OBJECTIVETo understand the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer in China.

METHODSThe data from GLOBOCAN 2012, Chinese Cancer Registry Annual Report 2012, Cancer Incidence in Five Continents (CI5), the Three National Death Cause Surveys in China and WHO Mortality Database were used to learn about the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer and related trends in China.

RESULTSIt was estimated by GLOBOCAN 2012 that in 2012 the age-standardized incidence of colorectal cancer in China was 16.9 per 100 000 in males and 11.6 per 100 000 in females, and the age-standardized mortality was 9.0 per 100 000 in males and 6.1 per 100 000 in females. GLOBOCAN 2012 estimated that colorectal cancer incidence and mortality would increase with the level of human development index. China's human development level was high, suggesting that the burden of colorectal cancer would be more serious in China with the development of social economy. The data from CI5 Volume IV and GLOBOCAN 2012 indicated that the incidence of colorectal cancer began to increase obviously at age of 50 years in China. Chinese Cancer Registry Annual Report 2012 showed that the incidence and mortality of colorectal cancer in urban population were two times higher than those in rural population in 2009, the proportions of colon cancer among colorectal and anus cancers, which was 49.0% in males and 54.2% in females, 53.4% in urban population and 41.7% in rural population. CI5 Volumes IV-X showed that colon cancer and rectum and anus cancer incidence in Shanghai for both males and females were increasing during the period 1973-2007. The percentage change in colon cancer and rectum and anus cancer incidence between 1973-1977 and 2003-2007 increased by 138.8% and 31.1% in males, 146.7% and 49.1% in females, respectively. The data from the Three National Death Cause Surveys showed that the crude mortality of colorectal cancer increased by 77.9% form mid 1970's (1973-1975) to mid 2000's (2004-2005). WHO Mortality Database showed that average annual percentage change (AAPC) of age-standardized colorectal cancer mortality increased by 0.7% (P < 0.05) from 1987 to 2000.

CONCLUSIONMore attention should be paid to the prevention and control of colorectal cancer in urban area and in male population in China. Similar to the western countries, the burden of colorectal cancer in China would continue to become serious if no population based prevention and control programs are conducted.