Retinoblastoma incidence rate increasing

The incidence of retinoblastoma is increasing likely due to improved survival and improved reproductive capabilities of survivors of hereditary retinoblastoma, according to a presentation at 2021 AAPOS Virtual Meeting.

In this multicenter, cross-sectional study, all patients (n = 517) diagnosed with retinoblastoma in 2017 across 40 European countries were included. Based on live births, the estimated incidence rate was 1 in 13,844. Based on population, the estimated incidence rate was 14.1 per one million children <5 years of age and 4.6 per one million children <15 years of age.

Linear regression analysis showed that a higher proportion of familial retinoblastoma predicted a higher national incidence rate (P = 0.002).

“Therapeutic intervention is increasing the population frequency of pathogenic variants of RB1, associated with dominant cancer predisposition,” the authors noted.

Reference
Stacey AW, et al. The incidence of retinoblastoma has increased: Analysis based on results from 40 European Countries. Poster Presented at: 2021 AAPOS Virtual Meeting.