The epidemiologic scenario of prostate cancer (PC) is changing rapidly. The present study updates to 2024 the estimates of PC in Italy, including incident and prevalent cases, deaths, and metastatic PC (mPC), which is further subdivided into de novo mPC (metastasis detected at diagnosis) and recurrent mPC (metachronous metastasis).
Methods
The study was based on updated data from the Italian Network of Cancer Registries and the National Institute of Statistics and the age-specific short-term PC projections made available by the International Agency for Cancer Research. For mPC, we applied the age-specific ratios between deaths and estimated de novo and recurrent mPCs for the USA to the Italian age-specific deaths.
Results
In Italy, in 2024, we expect 8400 PC deaths, approximately 39 000 new diagnoses, 4900 of whom are diagnoses of mPC, and almost 670 000 prevalent cases, about 36 000 of whom are mPCs.
Conclusion
These estimates provide updated and realistic information to policy makers, clinicians, and the community to properly address the needs of patients with PC in Italy from diagnosis to end-of-life care.