A new study led by American Cancer Society (ACS) researchers shows that incidence rates of early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) are increasing in 27 of 50 countries/territories worldwide, 20 of which have increases exclusive or faster for early-onset disease. In 14 countries, including the United States, rates are increasing in young adults while leveling off in those age 50 and older. The research is published today in the journal. The Lancet Oncology.
“The rise in early-onset colorectal cancer is a global phenomenon,” said Dr. Hyuna Sung, senior research scientist for cancer surveillance at the American Cancer Society and lead author of the study. “Previous studies have shown this increase in predominantly high-income Western countries, but it is now documented in several economies and regions around the world.”
The primary objective of the study was to examine contemporary CRC incidence trends in young versus older adults using data through 2017 from 50 countries/territories. The data was collected using the Cancer incidence in five more continents and trends in age-standardized CRC incidence rates were examined between 1943 and 2017. Temporal trends were visualized and quantified by age at diagnosis (25-49 years and 50-74 years). Average annual percentage changes (AAPC) were estimated for the last 10 years of data.
Over the past decade, incidence rates of early-onset CRC (25-49 years) remained stable in 23 countries, but increased in 27 countries, with the largest annual increases in New Zealand (4.0%), Chile ( 4.0%) and Puerto Rico (3.8%). Fourteen of the 27 countries/territories showed stable (Puerto Rico, Argentina, Norway, France, Ireland) or decreasing rates (Israel, Canada, United States, England, Germany, Scotland, Slovenia, Australia and New Zealand) in older adults. . The increase in early-onset CRC was faster among men than women in Chile, Puerto Rico, Argentina, Ecuador, Thailand, Sweden, Israel and Croatia, while young women experienced faster increases in England, Norway, Australia , Turkey, Costa Rica. and Scotland. For the remaining 13 countries with increasing trends in both age groups, the annual percentage increase among young people compared to older adults was highest in Chile, Japan, Sweden, the Netherlands, Croatia, and Finland, and lowest in Thailand, Martinique, Denmark and Costa Rica. , and similar in Türkiye, Ecuador and Belarus. Over the past five years, the incidence rate of early-onset CRC was highest in Australia, Puerto Rico, New Zealand, the United States, and the Republic of Korea (14 to 17 per 100,000) and lowest in Uganda and India (4 per 100,000). ).
“The global reach of this worrying trend highlights the need for innovative tools to prevent and control cancers related to dietary habits, physical inactivity and excess body weight. Continued efforts are essential to identify additional factors behind these trends and develop effective prevention strategies tailored to younger generations and local resources around the world,” Sung added. “Raising awareness about the trend and various symptoms of early-onset colorectal cancer (e.g., rectal bleeding, abdominal pain, altered bowel habits, and unexplained weight loss) among youth and primary care providers may help reduce delays in diagnosis and reduce mortality.
“This landmark study reveals that rising rates of early-onset bowel cancer, which affects adults aged 25 to 49, is a global problem. Worryingly, this research has revealed for the first time that rates are increasing more sharply in England than in many other countries around the world,” said Michelle Mitchell, chief executive of Cancer Research UK. “A cancer diagnosis at any age has a huge impact on patients and their families, so while it is important to note that rates in younger adults are still very low compared to people over 50, we need to understand what is causing this trend in younger people. More research is needed, such as the PROSPECT team, a global Cancer Grand Challenges team that has been awarded £20 million to discover the causes of bowel cancer in younger adults and strategies to prevent it. “.
Other ACS researchers contributing to the study include Rebecca Siegel, Chenxi Jiang, and lead author Dr. Ahmedin Jemal. Yin Cao, an associate professor of surgery and medicine at Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and a research member at the Siteman Cancer Center, based at Barnes-Jewish Hospital and Washington University of Medicine, is one of the contributing authors.