Urological cancer statistics on incidence from 1975 to 2019 and mortality from 1958 to 2022 in Japan.

Abstract

In Japan, comprehensive cancer statistics are collected through cancer registries. However, data on urological cancers are rarely summarized or published in research papers. This retrospective study was performed using publicly available statistical data on urological cancers (prostate cancer [PCa], bladder cancer [BCa], and cancers of kidney and urinary tract [except urinary bladder]) in Japan, including a summary of the Ministry's mortality statistics, cancer incidence statistics from the Regional Cancer Registries through 2015, and the National Cancer Registry statistics from 2016. We examined the incidence and mortality rates of urological cancers stratified by age groups. The number of new cases of PCa, BCa, and cancers of kidney and urinary tract (except urinary bladder) in 2019 was 94,748, 23,383, and 30,458, respectively, and the number of deaths in 2022 was 13,439, 9,598, and 9,795, respectively. The incidence and mortality rates of urological cancers have consistently increased. Since 2000, there has been a noteworthy increase in the mortality rate of urological cancers among individuals aged > 85years. The incidence and mortality rates of BCa and cancers of kidney and urinary tract (except urinary bladder) were significantly higher in males than in females. Urological cancers in very elderly patients (> 85years) will become increasingly important in the future.