Cervical cancer is one of the most common cancers in women and incidence of cervical cancer has increased in younger generations of women most likely as a result of changing sexual behavior and high prevalence of HPV infection in population. Almost all cervical cancer cases are attributable to HPV. Our aim was to analyze the cervical cancer incidence and mortality in the Russian Federation and in Moscow during 8-years period and describe potential reasons of trends.
We analyzed retrospective data with diagnostic code related to cervical cancer from the official statistic of cancer register using age-standardized (world standard) incidence and mortality rates between January 2007 and December 2014 in the Russian Federation, in Moscow, and in other regions of the country.
The overall number of new cervical cancer cases during 8 years period in Moscow was 6 948 (average 869,5 cases per year), in Russia – 177 738 new cases (average 14 717 cases per year).
Age-standardized incidence rates of cervical cancer in Moscow had gradually declined from 10,3 per 100 000 of women in 2007 to 8,0 in 2014 while on country level age-standardized incidence rates of cervical cancer had increased from 12,5 per 100 000 of women in 2007 to 14,5 in 2014. In 2007–2014 the regions of Russia with the highest cervical cancer incidence (in median) were: Zabaykalsky Krai – 28,7 per 100 000, the Republic of Karelia – 26,1 per 100 000, the Republic of Buryatia – 22,4 per 100 000.
Average age of new patients with diagnosis cervical cancer slowly decreasing (the patients “become younger”), it had changed from 56 years in 1997 to 52 years in 2014.
Age-standardized cervical cancer mortality rates in Moscow had gradually declined from 4,3 in 2007 per 100 000 of women to 3,9 in 2014. In the whole of Russia age-standardized cervical cancer mortality rates ranged from 5,0 to 5,4 per 100 000 of women, with no trend to decline.
The cervical cancer incidence and mortality in Moscow is lower than in Russia. There are two opposite trends for cervical cancer incidence in Moscow and in Russia: incidence rate is significantly decrease in the Moscow while increasing in Russia. The positive trend in Moscow can be associated with higher level of healthcare system and socioeconomic status of the capital city. Introduction of mass prevention strategies including HPV vaccination and HPV screening can significantly reduce cervical cancer incidence and mortality in the country.