Taking stock of progress this World Cancer Day

Since its founding in 1933, the UICC has championed many initiatives to unite and support the cancer community to reduce the global cancer burden¹. The organization has played a key role in enabling the international healthcare community to deliver innovations in therapeutics and care to improve the lives of cancer patients and reduce mortality rates. 

The continuing journey

The work of UICC is far from done. Behind the World Health Organization (WHO) statistic of 20 million new cancer cases in 2022 are countless stories of individuals facing the fear and uncertainty of a cancer diagnosis . Globally, one in five individuals will develop cancer during their lifetime, with mortality rates higher for men (one in nine) than women (one in 12)². 

 

Looking ahead, over 35 million new cancer cases are predicted in 2050, a 77 percent increase from 2022². This alarming rise is why it is important to invest the time and resources to improve treatment outcomes and enhance the patient experience. It is a call to action to support those managing cancer and strive for a future where this disease no longer holds as much power to inflict fear and suffering. 

Increasing survival rates — yet regional disparities stark

Thanks to years of dedicated research, investment in new treatments, and advances in the quality of care, there have been dramatic improvements in cancer survival rates across the globe.

In the U.S., the five-year relative survival rate for all cancers has increased from 49 percent for those diagnosed in the mid-1970s to 69 percent among those diagnosed from 2013 to 2019³. In the U.K., cancer survival rates have doubled in the last 50 years⁴. The CONCORD programme's⁵  findings show that survival rates are highest in the U.S., Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Nordic countries (particularly Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden), with Denmark closing the survival gap with its Nordic neighbors. Progress extends even to more lethal cancers, with some countries showing up to 5 percent survival increases for liver, pancreas, and lung cancers.

However, stark disparities persist — while breast cancer survival rates for women diagnosed during 2010 – 2014 approach 90 percent in the U.S. and Australia, they can be as low as 40 percent in South Africa⁵. In 2022, more than 18 million individuals with a history of cancer were alive in the U.S., with the number projected to grow to 26 million by 2040⁶ — a testament to both progress made and challenges ahead.

Early detection as a tool in managing cancer

Earlier detection of cancers has played a key role in lowering death rates over recent decades. National initiatives to encourage screening of vulnerable patient groups have helped people receive diagnoses early enough for treatments to have the greatest impact. 
Several countries and regions have implemented national screening programs for early detection:

• The EU Commission offers guidance to member states in conducting mammography screening for women aged 45 or over
• Japan promotes guidelines on the screening of gastric cancer as it continues to be a highly prevalent cancer amongst the population
• The UK has screening programs for colorectal, cervical, and breast cancers to identify patients with early symptoms⁷
• The American Cancer Society recommends cervical cancer screening with human papillomavirus (HPV) tests every five years from the age of 25 to 65 years⁸

In addition to improved detection rates, new treatments and therapies have increased cancer survival rates. The development of new chemotherapies in recent years that can more precisely target tumor and cancer cells means that chemotherapy-exposed patients exhibit significantly better overall survival (at 30 months) compared to their counterparts treated using other methods⁹.

Emerging treatments bringing new hope

The landscape of cancer treatment is constantly evolving, with innovative approaches offering new hope for patients. These emerging treatments hold the potential to enhance survival rates further and improve quality of life. 

 

Cell and gene therapies

Cell and gene therapies (CGTs) represent a revolutionary and more personalized approach to cancer treatment, harnessing the patient’s own cells and genes to fight the disease. Doses can be designed to precisely target the cancer cells, improving tumor response for better treatment outcomes while reducing negative side effects that can further affect patient health. The pipeline for CGTs is looking healthy, too: the number of CGTs in the development pipeline at the end of 2024 was 2,041, with six therapies in pre-registration¹⁰. 

 

CAR-T therapies

One remarkable type of CGT is Chimeric Antigen Receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy, where a patient’s own T-cells are modified to target cancer cells directly. The first approved CAR-T cell therapy was for pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) in 2017. CAR-T therapies have also been developed for other blood cancers¹¹. 

 

Radiopharmaceuticals

Radiopharmaceuticals represent a cutting-edge approach to cancer treatment, utilizing the power of radioactive substances to selectively target and eliminate cancer cells. These therapies harness the unique properties of radioisotopes to deliver radiation directly to tumors, minimizing damage to surrounding healthy tissues, and have a wide range of therapeutic applications¹².

 

RLTs: A promising radiopharmaceutical advance 

Radioligand therapies (RLTs) are a particularly promising type of radiopharmaceutical transforming cancer care. They act with incredible precision, seeking out specific markers on cancer cells and delivering a concentrated dose of radiation while reducing side effects and improving the quality of life for patients. RLTs are already making a difference for people with certain types of cancer, such as Pluvicto for prostate cancer and Lutathera for neuroendocrine tumors.

 

The real-world impact of cancer treatment innovation

Improvements in how treatments are developed and manufactured are lowering the cost of effective cancer care. The transformation of the global supply chain for the storage and distribution of finished doses and even the transport of patient samples has also increased the accessibility of cutting-edge therapies for patients globally. 

All this means that more patients can receive life-saving care, further raising survival rates. The tangible impact of these advancements is evident in the lives of patients around the world.

Behind the statistics are real people who have had their lives transformed by access to innovative therapies. Carol Jarvis, for example, was diagnosed in 2004 with stage 2a Hodgkin lymphoma, aged just 26. Despite many setbacks, and thanks to her own resilience and the use of cutting-edge care, Carol has successfully recovered. Her story is a testament to the power of hope and the transformative advancements in cancer care. You can learn more about Carol’s story and explore the potential for even better outcomes for patients in this new video documentary.

More work to do

Despite significant progress, challenges persist in ensuring equitable access to cutting-edge cancer care. Rising cancer rates, coupled with the complexities of delivering advanced therapies, stress the need for continued efforts to overcome these obstacles. 

The resilience of patients and survivors throughout their treatment journeys inspires hope for a future where improved cancer care benefit all. Stories like Carol Jarvis’ exemplify this hope and underscore the transformative potential of advancements in cancer care. 

World Cancer Day is not just a day of awareness; it’s a call to action. It is a reminder that we all have a role to play in patients’ cancer journeys, whether it’s through supporting research, advocating for better access to care, or simply offering a listening ear and a helping hand to those facing this challenging disease.