Some correlations between eight types of malignant neoplasms: A hint from cancer dynamics of 31 European countries in 20 years

Abstract

In present study, the data of standardised death rates of malignant neoplasms per 100000 inhabitants in 31 European countries during 1994-2013 were used to analyze linear correlations between eight types of cancers in terms of induced death rates. The results showed that most pairs of cancers closely correlate to each other. The malignant neoplasm of cervix uteri (women) and the malignant neoplasm of trachea, bronchus and lung correlate most closely (r=0.5915), followed by the malignant neoplasms (r=0.4832) of colon, rectosigmoid junction, rectum, anus and anal canal and lymphatic/haematopoietic tissue, the malignant neoplasms (r=-0.483) of stomach, and trachea, bronchus and lung, the malignant neoplasms (r=0.4605) of skin and prostate (men), the malignant neoplasms (r=0.4344) of colon, rectosigmoid junction, rectum, anus and anal canal and trachea, bronchus and lung, etc. These correlations are likely caused by common or adverse environmental, social, medical or even genetic / molecular factors.

Keywords

• Pearson linear correlation
• malignant neoplasms
• death rates
• countries