OBJECTIVETo explore the trend change of the morbidity and mortality of colorectal cancer in China in order to provide reference to the prevention and control of colorectal cancer.

METHODSAccording to the 1-3 volumes of "Pathogenesis and death of malignancies in pilot program city and county of China", "Pathogenesis and death of cancer in China"(2003-2007) and "Registration annual report of tumor in China" published in 2011 and 2012, data of pathogenesis and death of colorectal cancer from 10 tumor registration spots, including Beijing urban, Shanghai urban, Wuhan urban, Harbin urban (defined as city urban), and Hebei Ci County, Jiangsu Qidong District, Zhejiang Jiashan District, Guangxi Fusui County, Fujian Changle District, Henan Lin County (defined as rural district), between 1988 and 2009 were collected. The morbidity and mortality were elucidated with world population standardized rate. Ratio of pathogenesis to death was calculated with crude rate of morbidity and mortality. Data of 22 years were enrolled into the linear regression analysis to calculate the annual change rate of morbidity and mortality statistically.

RESULTS(1) Colon cancer: morbidity presented increasing trend; male morbidity in city urban increased faster; mortality presented increasing trend as well; no significant difference of increasing velocity was observed between city urban and rural district; morbidity and mortality in city urban were higher compared to rural district; morbidity and mortality of males were higher compared to females; except stable Fujian Changle District, ratio of pathogenesis to death presented decreased trend in Shanghai urban and Hebei Ci County, and increased trend in other 7 spots (all P<0.05). (2) Rectal cancer: morbidity presented increasing trend, and its increasing velocity of city urban was faster compared to rural district; mortality presented decreased trend, especially in females, and this trend in rural district was worse compared to city urban; morbidity and mortality of males were higher compared to females, while no significant difference was observed between city urban and rural district; morbidity and mortality of males and females in Zhejiang Jiashan District were all decreased (all P<0.05); except stable Harbin city, ratio of pathogenesis to death presented increased trend in other 9 spots (all P<0.05). (3) Ratio analysis of morbidity and mortality showed that percentage of colon cancer increased gradually in all 10 spots between 1988-2009.

CONCLUSIONSIn the past 2 decades, the overall morbidity and mortality of colorectal cancer are higher in city urban and in male as compared with rural district and female. Colon cancer has higher morbidity than rectal cancer and its morbidity and mortality present increased trend, while morbidity of rectal cancer presents increased trend but its mortality presents decreased trend.