Background: Incidence of childhood cancer increased in most countries worldwide, but the reasons are unclear. This study investigates trends in childhood cancer incidence in Switzerland from 1985 to 2014. Methods: We extracted data on all childhood cancer cases diagnosed at ages 0-14 years in Switzerland from the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry. We included ICCC-3 main groups I-XII and calculated age-standardised, cumulative, and age-specific incidence for different diagnostic groups. We analysed trends in annual age-standardised incidence using JoinPoint regression models. Results: Over the study period from 1985-2014, 5104 of 5486 cancer diagnoses (93%) were microscopically verified. The proportion of children treated in paediatric cancer centres increased from 84% during 1985-1994 to 93% in 1995-2004 and 98% in 2005-2014 (p<0.001). Using the 2010 European standard population, age-standardised incidence was 143 in 1985-1994, 154 in 1995-2004, and 162 per million in 2005-2014. Over the period 1985-2014, incidence for all cancers increased by 0.7% (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.5-1.0) per year, 0.8% (95% CI 0.2%-1.4%) for leukaemias, 3.8% (95% CI 1.7%-6.0%) for epithelial neoplasms and melanomas, and 3.0% (95% CI 1.3%-4.6%) for CNS tumours for the period 1985-2002. Conclusion: Trends in incidence were driven mostly by increases among leukaemias and CNS tumours. For CNS tumours, observed trends may be explained at least partially by diagnostic changes and improved registration. For leukaemias, rising incidence may be real and at least partly due to changes in risk factors.

Temporal trends in incidence of childhood cancer in Switzerland, 1985-2014