Cancer Res Treat.  2017 Apr;49(2):494-501. 10.4143/crt.2016.129.

Nationwide Population-Based Incidence and Survival Rates of Malignant Central Nervous System Germ Cell Tumors in Korea, 2005-2012

• Lee SH
• Jung KW
• Ha J
• Oh CM
• Kim H
• Park HJ
• Yoo H
• Won YJ

• KMID: 2378122
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4143/crt.2016.129

Abstract

PURPOSE
Malignant central nervous system (CNS) germ cell tumors (GCTs), although rare, are thought to occur more frequently among Asians. However, a recent population-based study revealed no differences in GCT incidence between Asians and Caucasians. Therefore, this study was conducted to determine the incidence and survival rates of CNS GCTs using the national cancer incidence database, and to compare these rates to those in the United States and Japan.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
We extracted CNS GCT patients diagnosed between 2005 and 2012 from the Korea Central Cancer Registry database. Age-standardized rates (ASRs), annual percentage change, and the male-female incidence rate ratios (IRRs) were calculated. To estimate the survival rate, we used data for patients diagnosed between 2005 and 2010 and followed their cases until December 31, 2013.
RESULTS
The ASR for CNS GCT between 2005 and 2012 was 0.179 per 100,000 (95% confidence interval, 0.166 to 0.193), with an overall male-to-female (M:F) IRR of 2.95:1. However, when stratified by site, the M:F IRR was 13.62:1 for tumors of the pineal region and 1.87:1 for those located in nonpineal regions. The most frequent histologic type was germinoma (76.0%), and the most frequent location was the suprasellar region (48.5%). The 5-year survival rate of germinoma patients was 95.3%.
CONCLUSION
The incidence rate of CNS GCTs in Korea during 2005-2012 was 0.179 per 100,000, which was similar to that of the Asian/Pacific Islander subpopulation in the United States. Moreover, the CNS GCT survival rate in Korea was similar to rates in Japan and the United States.

Keyword

Central nervous system; Germ cell tumor; Incidence; Survival; Korea

MeSH Terms

Asian Continental Ancestry Group
Central Nervous System*
Germ Cells*
Germinoma
Humans
Incidence*
Japan
Korea*
Neoplasms, Germ Cell and Embryonal*
Survival Rate*
United States

Figure

• 

  Fig. 1. Cumulative survival curve of germ cell tumors, 2005-2010. (A) Sex. (B) Age group (yr). (C) Primary site. (D) Histological type.

Reference

References

1. Villano JL, Propp JM, Porter KR, Stewart AK, Valyi-Nagy T, Li X, et al. Malignant pineal germ-cell tumors: an analysis of cases from three tumor registries. Neuro Oncol. 2008; 10:121–30.

2. Thakkar JP, Chew L, Villano JL. Primary CNS germ cell tumors: current epidemiology and update on treatment. Med Oncol. 2013; 30:496.

3. Oi S, Matsuzawa K, Choi JU, Kim DS, Kang JK, Cho BK. Identical characteristics of the patient populations with pineal region tumors in Japan and in Korea and therapeutic modalities. Childs Nerv Syst. 1998; 14:36–40.

4. Makino K, Nakamura H, Yano S, Kuratsu J; Kumamoto Brain Tumor Research Group. Incidence of primary central nervous system germ cell tumors in childhood: a regional survey in Kumamoto prefecture in southern Japan. Pediatr Neurosurg. 2013; 49:155–8.

5. Kuratsu J, Takeshima H, Ushio Y. Trends in the incidence of primary intracranial tumors in Kumamoto, Japan. Int J Clin Oncol. 2001; 6:183–91.

6. Keene D, Johnston D, Strother D, Fryer C, Carret AS, Crooks B, et al. Epidemiological survey of central nervous system germ cell tumors in Canadian children. J Neurooncol. 2007; 82:289–95.

7. Kaatsch P, Rickert CH, Kuhl J, Schuz J, Michaelis J. Population-based epidemiologic data on brain tumors in German children. Cancer. 2001; 92:3155–64.

8. Zhou D, Zhang Y, Liu H, Luo S, Luo L, Dai K. Epidemiology of nervous system tumors in children: a survey of 1,485 cases in Beijing Tiantan Hospital from 2001 to 2005. Pediatr Neurosurg. 2008; 44:97–103.

9. Wong TT, Ho DM, Chang KP, Yen SH, Guo WY, Chang FC, et al. Primary pediatric brain tumors: statistics of Taipei VGH, Taiwan (1975-2004). Cancer. 2005; 104:2156–67.

10. Rickert CH, Paulus W. Epidemiology of central nervous system tumors in childhood and adolescence based on the new WHO classification. Childs Nerv Syst. 2001; 17:503–11.

11. Nomura K. Epidemiology of germ cell tumors in Asia of pineal region tumor. J Neurooncol. 2001; 54:211–7.

12. Kaneko S, Nomura K, Yoshimura T, Yamaguchi N. Trend of brain tumor incidence by histological subtypes in Japan: estimation from the Brain Tumor Registry of Japan, 1973-1993. J Neurooncol. 2002; 60:61–9.

13. Cho KT, Wang KC, Kim SK, Shin SH, Chi JG, Cho BK. Pediatric brain tumors: statistics of SNUH, Korea (1959-2000). Childs Nerv Syst. 2002; 18:30–7.

14. McCarthy BJ, Shibui S, Kayama T, Miyaoka E, Narita Y, Murakami M, et al. Primary CNS germ cell tumors in Japan and the United States: an analysis of 4 tumor registries. Neuro Oncol. 2012; 14:1194–200.

15. Ostrom QT, Gittleman H, Liao P, Rouse C, Chen Y, Dowling J, et al. CBTRUS statistical report: primary brain and central nervous system tumors diagnosed in the United States in 2007-2011. Neuro Oncol. 2014; 16 Suppl 4:iv1–63.

16. Shin HR, Won YJ, Jung KW, Kong HJ, Yim SH, Lee JK, et al. Nationwide cancer incidence in Korea, 1999~2001: first result using the national cancer incidence database. Cancer Res Treat. 2005; 37:325–31.

17. Jung KW, Won YJ, Kong HJ, Oh CM, Cho H, Lee DH, et al. Cancer statistics in Korea: incidence, mortality, survival, and prevalence in 2012. Cancer Res Treat. 2015; 47:127–41.

18. Mori K, Kurisaka M. Brain tumors in childhood: statistical analysis of cases from the Brain Tumor Registry of Japan. Childs Nerv Syst. 1986; 2:233–7.

19. Jung KW, Ha J, Lee SH, Won YJ, Yoo H. An updated nationwide epidemiology of primary brain tumors in republic of Korea. Brain Tumor Res Treat. 2013; 1:16–23.

20. Bailey S, Skinner R, Lucraft HH, Perry RH, Todd N, Pearson AD. Pineal tumours in the north of England 1968-93. Arch Dis Child. 1996; 75:181–5.

21. Goodwin TL, Sainani K, Fisher PG. Incidence patterns of central nervous system germ cell tumors: a SEER Study. J Pediatr Hematol Oncol. 2009; 31:541–4.

22. Kim JY, Park J. Understanding the treatment strategies of intracranial germ cell tumors: focusing on radiotherapy. J Korean Neurosurg Soc. 2015; 57:315–22.

23. Matsutani M. Combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy for CNS germ cell tumors: the Japanese experience. J Neurooncol. 2001; 54:311–6.