Cancer Statistics in Korea: Incidence, Mortality, Survival and Prevalence in 2010

Abstract

Purpose

This article gives an overview of nationwide cancer statistics, including incidence, mortality, survival and prevalence, and their trends in Korea based on 2010 cancer incidence data.

Materials and Methods

Incidence data from 1993 to 2010 were obtained from the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database, and vital status was followed until 31 December 2011. Mortality data from 1983 to 2010 were obtained from Statistics Korea. Crude and age-standardized rates for incidence, mortality, prevalence, and relative survival were calculated.

Results

In total, 202,053 cancer cases and 72,046 cancer deaths occurred during 2010, and 960,654 prevalent cancer cases were identified in Korea as of 1 January 2011. The incidence of all cancers combined showed an annual increase of 3.3% from 1999 to 2010. The incidences of liver and cervical cancers have decreased while those of thyroid, breast, prostate and colorectal cancers have increased. Notably, thyroid cancer, which is the most common cancer in Korea, increased by 24.2% per year rapidly in both sexes. The mortality of all cancers combined showed a decrease by 2.7% annually from 2002 to 2010. Five-year relative survival rates of patients who were diagnosed with cancer from 2006 to 2011 had improved by 22.9% compared with those from 1993 to 1995.

Conclusion

While the overall cancer incidence in Korea has increased rapidly, age-standardized cancer mortality rates have declined since 2002 and survival has improved.

Introduction

Cancer has been the leading cause of death in Korea since 1983 [1] and is associated with the largest disease burden [2]. More than 190,000 new cancer cases are diagnosed annually in Korea, and one in four deaths results from cancer [3,4]. This article provides an overview of nationwide cancer statistics, including the incidence, mortality, prevalence and survival rates, and their trends.

1. Data sources

The Ministry of Health and Welfare, Korea, initiated a nationwide hospital-based cancer registry called the Korea Central Cancer Registry (KCCR) as early as 1980. The registry collected 80-90% of cancer cases annually from more than 180 training hospitals throughout the country. In 1999, the KCCR expanded cancer registration to cover the entire population under the Population-Based Regional Cancer Registry program. Details of the history, objectives and activities of the KCCR have been documented [5]. Incidence data from 1999 to 2010 were obtained from the Korea National Cancer Incidence Database (KNCI DB). The completeness of incidence data for 2010 was 97.1%, as determined by the Ajiki method [6].

Cancer cases were classified according to the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology, 3rd edition [7] and converted according to the International Classification of Diseases, 10th edition (ICD-10) [8]. The survival analysis used 1,992,568 cancer cases first diagnosed during 1993-2010 from the KNCI DB, and followed vital status until 31 December 2011.

Mortality data from 1983-2010 were obtained from Statistics Korea [1]. Cause of death was coded and classified according to ICD-10. Population data were also obtained from Statistics Korea using the resident registration population on July 1 of specified years.

2. Analysis

Crude rates (CRs) and age-specific rates of cancer incidence and mortality were calculated. Age-standardized rates (ASRs) were determined using the world standard population [9]. Cumulative risks of cancer, which represent the probability of developing cancer during one's lifetime, were also calculated. Changes in the annual ASRs of cancer incidence were examined by calculating the annual percentage change over a time period as (exp(b)-1)×100, where b is the slope of the regression of log ASR for a given calendar year [10].

Prevalence was also calculated to assess the cancer burden, which reflects new and pre-existing cancer patients diagnosed during a given period of time still alive on an index date. Using cancer incidence database data from 1999 to 2010, we defined prevalent cases on January 1, 2011 as patients who were diagnosed between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2010 and who were alive on January 1, 2011. We calculated limited-duration prevalences, such as the 1- and 5-year prevalences. For example, the 5-year prevalence was calculated as the number of people alive on January 1, 2011 who had been diagnosed with cancer within the previous 5 years. We applied this counting method using the SEER*Stat software [11] to calculate the number of cases, while adjusting for patients lost to follow-up [10].

The survival duration for each case was determined as the interval between the date of initial diagnosis and the date of death, date of loss to follow-up, or closing date for follow-up. Observed survival rates were calculated using the life-table method and relative survival rates by the Ederer II method [12] using an algorithm written in SAS by Dickman [13], with some minor modifications.

