The rise in early-onset cancers is reshaping public health priorities as scientists pinpoint environmental and lifestyle factors driving the epidemic, and call for innovative treatments and preventive measures. Review: Early-onset cancers: Biological bases and clinical implications . Image Credit: Lightspring / Shutterstock A recent study published in the journal Cell Reports Medicine discussed early-onset (EO) cancers and their implications.
Cancer epidemiology has remarkably changed due to the growing incidence of sporadic EO cancers. Conventionally detected in older adults (> 65 years), these cancers are increasingly diagnosed in people under 50, even in those aged 15–39. This shift was first observed in the United States (US) in the 1980s and later confirmed worldwide in the 1990s.
Therefore, understanding why it has happened and defining treatment for young adults with cancers remain top research priorities. The global rise in early-onset cancers is particularly significant in individuals aged 20–49, with colorectal cancer becoming a leading cause of death among young males. The study emphasizes the urgent need for global, large-scale research collaborations and the integration of data from epidemiological, clinical, and biological sources.
The authors formulated hypotheses and suggested translational comprehensive approaches to address this epidemic. Clinical observations and hypotheses The emergence of EO cancers as the primary mortality cause in people aged 15–4.