European Cancer Information System: its role on Pancreatic Cancer surveillance

Introduction

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is the fourth leading cause of cancer death in Europe. The European Cancer Information System (ECIS) provides cancer incidence and mortality (I&M) data reported by Population-Based Cancer Registries (PBCRs). The aim was to explore geographical and time trend differences in PC I&M across Europe

Methods

Age-standardised I&M rates were extracted from ECIS for cases ≥20 years, stratified by PBCR, sex and age group (20-49; ≥50 years) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) were estimated. Geographic analyses included PBCRs with data available from 2019 onward. Male to female ratios and mortality-to-incidence ratios (M:I) were computed. Annual percent changes (APC) in I&M were estimated using Joinpoint regression in PBCRs with at least 10 calendar years of available data

Results

Thirty-six PBCRs from 18 countries were analysed. Incidence ranged from 14.5 (95%CI: 14.0-15.0) to 32.4 (95%CI: 29.7-35.1) per 100,000 person-year in males and from 11.1 (95%CI: 10.7-11.5) to 25.2 (95%CI: 23.6-26.8) in females, with German PBCRs that cover the extremes. The highest mortality rates were observed in Castelló (Spain) 48 (95%CI: 41.4-54.6) in males and 29.8 (95%CI: 25.1-34.5) in females, and the lowest in Brandenburg-Berlin (Germany) for males 15.3 (95%CI: 14.9-15.7) and in Agrigento (Italy) for females 8.8 (95%CI: 4.7-12.9). Sex ratio was >1 for I&M in most PBCRs. M:I ratios were close to 1 in 90% of PBCRs. In the 20-49 age group, incidence APCs in both sexes and mortality APCs in females were stable in over 80% of PBCRs, but mortality APCs in males decreased significantly in 30%. Among ≥50 age groups, incidence APCs increased significantly in both sex in 40% while mortality APCs increased in 30% of PBCRs

Conclusions

This study highlights the value of ECIS as a harmonised source of high‑quality population‑based data for cancer surveillance in Europe, providing essential information to guide and strengthen cancer control programmes

Key messages

• Pancreatic cancer shows pronounced geographic heterogeneity in incidence and mortality across Europe, with temporal trends varying by age and predominantly affecting older adults

• The European Cancer Information System advances insight and surveillance of pancreatic cancer, empowering more effective public health action