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Epidemiology of Merkel cell carcinoma. A population‐based study from 1985 to 2013, in northeastern of France
Author(s) -
Kieny Alice,
Cribier Bernard,
Meyer Nicolas,
Velten Michel,
Jégu Jérémie,
Lipsker Dan
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
international journal of cancer
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 2.475
H-Index - 234
eISSN - 1097-0215
pISSN - 0020-7136
DOI - 10.1002/ijc.31860
Subject(s) - incidence (geometry) , epidemiology , cancer registry , medicine , demography , merkel cell carcinoma , population , surveillance, epidemiology, and end results , carcinoma , environmental health , physics , sociology , optics
Merkel Cell Carcinoma (MCC) is an aggressive skin cancer with an increasing incidence. Population‐based epidemiologic data about MCC in France are rare. Our study aims to describe the epidemiology of MCC in Bas‐Rhin, Northeastern of France, between 1985 and 2013. Data were collected from the Bas‐Rhin Cancer Registry. We measured age‐adjusted incidence rates (per 100,000 person‐years) and effect of age, sex and period of diagnosis on survival. The world age‐standardized incidence rate was 0.17 and it quadrupled between 1985 and 2013. Cases ( n = 111) occurred mostly in women (60%) and in persons ≥70 years of age (74%). Incidence rates was close for men (0.18) and women (0.16) and was 25‐time higher in people ≥70 years of age but incidence rate similarly increased between 1985 and 2013 in persons older and younger than 70 years. Net 5‐year survival was 48.5%; female sex and younger age were positive predictors of survival. Given the low number of cases, incidence and survival data should be interpreted with caution. Incidence of MCC in Bas‐Rhin quadrupled between 1985 and 2013. The highest incidence rate was observed in people ≥70 years. Better survival was associated with female sex and younger age. We hypothesize that MCC will still increase and be diagnosed in increasingly younger patients in next generations.