Toward a Latin American Cancer Observatory

Cancer affects more than one million Latin Americans every year. 1,2 And in tandem with the global trend, its incidence in the region is increasing, led mainly by factors such as urbanization, population aging, and the so-called westernization of lifestyles. If current trends continue, 95% of the world’s population will be living in large cities in 30 years. Urbanism, a group of conditions determined by life in cities, is an important factor in cancer development. Population aging and the westernization of lifestyles as seen in China are also producing a profound epidemiologic transition that is increasing the incidence and mortality rates of cancer. The factors mentioned above, among others, influence the Human Development Index, a composite statistic by the United Nations Development Programme that classifies countries according to a social indicator comprising life expectancy, education, and income. The Human Development Index, in turn, is associated with the incidence and prevalence of certain types of cancer. The current state of knowledge shows that cancer varies greatly in its molecular characteristics and genetic expression. This has major implications for the early detection and treatment of the disease.