title: Cancer patterns in Karachi (all districts), Pakistan: First results (2010-2015) from a Pathology based cancer registry of the largest government-run diagnostic and reference center of Karachi.
abstract: National level population-based cancer data have never been published from Pakistan in seven decades since independence (1947). Therefore, generation of high-quality regional data becomes highly relevant. Cancer data for the period of 2010-2015 representing the population from all districts of Karachi (14.6 million) are presented herein. After institutional approval (Ref no. IRB-459/DUHS/-14), a Pathology based cancer registry was established at the largest government-run diagnostic and reference center of Karachi. During 2010-2015, a total of 13,508 cancers (including 686 non-melanoma-skin-cancers (NMSC)) were diagnosed. Of these, 5665 (41.9%) were in males while 7843 (58.1%) were in females. Incidence rates for all cancers (excluding NMSC) were 66.7 per 100,000 (crude) and 105.1 per 100,000 (ASR) for males and 112.0 per 100,000 (crude) and 175.8 per 100,000 (ASR) for females. In males, cancer of lip and oral cavity was the most frequently diagnosed cancer (30.8%, ASR 33.1), followed by NMSC (7.7%, ASR 9.5) and colorectum (7%, ASR 7.3). In females, breast cancer was the most frequently recorded malignancy (49.5%, ASR 87.9), followed by lip and oral cavity (11.2%, ASR 22.0) and oesophagus (5.6%, ASR 10.7). We report that Karachi has the highest incidence of cancers of breast, lip and oral cavity, oesophagus and larynx in females and cancer of lip and oral cavity and larynx (2nd only to Turkey) in males compared to any of the Asian populations. Notably, incidence of tobacco associated cancers is very high in Karachi, demanding urgent attention by relevant authorities to address the un-controlled and drastically high consumption of various forms of tobacco in the city.
authors: Institute of Translational Immunology and Research Center for Immunotherapy, University Medical Center of the Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz, Germany; Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan. Electronic address: asif@asifqureshi.com.
authors: Muhammad Asif
authors: MA
authors: Qureshi
authors: Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors: Talat
authors: T
authors: Mirza
authors: Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors: Saeed
authors: S
authors: Khan
authors: Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors: Bushra
authors: B
authors: Sikandar
authors: Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors: Maria
authors: M
authors: Zahid
authors: Jinnah Sindh Medical University, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors: Marium
authors: M
authors: Aftab
authors: Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors: Sehrish
authors: S
authors: Mohsin
authors: Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors: Shaheen
authors: S
authors: Sharafat
authors: Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors: Lubna
authors: L
authors: Avesi
authors: Dow International Medical College, Dow University of Health Sciences, Karachi, Pakistan.
authors: Saba
authors: S
authors: Hassan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016208:Databases, Factual; D005260:Female; D006077:Government Agencies / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology*; D010154:Pakistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012042:Registries / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Cancer incidence; Cancer patterns; Cancer registry; Karachi; Pakistan