Elsevier

Lung Cancer

Volume 16, Issues 2–3, March 1997, Pages 133-143
Lung Cancer

International differences in epidemiology of lung adenocarcinoma

https://doi.org/10.1016/S0169-5002(96)00623-XGet rights and content

Abstract

In Europe, the squamous cell carcinoma is the most frequent non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) subtype and until now, no increase in incidence of lung adenocarcinoma (ADC) has been described (except in the Netherlands), in contrast to North America where ADC predominates. Our aim was to compare the percentage of ADC in Montreal (MTL), Canada, with that in Strasbourg (STBG), France. We prospectively identified patients with NSCLC in MTL and in STBG over an 8-month period and described the distribution of NSCLC by sex, age, subtype and smoking history. A total of 172 patients in MTL and 166 in STBG were identified. The male/female ratio was significantly different in STBG (12:1) and in MTL (2:1). The percentage of ADC was significantly higher in MTL (40%) than in STBG (30%). This difference is partly due to the higher number of women with NSCLC in Montreal combined with the predominance of ADC in women. The proportion of ADC decreased with age in STBG, but was similar in each age category in MTL. In STBG, most women with NSCLC had never smoked (69%), in contrast to MTL where only 16% of women had never smoked. In conclusion, ADC is more frequent in MTL than in STBG. This is partly due to the higher number of women with NSCLC in MTL combined with the predominance of ADC in women. The greatest proportion of ADC subtype in the youngest cohorts of men in STBG suggests that ADC may be on the rise in this city.

References (31)

  • W Bourke et al.

    Lung cancer in young adults

    Chest

    (1992)
  • MLG Janssen-Heijnen et al.

    Striking changes in smoking behaviour and lung cancer incidence by histological type in South-East Netherlands, 1960–1991

    Eur J Cancer

    (1995)
  • American Cancer Society

    Cancer Statistics 1988

    (1988)
  • M Benchet et al.

    Les adénocarcinomes bronchopul-monaires apparemment primitifs

    Semin Hop Paris

    (1979)
  • S Capewell

    Patients presenting with lung cancer in South East Scotland

    Thorax

    (1987)
  • L Dodds et al.

    A population-based study of lung cancer incidence trends by histological type, 1974–1981

    J Natl Cancer Inst

    (1986)
  • R Doll et al.

    The causes of cancer: quantitative estimates of avoidable risks of cancer in the United States today

    J Natl Cancer Inst

    (1981)
  • M El Torky et al.

    Significant changes in the distribution of histologic types of lung cancer

    Cancer

    (1990)
  • European Bureau for Action on Smoking Prevention

    Europe for smoking prevention

  • P Fréour et al.

    Qui fume et comment fume-t-on?

    La santé de l'homme

    (1972)
  • ER Greenberg et al.

    Incidence of lung cancer by cell type: a population-baed study in New Hampshire and Vermont

    J Natl Cancer Inst

    (1984)
  • JE Harris

    Cigarette smoking among successive birth cohorts of men and women in the United States during 1900–1980

    J Natl Cancer Inst

    (1983)
  • C Hill

    Trends in tobacco use in Europe

    J Natl Cancer Inst Monogr

    (1992)
  • C La Vecchia et al.

    Trends of cancer mortality in Europe, 1955–1989. II. respiratory tract, bone, connective and soft tissue sarcomas and skin

    Eur J Cancer

    (1992)
  • JH Lubin et al.

    Assessment of lung cancer risk factors by histologic category

    J Natl Cancer Inst

    (1984)
  • Cited by (46)

    • Cigarette filter and the incidence of lung adenocarcinoma among Tunisian population

      2007, Lung Cancer
      Citation Excerpt :

      Both evolutions were not similar during this time-period. In the 1970s, Ad has become the leading lung cancer subtype in America [22,23] whereas in Europe and in Tunisia the SCC remains the most frequent subtype during this period [24]. In the 1955–2001 periods, a review of epidemiological surveys on the association between lung cancer and tobacco smoking [25] demonstrates that the incidence of Ad lung cancer has dramatically increased when compared to the other histological types including SCC.

    • Specific features of non-small cell lung cancer in women: A retrospective study of 1738 cases diagnosed in Bas-Rhin between 1982 and 1997

      2007, Journal of Thoracic Oncology
      Citation Excerpt :

      This increase in adenocarcinomas was also observed in our study in women and in men, particularly during the last periods. Nevertheless, the trend in histological distribution could, to some extent, be attributable to detection bias, case selection, or differences in pathological classification.8,75–76 We did not find disparities in symptoms at diagnosis according to gender, similar to another study.27

    • Lung cancer - What has changed in two decades

      2005, Revista Portuguesa de Pneumologia
    View all citing articles on Scopus

    Supported in part by grants from ‘La Ligue contre le Cancer‘, of the Départment du Bas-Rhin (France).

    View full text