Primary Liver Cancer in Golestan Province, Northeastern Iran: 13-Year Experience of Golestan Population-Based Cancer Registry (GPCR).

Background: Liver cancer (LC) is among the most common and fatal cancers worldwide. A four-fold increasing trend is reported for LC age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) in Iran within 1990-2015. In the present study, we aimed to report the incidence rate of LC during the 13-year establishment of the Golestan population-based cancer registry (GPCR).

Methods: Age-standardized incidence rate (ASIR) per 100000 person-years was calculated using CanReg5 software. The Joint point regression analysis was used to assess the temporal trends in incidence rate of LC.

Results: During the study period, GPCR registered 575 of LC cases, of which 373 (64.9%) were men and 297 (51.6%) lived in rural areas. The mean (SD) age of LC in men and women were 60.3 (17.2) and 58.0 (17.1), respectively. The ASIR of LC was significantly higher in men than women (4.7 vs. 2.6; value<0.01) and a minimal increasing trend in LC incidence was observed in both sexes. The incidence rate of LC was significantly higher in rural areas compared to the urbans (3.91 vs. 3.40; value=0.04). In the last 13 years, rural population had a significant increasing trend in ASIR of LC (average annual percent change [AAPC]=7.85, value=0.005).

Conclusion: LC was more prevalent in men among both urban and rural populations. The results showed a significant increasing trend in rural areas that requires Golestan health care system to take action in controlling the burden of LC in rural areas.