Selected Findings

1. Incidence

Table 1 presents the overall number of incident cancer cases, deaths, and prevalent cases during 2010 in Korea by sex and cancer site. In 2010, 202,053 incident cancer cases and 72,046 deaths were identified. As of 1 January 2011, 960,654 prevalent cancer cases diagnosed between 1999 and 2010 were identified. In 2010, the cumulative risk of developing cancer during one's lifetime was 37.6% for males and 33.3% for females.

Table 1.

Numbers of incident cancer cases, deaths, and prevalent cancer cases during 2010 in Korea by sex

CNS, central nervous system. ^a)Limited-duration prevalent cases on January 1, 2011. These are patients who were diagnosed between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2010 and who were known alive on January 1, 2011. Multiple primary cancer cases were counted multiple times, ^b)Includes the gallbladder and other/unspecified parts of the biliary tract.

Table 2 shows cancer incidence rates in 2010 by sex. The CRs of all sites combined in 2010 were 412.4 and 397.7 per 100,000 in males and females, respectively. The ASRs of all sites combined were 324.1 and 268.7 per 100,000 in males and females, respectively. In males, the five leading primary cancer sites were the stomach (CR, 80.8; ASR, 62.3), colon and rectum (CR, 62.5; ASR, 48.6), lung (CR, 58.7; ASR, 46.5), liver (CR, 47.3; ASR, 36.0), and prostate (CR, 31.4; ASR, 25.3), which together accounted for 68.1% of all newly diagnosed cancers in 2010. In females, the most common cancer sites were the thyroid (CR, 119.6; ASR, 87.4), breast (CR, 57.1; ASR, 39.8), colon and rectum (CR, 40.8; ASR, 25.3), stomach (CR, 39.8; ASR, 24.9), lung (CR, 24.3; ASR, 14.3), and liver (CR, 16.5; ASR, 10.2), which together accounted for 70.8% of all newly diagnosed cancers. Thyroid cancer alone accounted for 30.1% of incident cases (n=29,790) in females in 2010.

Table 2.

Crude and age-standardized cancer incidence rates during 2010 in Korea by sex

CNS, central nervous system. ^a)Age-adjusted using the world standard population, ^b)Includes the gallbladder and other/unspecified parts of the biliary tract.

2. Mortality

In total, 72,046 cancer deaths were reported in Korea during 2010, accounting for 28.2% of all deaths (Table 3). In 2010, the CRs for all sites combined were 181.0 and 107.8 per 100,000 in males and females, respectively. The ASRs of all sites combined were 144.7 and 61.6 per 100,000 for males and females, respectively. Cancers of the lung, liver, stomach, and colon/rectum were the most common fatal cancers, together accounting for about 61.8% of all cancer deaths in 2010 (Table 4).

Table 3.

The 10 leading causes of death in Korea during 2010

Source: Mortality data, 2010, Statistics Korea [1]. ^a)Age-adjusted using the world standard population.

Table 4.

Crude and age-standardized cancer mortality rates during 2010 in Korea by sex

CNS, central nervous system. ^a)Age-adjusted using the world standard population, ^b)Includes the gallbladder and other/unspecified parts of the biliary tract.

In males, the five leading fatal primary cancer sites in 2010 were the lung (CR, 45.7; ASR, 36.6), liver (CR, 33.4; ASR, 25.8), stomach (CR, 26.1; ASR, 20.7), colon and rectum (CR, 17.3; ASR, 14.0) and pancreas (CR, 9.3; ASR, 7.4). In women, lung cancer (CR, 16.9; ASR, 9.1) was the most fatal cancer site in 2010, followed by the stomach (CR, 14.1; ASR, 7.8), colon and rectum (CR, 13.3; ASR, 7.3), liver (CR, 11.5; ASR, 6.6), and breast (CR, 7.5; ASR, 5.0).

3. Trends in cancer incidence

Tables 5-7 present the cancer incidence rates during 1999-2010 in Korea for all sites combined and for selected sites. The incidence for all sites combined increased by 3.3% annually (1.5% in males, 5.3% in females) from 1999 to 2010.

