The Incidence of Malignant Tumors of the Female Reproductive System in St. Petersburg

Abstract

Introduction: Malignant neoplasms remain a serious sociomedical problem that requires solutions to health care optimization. In the overall structure of cancer incidence in the female population in 2018, uterine and cervical cancer ranked third (8.0 %) and fifth (5.2 %), respectively. Objective: To determine the main trends in the incidence of gynecologic cancers in Saint Petersburg, Russian Federation, and to monitor achievement of the targets of the Fight against Cancer Program. Materials and methods: To assess the prevalence and the structure of the incidence of malignant neoplasms of the female reproductive system, a comprehensive methodology was developed, which included the analysis of statistical reporting forms officially approved by the Ministry of Health of the Russian Federation for 2010–2020. Results: The prevalence of gynecologic cancers showed a steady rise. In 2011–2019, the incidence rates of cervical, uterine and ovarian cancer in St. Petersburg increased by 6.9 %, 18.2 %, and 18.5 %, respectively. The proportion of cases of the uterine body cancer was the largest (43.6 %), followed by ovarian (28.7 %) and cervical cancer (22.5 %). The shares of malignant neoplasms of other sites, including vulva, vagina and placenta, were much lower and equaled 3.9 %, 1.2 %, and 0.1 %, respectively. At the same time, the percentage of followed-up patients with stages I and II uterine cancer had grown from 74.4 % in 2011 to 79.4 % in 2020 (t = 4.9, p < 0.05) and of those with stages I and II ovarian cancer – from 32.2 % to 35.5 % (t = 3.7, p < 0.05). The one-year gynecologic cancer mortality rate in St. Petersburg decreased significantly, from 25.8 % to 20.1 % (t = 4.0, p < 0.05), while the five-year survival in 2011–2020, on the contrary, increased from 52.3 % to 57.9 %. Conclusions: Malignant tumors of the female reproductive system rank first in the structure of the annual cancer incidence. Every sixth (15.1 %) incident cancer is a gynecologic neoplasm. In 2011–2019, rising incidence rates were observed for the most common female genital tract tumors, including cervical, uterine, and ovarian cancer. It is of great concern that not all monitored indicators approved by the Fight against Cancer Program are being properly implemented in St. Petersburg.