Original Article Epidemiological Profile and Treatment Outcomes in Young Adults (19–29 years of Age) Treated for Cancer in a Tertiary Hospital in Sa ˜ o Paulo, Brazil Victor Hugo Fonseca de Jesus, MD, 1 Taynan Nunes Ribeiro, MD, 1 Ludmilla T. Domingos Chinen, PhD, 2 Vanessa Alves, 2 Maria Paula Curado, MD, PhD, 2 and Marcello Ferretti Fanelli, MD, MSc 1 Background: Worldwide, the incidence of cancer in young adults (20–39 years) is increasing, and represents an important cause of mortality in this age group. A retrospective study was undertaken to provide information that may lead to improved treatment outcomes. Methods: Epidemiological, clinicopathological, treatment, and survival information were retrieved from the electronic database registry of a tertiary referral hospital in Sa ˜o Paulo, Brazil for patients 19–29 years of age diagnosed with cancer between January 2007 and December 2012. Results: There were 960 patients with a median age at diagnosis of 26 years; female patients comprised 59.2%. A previous diagnosis of malignancy was present in 2.3%; 0.4% had malignant tumors that were radiation- associated; regular alcohol use was present in 10.4%; 9% of patients reported tobacco use; a family history of cancer was present in 41.7%. Malignant tumors included carcinomas (45.7%), germ cell and trophoblastic neoplasms (12.3%), and lymphomas (12.1%). Median follow-up was 47.7 months (range: 0.62–100.9 months) during which time 111 patients (13.5%) died. Carcinomas (n = 43, 38.7%), soft tissue sarcomas (n = 18, 16.2%), and leukemias (n = 10, 9.0%) were the most common causes of death. Conclusions: This study has shown that carcinomas represent the most common malignancy in adolescents and young adults referred to a tertiary cancer center in Brazil and are the most common cause of mortality. Because clinical outcome may be affected by multiple factors in this patient population, further global studies are needed to characterize this population and improve clinical care. Keywords: cancer, young adults, epidemiology, risk factors, survival, tertiary hospital Introduction A dolescents and young adults (aged 15–24 years old) currently represent 27% of the world population and 80%–90% of this population lives in Low to Middle Income Countries (LMICs). Importantly, the proportion of patients in this subgroup is not expected to significantly decline until 2050. 1 The current definition of a young adult includes individ- uals 20–39 years of age. 2–6 The importance of the diagnosis and treatment of cancer in this population is sharply rising 3 due to the increasing global disease burden, the recognition of the characteristics of malignant neoplastic diseases in this group and its poor prognosis. Recently, the burden of cancer in the adolescents and young adults has been more accurately depicted. Although cancer is an uncommon diagnosis in this population (*2% of all cancer diagnosis), it represents an appreciable health problem worldwide. In Brazil, cancer incidence 7,8 and mor- tality rates 9 in young adults are greater than in the pediatric population. Also, after external causes, cancer is the most common cause of death for young adults in Brazil. The findings are similar to those in developed countries. 3,4,10–12 It is also important to note that the incidence of malignant neoplastic disease in this patient subgroup has increased over the last few decades. 2 There are some specific and important social, psycholog- ical, and physical consequences of a cancer diagnosis in young adults, including (1) interruption of study and work, (2) effects on body image, (3) impairment of independence, (4) effects on psychological health, (5) reduced fertility, and (6) treatment toxicities, including secondary neoplasms. 13,14 1 Department of Medical Oncology, A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, Sa ˜o Paulo, Brazil. 2 International Research Center, A.C. Camargo Cancer Center, Sa ˜o Paulo, Brazil. JOURNAL OF ADOLESCENT AND YOUNG ADULT ONCOLOGY Volume 6, Number 2, 2017 ª Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. DOI: 10.1089/jayao.2016.0047 1