Oropharyngeal cancer incidence trends: diminishing racial disparities

Cancer Causes Control. 2011 May;22(5):753-63. doi: 10.1007/s10552-011-9748-1. Epub 2011 Mar 5.

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this article is to evaluate oral cavity/pharyngeal cancer (OCPC) trends that may reflect changes in cigarette smoking, alcohol consumption, and human papillomavirus (HPV) infection.

Methods: We used Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program data for 58,204 cases diagnosed during 1977-2007 to classify if squamous cell carcinomas of the OCP by anatomic site are potentially HPV-related.

Results: OCPC rates among men peaked during 1982-1986 before declining, most rapidly (46%) among blacks. Rates decreased least rapidly among white males while declining at intermediate paces among other ethnic groups (Asian/Pacific Islanders and Hispanics) and females. Among the men during the recent 16-year time period, the annual percent change for HPV-unrelated sites was much steeper [-6.0% (95% CI = -7.2 to -4.9)] among blacks than whites [-2.5% (95% CI = -2.9 to -2.1)]; for HPV-related sites, it was -1.7% (95% CI = -2.6 to -0.7) among blacks, in striking contrast to +3.3% (95% CI = 2.5-4.0) among whites. HPV-related rates rose rapidly among the white men born since the mid-1940s, tripling among those aged 25-44 and recently surpassing the black male rate. Relative survival rates rose over the study period due to improvements among HPV-related cases.

Conclusions: The OCPC decreases found among all the race/sex groups reflect reductions in smoking prevalence and alcohol consumption. Rising HPV-related cancers among white men may reflect changes in sexual practices since the mid-1960s.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Female
  • Healthcare Disparities
  • Humans
  • Incidence
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Mouth Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Mouth Neoplasms / ethnology*
  • Mouth Neoplasms / virology
  • Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / ethnology*
  • Oropharyngeal Neoplasms / virology
  • Papillomavirus Infections / epidemiology
  • Papillomavirus Infections / ethnology
  • Papillomavirus Infections / virology
  • Risk Factors
  • SEER Program
  • Sex Factors
  • Smoking / epidemiology
  • United States / epidemiology
  • Young Adult