

Comparing Survival of Oral Cancer Patients Before and After Launching of the Universal Coverage Scheme in Thailand

Background: As the treatment modalities for oral cancer have been relatively consistent during the last two decades, this study was conducted to compare survivals of oral cancer patients in Khon Kaen Province before and after the universal coverage scheme (UC) was launched in Thailand. Materials and Methods: The data were retrieved from the populationbased cancer registry of Khon Kaen for oral cancer patients diagnosed during 19922001 (preUC), and 20042012 (postUC). To compare survival of the two cohorts, Kaplan Meier and log rank tests were employed. Results: Of 1,196 patients, 65% were females and the median age was 65 years. The most common primary sites were lip (31.0%), tongue (29.9%), and buccal mucosa (14.6%). The proportion of early stage cancer increased from 20.4 % in preUC to 41.3% in postUC. The overall 5year survival rate was 36.5% (95% CI 32.640.9) for preUC and 32.4% (95% CI 28.836.4) for postUC. The declining survival was mainly due to an increasing proportion of tongue cancer. However, no survival improvement was demonstrated on subgroup analysis of the tongue cancer patients. Conclusions: After the universal coverage scheme had been launched, early diagnosis increased, but no significant gain in survival for oral cancer patients was achieved.     

Cervix Cancer in Khon Kaen,Northeast Thailand, 1985-1999

The incidence of cancer of the cervix uteri in Khon Kaen Province is moderately high (age-standardised rate 16.8 ‍per 100 000 person-years), with about a two-fold variation in incidence between different districts. Stage at presentation ‍is considerably more advanced than in the United States and Europe, and there has been little change in incidence ‍over the last 15 years. Currently, control of cervix cancer is through early detection and treatment. Screening ‍programmes have, to date, been opportunistic, but a new national plan anticipates that all women will be screened ‍six times during their lifetime. The results from Khon Kaen provide a benchmark against which the success of this ‍policy can be evaluated.     

Lifestyle-related risk factors for stomach cancer in northeast Thailand.

Background: Stomach cancer is not common in Thailand but the life styles of the Thai population are changingto become more Western so that information for planning control programme of stomach cancer is necessary.The highest incidence rates of this neoplasm are found in Eastern Asia, ranging from age-standardized rates of95.5/105 (men) and 40.1/105 (women) in Yamagata, Japan to 4.1/105 (men) and 2.1/105 (women) in Khon Kaen,Northeast of Thailand. In Thailand, the estimated age-standardized incidence rates in 1993, 1996 were 4.9/105,4.1/105 in men and 3.0/105 , 2.6/105 in women. Risk factors for stomach cancer in Thai population are unclear,but possibly include low intake of vegetables and fruits, alcohol drinking, tobacco smoking and high intake ofsalt. Objective: To investigate various aspects of dietary factors, smoking, and alcohol drinking in determiningrisk of stomach cancer in Thai population. Methods: A case-control study was conducted in Khon Kaen, Thailandduring 2002-2006, to study the role of these factors in stomach cancer. 101 stomach cancer cases and 202 matchedcontrols (case : control = 1:2) by sex, age (± 3 years) and region were recruited from Srinagarind Hospital andKhon Kaen Regional Hospital, in Khon Kaen Province. All of cases were histologically confirmed. Controls hada variety of diseases, the main ones being disease of the eye. Information on dietary habits, alcohol drinking andsmoking were collected by a structured questionnaire, blood samples were collected for further study. Results:The distribution of the general characteristics by case-control status, the distribution of age and sex were similarin cases and controls. In the final analysis, the factors that found to be higher risk but not statistically significantwere long-term filter cigarette smoking (OR=1.9, 95%CI: 0.85-4.50), long-term alcohol consumption (OR=1.2,95%CI: 0.51-2.60) and low intake of vegetables and fruits (OR=1.2, 95%CI: 0.74-1.96). A high intake of vegetableoil (OR=4.5, 95%CI: 1.00.-20.17) was found to be associated with increased risk, and similar tendencies werenoted for pork oil (OR=1.4, 95%CI: 0.63-3.01) and jeaw prik (mainly chilly with plara broth) (OR=1.2, 95%CI:0 .76- 2.01). Conclusion: Our study confirmed protective effects of a high intake of fruits and vegetables againststomach cancer development and showed a high intake of sauces to increase risk of stomach cancer as in othercountries in Asia.     

Epidemiology of oral and pharyngeal cancers in Khon Kaen, Thailand: a high incidence in females

Background: This study was aimed to describe incidence, trends, and survival of oral and pharyngeal cancers in Khon Kaen, the province situated in the northeast of Thai-land. Methods: Data on oral and pharyngeal cancer cases diagnosed during 1985 - 2001 were retrieved from the population-based cancer registry of Khon Kaen. The final status of the patients was verified by database linkage and follow-up using postcards. Results: Of 1,038 cases, 62.6% were female and 37.4% were male, with a mean age of 63 years. The age-standardized incidence rate (ASR) in females (6.2 per 100 000; 95%CI 5.7-6.7) was significantly higher than in males (3.9 per 100 000; 95%CI 3.5-4.4). Annual percent changes in ASR were 1.7 in females (p<0.05), but 1.2 in males. Lip and buccal cancers were the most common sites respectively; however, the incidence of tongue cancer was increasing in the last period. Eighty five percent of all cases were diagnosed in advanced stage (stage III and IV). The overall five-year relative survival was 43.1%. We found stage distribution and survival did not change during the study period. Conclusion: The considerably high incidence in female suggests a need for research on specific risk factors. Moreover, attempts should be made to detect oral cancers earlier in order to improve the outcomes of cancer control.     

Survival of Stomach Cancer Cases in Khon Kaen,Thailand 2000-2012

Background: Stomach cancer is an aggressive malignancy that is difficult to detect at an early stage and therefore is characterized by poor survival rates. Over the last two decades, there has been no report of gastric cancer survival in Khon Kaen province, Thailand. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to provide up-to-date information about the survival of gastric cancer patients in this province. Materials and Methods: Data from Khon Kaen population-based cancer registry, Faculty of Medicine, Khon Kaen University were newly obtained on 650 patients who were diagnosed with stomach cancer during the period 1 January, 2000 to 31 December, 2012. These were then followed up until death or the end of the study (31 December 2014). We calculated the observed survival with the actuarial life table method, and relative survival, defined as the ratio of observed survival in the group of the stomach cancer patients to the expected survival in the entire Thai population from the estimated generation life tables for Thailand of five-year birth cohorts from 1900 - 2000. Results: The 5 year observed and 5 year relative survival rates were 17.2 % (95% CI: 13.54-21.14) and 18.2 % (95% CI: 14.3-22.4), respectively. The highest 5 year relative survival rates were demonstrated among patients aged 45-65, with stage I or II lesions, with adenocarcinomas, with a body of stomach location, well differentiated and receiving surgery and/or chemotherapy. Conclusions: The observed and relative survival rates were close to each other. Our findings provide basic information beneficial to development of an effective treatment system and appropriately improved population-based cancer registration.