To analyze the epidemiological characteristics of childhood cancer in China from 2005 to 2015, so as to provide evidence for the formulation of prevention and control strategies and rational allocation of health resources concerning childhood cancer in China.

Data regarding cancer incidence and mortality in Chinese 0-14 years old children during 2008 to 2018 were collected from the Chinese Cancer Registry Annual Report. Age-standardized incidence and mortality rates were computed by dividing the number of child deaths caused by cancer by the fifth national population census (2010) and multiplying by 100 000. Joinpoint Regression Program was used to compute the annual percentage change (APC) to analyze the temporal trends of annual child cancer incidence and mortality rates.

(1) During the period of 2005 to 2015, the median crude incidence rate and median crude mortality rate of cancer in 0-14 years old were 9.35/100 000, and 3.91/100 000, respectively. The median crude incidence and median crude mortality rate of 0-4 years old group were higher than those of 5-9 years old group and 10-14 years old group (P<0.05) . (2) The median crude incidence rate (10.21/100 000 vs 8.91/100 000) and median crude mortality rate (4.18/100 000 vs 3.47/100 000) of cancer in male children aged 0-14 years old were higher than those of female children of the same age (P<0.05) . (3) The median crude incidence rate (10.87/100 000 vs 7.20/100 000) and median crude mortalityrate (4.08/100 000 vs 3.54 /100 000) of cancer in urban children aged 0-14 years old were higher than those of rural children of the same age (P<0.05) . (4) The median crude mortality rate of cancer showed an upward trend in 0-14 years old in the period of 2005 to 2015 (APC=1.01%, P<0.05) ; amomg them, the median crude mortality rate in the 0-4 years old group showed an decreased trend (APC=-1.19%, P<0.05) ; the median crude mortality rate in the 5-9 years old group showed an increased trend (APC=2.50%, P<0.05) ; the median crude mortality rate in the 10-14 years old group was stable over time. (5) The median crude incidence rate and median crude mortality rate of cancer in rural 0-14 years old in rural areas presented an upward trend over the period 2005 to 2015 (APC=7.73%, 2.22%, P<0.05) . (6) The top six cancers among children aged 0-14 years old in this period were: leukemia, brain cancer, lymphoma, bone cancer, kidney cancer and liver cancer.

The cancer incidence and mortality rate in Chinese 0-14 years old children showed different features by time, age group or geographical region (rural or urban) . Priorities for containing cancer should be given to rural children, 5-9 years old children or children with brain cancer or leukemia.