Database study of trends of incidence and mortality of pancreatic cancer in young Americans, 2001-2019

A study using U.S. Cancer Statistics and National Vital Statistics System data evaluated trends in pancreatic cancer incidence and mortality in American men and women aged 15 to 39 years from 2001 to 2019. In the study period, the incidence of pancreatic increased from 3.3 to 6.9 per million young women (average annual percent change 4.8%; 95% CI 4.1-5.6) and from 3.9 to 6.2 per million young men (2.7%; 2.0-3.5). Most of the increase was attributable to to early-stage cancer: among young women AAPC 11.7% (95% CI 10.4-13.6) and among young men 11.1% (9.7-13.1). Death from pancreatic cancer was stable at 1.5 deaths per million young women (AAPC -0.5% (95% CI -1.4 to 0.5) and at 2.5 deaths per million young men (-0.1%; -0.8 to 0.6). The authors conclude that among young American men and women the incidence of pancreatic cancer increased from 2001-2019, primarily due to detection of smaller, early-stage cancer, whereas the mortality of pancreatic cancer was stable.