Abstract
Aims: To document available evidence describing the burden of childhood cancer in indigenous peoples worldwide with a view to assessing the extent to which disparities exist in different countries.
Methods: We performed a systematic review (n = 3048) and included
reports (n = 44) on cancer incidence, mortality and survival in indigenous
children worldwide. We complemented articles identified through PubMed, MEDLINE,
CINAHL, and SciElo, published during Jan 1980 and May 2013, with incidence and
mortality data from four countries.
Results: Age‐standardized incidence of all cancers ranged from
59/million to 168/million. Indigenous children in the United States (US),
Australia, New Zealand (NZ), and French Polynesia had generally similar pattern
of cancer types; leukaemias, lymphomas and tumours of the central nervous
system represented >50% of all cancers observed. Among indigenous children
in Nigeria, two‐thirds of the cases were lymphomas. Incidence of leukaemia
ranged from 6–18/million in Africa to 28–48/million in the US. Compared with
non‐indigenous counterparts, indigenous children had similar or lower overall
cancer incidence (20–36% lower), but varying patterns of incidence by site.
Cancer mortality rates for indigenous children were available for the US,
Australia, and NZ (20–39/million); five‐year all‐cancer survival for these
children was 60–64%. Cancer survival was generally lower for indigenous relative
to non‐Indigenous children. That was true for most studies reporting on
survival of leukaemia as well as other cancer types (e.g. neuroblastoma). A few
studies reported similar survival by indigenous status (e.g. Australia).
Conclusion: These data highlight the shortage of information regarding
the burden of childhood cancers amongst indigenous peoples. We advocate the
need for availability of childhood cancer data by indigenous status from
population‐based cancer registration systems at the country level. The true
extent of disparities in the cancer burden by indigenous status must be
measured in order that programs for cancer control can be planned and evaluated.
Original language | English |
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Article number | 76 |
Pages (from-to) | 82-83 |
Number of pages | 2 |
Journal | Asia-Pacific Journal of Clinical Oncology |
Volume | 9 |
Issue number | S3 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Nov 2013 |
Event | COSA's 40th Annual Scientific Meeting: Cancer Care Coming of Age - Adelaide, Australia Duration: 12 Nov 2013 → 14 Nov 2013 Conference number: 40 |