Head and neck cancers in Southeast Asia: 2022 incidence and mortality estimates for 2022 and projections for 2050.

Abstract

e23281 Background: Head and neck cancers pose challenges due to their aggressive nature and complex treatment needs. In Southeast Asia (SEA), with over 690 million people, rising cancer rates are driven by tobacco, betel quid, alcohol use, and genetic factors. Aging populations, urbanization, and healthcare disparities further worsen the burden. This study examines the incidence, mortality, and regional disparities of head and neck cancers in SEA for 2022 and projects trends through 2050 to guide cancer care planning. Methods: We performed a population-based cross-sectional analysis using 2022 data from the Global Cancer Observatory (GCO), derived from national cancer registries. Age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR per 100,000) and mortality rates (ASMR per 100,000) were calculated using the Segi-Doll world reference population. Projections for 2050 incorporated population growth and changes in age distribution, assuming constant ASIR and ASMR. We analyzed data by country, sex, and cancer subsite. Results: The SEA incidence rate of all head and neck cancer is similar to the global rate (ASIR 18.0 vs. 18.9). However, the SEA mortality rate is notably higher than the global average (ASMR 9.5 vs. 5.3). For lip and oral cavity cancers, Myanmar had the highest rates of incidence (ASIR: 6.6 [per 100,000] for males, 2.6 for females) and mortality (ASMR: 3.9 for males, 1.6 for females). Salivary gland cancer incidence was elevated in Indonesia (1.0 for males, 0.59 for females) and the Philippines (0.81 for males, 0.55 for females). In terms of oropharyngeal cancer, males had higher incidence and mortality rates than females across SEA. In Myanmar, for example, the ASIR for males was 2.4 (ten times higher than females), with an ASMR of 1.5 (twelve times higher than females). Nasopharyngeal cancer incidence in Brunei and Indonesia far exceeded global averages (9.8 and 9.6 for males; 4.0 and 2.8 for females, compared to global ASIRs of 1.9 for males and 0.73 for females). Myanmar also reported the highest incidence of hypopharyngeal (4.9 for males, 0.38 for females) and laryngeal cancer (4.5 for males, 0.51 for females). For thyroid cancer, female rates were higher across all countries, with Singapore exhibiting the highest ASIR (10.7 for females, 3.8 for males), though still below the global average for females of 13.6 per 100,000. Conclusions: The growing burden of head and neck cancers in SEA calls for urgent action to address regional healthcare disparities. Enhancing healthcare infrastructure, improving early detection and prevention, and fostering regional collaboration are critical for mitigating the rising cancer burden. Future research should focus on identifying cost-effective, region-specific interventions tailored towards the local incidence and mortality of specific types of cancer.