Trends in childhood renal cancer mortality in Brazil, 1980–2000.

Mortality from childhood cancers has shown substantial declines in developed countries since 1960, with smaller favourable trends in South America. This study describes mortality trends in renal childhood cancer mortality in São Paulo state, Brazil, from 1980 to 2000. The age-standardised mortality rates among the boys decreased from 0.36 per 100 000 inhabitants in 1984 to 0.09 in 1992, whereas the observed corresponding decline among girls was from 0.43 per 100 000 inhabitants in 1981 to 0.07 in 1990. Statistically significant declining trends in mortality rates were observed for boys (adjusted r2 = 0.51, P < 0.001) and also for girls (adjusted r2 = 0.40, P = 0.002), achieving in this group a significant reduction in age-standardised mortality rates in the period (annual percentage change = −4.21). Consistent decrease in mortality rates from childhood renal cancer was noted at São Paulo state. In the absence of changes in incidence rates, this decline could be attributed to the improvement in treatment protocols and supportive measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]