Image Courtesy – NBC News

New projections from the World Health Organization suggest that by the year 2050, global cancer diagnoses are expected to reach 35 million, marking a substantial 77% rise from the 20 million cases reported in 2022. (link 01)

What’s the detailed breakdown of the current numbers?

In the year 2022, an estimated 20 million new cancer cases and 9.7 million deaths were reported globally. Approximately 53.5 million individuals were projected to be alive within five years after receiving a cancer diagnosis. Statistics reveal that around 1 in 5 people develop cancer during their lifetime, with approximately 1 in 9 men and 1 in 12 women succumbing to the disease.

The World Health Organization’s survey on Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and cancer indicates that only 39% of surveyed countries included essential cancer management in their financed core health services, known as ‘health benefit packages’ (HBP). Additionally, a mere 28% of participating countries covered palliative care, encompassing pain relief not exclusively associated with cancer.

Among the newly diagnosed cases, lung cancer took the lead globally, accounting for 2.5 million cases (12.4% of total new cases). Female breast cancer followed closely with 2.3 million cases (11.6%), trailed by colorectal cancer (1.9 million cases, 9.6%), prostate cancer (1.5 million cases, 7.3%), and stomach cancer (970,000 cases, 4.9%).

Regarding mortality, lung cancer emerged as the primary cause of cancer-related deaths, claiming 1.8 million lives (18.7% of total cancer deaths). Colorectal cancer followed with 900,000 deaths (9.3%), then liver cancer (760,000 deaths, 7.8%), breast cancer (670,000 deaths, 6.9%), and stomach cancer (660,000 deaths, 6.8%). The resurgence of lung cancer as the most prevalent form is likely attributed to persistent tobacco use in Asia.

What is being done in terms of treatment?

Cancer induces uncontrolled cell division and disrupts the natural cell death process. The development of the disease can be influenced by genetic factors and lifestyle choices like smoking. Various factors impact the communication between DNA and cells, influencing their division and lifespan.

Following nonmelanoma skin cancer, breast cancer stands as the second most prevalent type in the United States. Ongoing advancements in treatments, including chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery, contribute to improved outcomes. Some individuals find benefit in more recent options, such as stem cell transplantation and precision medicine.

The increasing prevalence of cancer can be largely attributed to our aging population, as age serves as an independent risk factor for cancer development. Simultaneously, advancements in early cancer detection are evolving, exemplified by the widespread implementation of preventive cancer screening programs globally.

Another facet shaping the future of early cancer detection involves the surge in developing novel molecular methods, such as “liquid biopsies,” designed to identify circulating cancer cells in bodily fluids. Population trials are underway to assess the potential of multicancer detection tests as prospective screening methods, indicating that these molecular approaches will likely impact future cancer incidence statistics.

Anticipated rises in cancer incidence, coupled with the persistently bleak prognosis for certain cancers like malignant brain, pancreatic, or blood cancers, present a challenge to cancer medicine researchers striving for increasingly effective therapies.

Historically, cancer medicine concentrated on directly removing malignant tumors or destroying cancer cells. The principal pillars of cancer therapy—oncological surgical resection of tumors, chemotherapy, and radiological radiation—have seen continuous development and remain foundational in contemporary cancer treatment.

The conventional objective of classical cancer therapy is the complete removal of a malignant tumor. Surgical resection typically involves maintaining a margin around the tumor, accompanied by the removal of the associated lymphatic drainage area (oncological resection) to minimize the risk of recurrence and enhance survival prognosis. Additional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, either after (adjuvant) or before (neoadjuvant) surgery, aim to reduce the recurrence risk by eliminating potentially remaining cancer cells.

In recent years, novel therapeutic approaches have complemented established forms of therapy, marking the onset of a new era in cancer research and treatment: the era of immunotherapy. Immunotherapies encompass substances that broadly support the immune system’s response to various external threats, including cancer cells.

Pioneering research scrutinized cancer cells and their specific characteristics, introducing crucial biomarker testing. Biomarkers, measurable biological traits found in blood or tissue samples, include cancer cells. Molecular detection of changes in gene expression or quantity provides insights into cancer-specific features. Targeted therapies, tailored to exploit these features favoring cancer cell proliferation, have emerged, inhibiting the growth of various cancer types more effectively.

Testing cancer tissue for specific biomarkers not only aids in developing targeted therapies but also spares patients from ineffective or less effective treatments when biomarkers are absent. This approach ensures a more personalized and efficient course of cancer treatment.

How can cancer be addressed better?

While strides have been taken in the early detection and treatment of cancers, substantial disparities persist in the outcomes of cancer treatment. These inequalities extend beyond the divide between high and low-income regions globally, permeating within individual countries. It is unjust for someone’s geographical location to dictate their chances of survival. Tools are available to empower governments in prioritizing cancer care, ensuring universal access to affordable, high-quality services. Addressing this challenge is not solely a matter of resource allocation but a question of political determination and commitment.

For individuals grappling with cancer, enduring the severe side effects of potent medications has long been the compromise for extended life. Presently, patients and healthcare professionals are questioning the necessity of such suffering.

This has sparked a movement to fundamentally alter the approach to testing new cancer drugs, with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration urging pharmaceutical companies to enhance efforts in identifying the lowest effective dose, even if it requires additional time. While chemotherapy operates akin to a battering ram with aggressive strikes being a sound strategy, modern cancer drugs act more like a front door key. These medications target specific mutations driving cancer cell growth or stimulate the body’s immune system to actively participate in the battle against cancer.

Link 01 – https://www.iarc.who.int/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/pr345_E.pdf