Using Cancer Registration and Registry as search items with PubMed, a survey of the relevant literature for theyears 2006-2008 was performed. A total of 207 abstracts were scanned for core findings and classified under generalincidence and mortality, methodology and specific organ headings, these accounting for 27%, 5% and 68% of papers,respectively. Further sub-division into geographical area and country showed 34% from Europe, less than 1% fromAfrica, 42% from Asia (almost half in the APJCP), 2% from Australasia and the remaining 21% from the Americas.Breast cancer was the most common specific cancer covered, followed by colorectal and childhood, then lung andurinary tract, but clear differences were noted in the focus of different countries, partially reflecting variation inprevalence. The distributions across and within continents point to geographical areas and countries in whichassistance might allow a more comprehensive picture of cancer incidence and mortality to be generated, facilitatingworldwide efforts for cancer control. Variation within countries also appears to require more emphasis in the future.
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