Increase in incidence of cancer of corpus uteri: estimation of time trends – an Indian scenario

Reports of increasing rates of cancer of the corpus uteri in several countries prompted this analysis of time trends. This study reports the trends in the incidence rate of cancer of the corpus uteri in Indian women. The data published in Cancer Incidence in Five Continents for various Indian registries for different periods and/or publication by the individual registries served as the source material. The mean annual percentage change in the incidence rates was computed using the relative difference between two time periods (latest and furthermost) and estimation of annual percentage change (EAPC) was also computed by the Poisson regression model. In 1998–2005, the incidence rate of cancer of the corpus uteri [age standardized rate (ASR)], was highest in Delhi and lowest in Pune and Imphal West (4.4 and 0.0 per 100 000 woman-years, respectively). The incidence rate in most of the registries between the two time periods showed an increase with few exceptions. Estimation of EAPC carried out in Mumbai, Chennai, and Bangalore PBCRs for the period 1983–2002 showed statistically significant increases in crude rate, ASR, and age-specific incidence rates (ASIR). The largest EAPC in ASR was in Bangalore (6.4%) and the smallest in Chennai (1.8%). Incidence trends for cancer of the corpus uteri appeared to result from an increase in the prevalence of risk factors and in improvement in diagnostic procedures. Most cancer of the corpus uteri is environmental in origin. Limiting fat consumption and avoiding excess energy intake may result in some reduction in the incidence of cancer of the corpus uteri.