Table 5.

Trends in cancer incidence rates in both sexes during 1999-2010 in Korea

APC, annual percentage change; CNS, central nervous system. APC was calculated using age-standardized incidence data based on the world standard population. ^a)Significantly different from zero (p<0.05), ^b)Includes the gallbladder and other/unspecified parts of the biliary tract.

Table 7.

Trends in cancer incidence rates in females during 1999-2010 in Korea

APC was calculated using age-standardized incidence data based on the world standard population. APC, annual percentage change; CNS, central nervous system. ^a)Significantly different from zero (p<0.05), ^b)Includes the gallbladder and other/unspecified parts of the biliary tract.

The rapid increase in cancer incidence is also illustrated in Fig. 1. As shown in Fig. 2, the incidence rates of colorectal and thyroid cancers have continued to increase in both sexes, as have those of prostate cancer in males and breast cancer in females. In contrast, the incidences of liver cancer in both sexes, lung cancer in males and cervical cancer in females have decreased. Stomach cancer incidence rates remained the same in males and females. One notable trend was the sharp (24.2% annual) increase in the incidence of thyroid cancer in both sexes. Improvements in the sensitivity of diagnostic techniques for thyroid cancer, such as the advent of ultrasound and fine-needle aspiration, have enabled the detection of subclinical disease. Therefore, the increased incidence of thyroid cancer may reflect the identification of previously undetected disease with these improved diagnostic techniques and increased screening rates, rather than a true increase in the occurrence of thyroid cancer [14-17]. Furthermore, due to the construction of a 1999-2010 KNCI DB, the completeness of the Korea cancer registry data has improved gradually, and this may have contributed, in part, to the gradual overall increases in cancer incidence, particularly among elderly patients.

Fig. 1.

Annual age-standardized cancer incidence and death rates for all sites during 1983-2010 in Korea by sex. Age standardization was based on the world standard population.

Fig. 2.

Trends in age-standardized incidences of selected cancers during 1999-2010 in Korea by sex. Age standardization was based on the world standard population. (A) Male. (B) Female.

4. Age-specific incidence rates

Table 8 presents the most common cancer sites by sex and age group in 2010. Leukemia and thyroid cancer were the most common cancer in both sexes in subjects aged 0-14 and 15-34 years, respectively. For males, stomach cancer was the most common cancer in 35-64-year-olds, while lung cancer was more frequent among patients aged ≥65 years. Thyroid cancer was the most common cancer in middle-aged Korean females (age, 35 to 64 years), and colorectal cancer was the most common cancer among older females (≥65 years).

Table 8.

The five major sites of cancer incidence during 2010 in Korea by age group and sex

CNS, central nervous system.

Fig. 3 shows the age-specific incidence rates for selected cancers in males and females in 2010. The data show that the incidences of stomach, lung, liver, and colorectal cancers increased gradually with age. Incidences of breast and thyroid cancers in females were highest in those in their late 40s and early 50s, respectively, and leveled off thereafter. This pattern is different from those in Western countries [18].

Fig. 3.

Age-specific incidence rates of major cancers during 2010 in Korea. (A) Male. (B) Female.

5. Trends in cancer mortality

Figs. 1 and 4 show the trends in cancer deaths for all sites combined and for selected sites. ASRs of mortality showed an annual decrease of 2.7% for all sites combined in both sexes since 2002. Lung cancer surpassed stomach cancer as the leading cause of cancer deaths in 1999 and is expected to account for 21.7% of all cancer deaths in 2010. The ASRs of mortality due to lung cancer have decreased slightly in males since 2001, but have increased in females. The ASRs of mortality due to stomach and cervical cancers have decreased continuously. Along with the significant increases in colorectal, prostate and female breast cancer incidence rates, the mortality rates of these cancers have also continued to increase.

Fig. 4.

Annual age-standardized mortalities of selected cancers during 1983-2010 in Korea by sex. Age standardization was based on the world standard population. (A) Male. (B) Female.

