IRANCANSURV : A comprehensive analysis of childhood cancer survival in Iran

Abstract We aimed to assess the 5‐year survival probability of childhood cancer in Iran, utilizing data from eight population‐based cancer registries across the country. The study employed data from 1809 childhood cancer patients aged 0–14 years, diagnosed between 2014 and 2016. Patients underwent active and passive follow‐up procedures, and cases with uncertain vital status were excluded. We used the relative survival method to estimate age‐standardized net survival probability for childhood cancer in Iran. The 5‐year net survival for leukemia was 67.85% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 64.57, 70.90), while for central nervous system (CNS) cancers, it was 48.63% (95% CI = 43.21, 53.82). An analysis of regional disparities revealed a significant discrepancy of 14.56% in the 5‐year survival of childhood leukemia, from 56.96 % in West Azerbaijan to 71.52% in Fars province. The geographical disparity in the 5‐year survival of childhood CNS cancer became more pronounced, with a staggering 57.33% difference ranging from 73.50% in Khuzestan to 16.17% in Isfahan provinces. The study highlights low childhood cancer survival rates in Iran and calls for a robust surveillance system, public awareness campaigns, implementing national clinical practice guidelines, and financial support from government and NGOs to improve patient outcomes.