GLOBOCAN 2008 launched

The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) launched GLOBOCAN 2008 in June. This is an online resource for cancer researchers and policy makers, it replaces the previous database GLOBOCAN 2002. The database provides worldwide, region and country specific estimates of the numbers of new cases of, and deaths from, cancer in 2008.

According to GLOBOCAN, an estimated 12.7 million new cases of cancer and 7.6 million deaths from cancer occurred in 2008.

The database is interactive, free to access and easy to use. It includes a series of fact sheets on incidence and mortality around the world for eight common cancers, as well as the overall cancer burden for specific countries. There is an option to produce maps and other graphics.

In addition the database provides predictions of future cancer incidence and mortality over the next 20 years. These are based on predicted population growth and aging. GLOBOCAN predicts that by 2030 there will be nearly 21.4 million new cases of cancer diagnosed and more than 13.2 million deaths from cancer each year.

An example of how GLOBOCAN can be used is shown in cancer facts and figures. In the recently added cancer facts and figures we have prepared information on the top five most common cancers around the world and worldwide rates of breast and prostate cancer.

Reference:

Ferlay J, Shin HR, Bray F, Forman D, Mathers C and Parkin DM. GLOBOCAN 2008, Cancer Incidence and Mortality Worldwide: IARC CancerBase No. 10 [Internet]. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2010. Available from: http://globocan.iarc.fr