Golestan province, in Northern Iran is located on the Asian belt of upper gastrointestinal cancers. We aimed to present the temporal and geographical trends in the incidence of stomach cancer in this high-risk area during the last decade.

This cross-sectional study was conducted on stomach cancer cases from Golestan province during 10-year (2004-2013). Data on stomach cancer cases were obtained from the Golestan Population-based Based Cancer Registry (GPCR). Age-Standardized Incidence Rates (ASR) per 100,000 person-year were calculated by CanReg5 software. The Jointpoint regression analysis was used to assess the temporal trends in incidence rate of stomach cancer. Average Annual Percent Change (AAPC) were calculated.

Overall, 2237 new cases of stomach cancer were registered in the GPCR during the study period. The ASR of stomach cancer was significantly higher in male (27.0) then female (11.9) (p-value=0.03). Our results showed significant decreasing trend in incidence of stomach cancer in Golestan male population during 2004-2010 (AAPC=-5.61, p-value<0.001), but the trend was not significant during 2010-2013 (AAPC=3.62, p-value=0.68). We found no significant trends in incidence rated of stomach cancer in Golestan female (AAPC=-1.01, p-value=0.94). Our findings suggested higher risk for stomach cancer in Eastern parts of Golestan province, especially Kalaleh city (ASR=39.4 in male and 15.9 in female).

Our results emphasized high incidence rates of stomach cancer in Golestan province of Iran. We found temporal and geographical trends in incidence rates of stomach cancer in this high-risk population. Further studies are warranted to reveal the risk factors related to these trends.