6. Survival rates

Table 9 shows the 5-year relative survival rates for four diagnosis periods: 1993-1995, 1996-2000, 2001-2005, and 2006-2010. Patients who were diagnosed with cancer in the most recent period (2006-2010) had a 5-year relative survival rate of 64.1% for all sites combined in both sexes (55.4% in males and 73.3% in females). When compared with earlier periods, notable improvements in the 5-year relative survival rates were observed for all sites combined. The higher cancer survival rate in females than in males may be partly explained by cancers common in females (e.g., thyroid, breast, and cervix cancers) having relatively good prognoses.

Table 9.

Trends in the 5-year relative survival rates (%) during 1993-2010 in Korea by year of diagnosis

CNS, central nervous system. ^a)Change in 5-year relative survival between 1993-1995 and 2006-2010 as a percentage. ^b)Includes the gallbladder and other/unspecified parts of the biliary tract.

When examined by year of diagnosis and cancer site, the 5-year relative survival rates appeared to be higher for most major cancers in patients diagnosed during 2006-2010 compared with those diagnosed during 1993-1995, with the exception of pancreatic cancer. The greatest improvements were seen in prostate cancer, stomach cancer, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, leukemia, and colorectal cancer. The improving survival rates could be attributable to early detection and improved treatments [19, 20], but this requires further evaluation. Only pancreatic cancer showed no improvement in 5-year relative survival rate compared with 1993-1995. A lack of progress in early detection and treatment could explain the observed absence of improvement in the survival rate for pancreatic cancer [21].

7. Prevalence rates

Table 10 shows the cancer prevalent rates on January 1, 2011 in Korea by sex and cancer site. The CRs of cancer prevalence for all sites combined were 1,739.0 and 2,113.4 per 100,000 in males and females, respectively, and the ASRs of cancer prevalence for all sites combined were 1,369.7 and 1,446.7 per 100,000 in males and females, respectively. In males, the five leading primary sites of cancer for prevalence were the stomach (CR, 451.7; ASR, 349.3), colon and rectum (CR, 323.2; ASR, 252.4), prostate (CR, 141.6; ASR, 114.1), liver (CR, 130.3; ASR, 100.1), and lung (CR, 115.2; ASR, 90.8), which together accounted for 66.8% of all prevalent cancer cases. In females, the most common cancer sites were the thyroid (CR, 596.9; ASR, 427.5), breast (CR, 413.4; ASR, 286.0), stomach (CR, 229.1; ASR, 144.6), colon and rectum (CR, 222.2; ASR, 138.7), cervix (CR, 154.6; ASR, 104.5), and lung (CR, 59.4; ASR, 37.4), which together accounted for 79.3% of all prevalent cancer cases.

Table 10.

Crude and age-standardized rates of cancer prevalence on January 1, 2011 in Korea by sex

CNS, central nervous system. ^a)Crude prevalence rate: number of prevalent cases divided by the corresponding person-years of observation. Prevalent cases were defined as patients who were diagnosed between January 1, 1999 and December 31, 2010 and who were alive on January 1, 2011. Multiple primary cancer cases were counted multiple times, ^b)Age-adjusted using the world standard population, ^c)Includes the gallbladder and other/unspecified parts of the biliary tract.

Fig. 5 shows prevalence by time since diagnosis with cancer. For all cancers combined, the 1-2-year prevalence represented 33.0% of all prevalent cases. The 1-2-year prevalence, as a percentage of the total prevalence, was highest for thyroid cancer (21.4%), followed by stomach cancer (15.6%) and colorectal cancer (13.9%), which had high incidence rates and good prognoses. For all cancers combined, the 2-5-year and >5-year prevalences accounted for 31.6% and 35.4%, respectively, of the total prevalence in both sexes. The long-term prevalences of lung and liver cancers were relatively low due to their low survival rates.

Fig. 5.

Numbers of prevalent cases for major cancer sites on January 1, 2011 in Korea by time since diagnosis.

Table 6.

Trends in cancer incidence rates in males during 1999-2010 in Korea

APC was calculated using age-standardized incidence data based on the world standard population. APC, annual percentage change; CNS, central nervous system. ^a)Significantly different from zero (p<0.05), ^b)Includes the gallbladder and other/unspecified parts of the biliary tract.