Racial and regional differences in incidence of oropharyngeal cancer in the United States during 2001 to 2017.

Abstract

6041 Background: The incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) has been reported to be increasing among both middle-aged and elderly adults in the United States. This study was to assess racial and regional differences in the incidence of OPSCC among adults in the US. Methods: We included 271,037 adult patients ≥ 20 years old diagnosed with potentially HPV-related OPSCC from the US Cancer Statistics 2001–2017 database which essentially covered the entire US population. Incidence of OPSCC was age- adjusted to the US standard population. Annual percentage change (APC) in the incidence was assessed across races/ethnicities and regions of residence. Results: Among these adults with potentially HPV-related OPSCC from 2001-2017, 5.3% were Hispanics, 83.0% were non-Hispanic Whites, and 9.2% were non-Hispanic Blacks, and 79.1% were male. Incidence of OPSCC increased from 3.9 per 100,000 in 2001 to 4.0 per 100,000 in 2017 (APC 0.43, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.01, 0.85) in Hispanics, increased from 5.3 per 100,000 in 2001 to 8.6 per 100,000 in 2017 (APC 2.97, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.71, 3.24) in non-Hispanic Whites, and decreased from 6.3 per 100,000 in 2001 to 5.1 per 100,000 in 2017 (APC -1.27, 95% confidence interval (CI) -1.56, -0.99) in non-Hispanic Blacks. The incidence increased from 5.8 per 100,000 in 2001 to 7.8 per 100,000 in 2017 (APC 1.94, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.67, 2.21) in the South, increased from 5.0 per 100,000 in 2001 to 7.1 per 100,000 in 2017 (APC 2.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.92, 2.34) in the Northeast, increased from 4.9 per 100,000 in 2001 to 6.3 per 100,000 in 2017 (APC 1.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.53, 2.17) in the West, and increased from 4.9 per 100,000 in 2001 to 7.7 per 100,000 in 2017 (APC 2.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) -2.52, 3.07) in the Midwest. The incidence decreased from 0.9 per 100,000 in 2001 to 0.8 per 100,000 in 2017 (APC -0.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) -1.41, -0.20) among adults 20-44 years old, increased from 9.0 per 100,000 in 2001 to 12.7 per 100,000 in 2017 (APC 2.01, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.66, 2.36) among adults 45-64 years old, and increased from 10.9 per 100,000 in 2001 to 16.7 per 100,000 in 2017 (APC 2.96, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.75, 3.16) among adults 65+ years old. Conclusions: OPSCC incidence increased across racial/ethnic groups, regions, and age groups from 2001 to 2017, except that the incidence decreased among non-Hispanic Blacks and young people. Underlying causes for the decreasing trend in the incidence of OPSCC among certain groups need further investigation.