Recent incidence trends and sociodemographic features of oesophageal and gastric cancer types in an English region

P>Background Oesophageal and gastric cancers comprise various common tumour types with possible different aetiology and historically different incidence trends. Aim To enhance and update evidence about the descriptive epidemiology of oesophageal and gastric cancers. Methods Population-based information from the East of England was available on 16 319 (65% male) incident cases of oesophago-gastric cancer (ICD-10 C150-169) diagnosed during 1995-2006. Age-standardized incidence trends by gender and deprivation groups and sex ratios were compared for four different tumour types [oesophageal squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC), oesophageal adenocarcinoma (OAC), junctional/cardia adenocarcinoma (JCA), and non-cardia gastric adenocarcinoma (NCGA)]. Results Between 1995-1997 and 2004-2006, the age-standardized incidence of OAC and JCA increased slightly (by 4% and 6% in men and 17% and 8% in women respectively), with a sex ratio > 4 for both. Conversely, OSCC and NCGA incidence decreased (-20% and -32% in men and -15% and -26% in women respectively), with sex ratio of < 2 for both. In men, OSCC and NCGA incidence was associated with increasing deprivation. Conclusions Within the study context, there was a modest rise in OAC and JCA incidence. OAC and JCA share common incidence trends and sociodemographic features (contrasting with those of OSCC and NCGA cancers).