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. 2024 Dec 20;137(24):3093-3100.
doi: 10.1097/CM9.0000000000003442. Epub 2024 Dec 10.

Comparative analysis of cancer statistics in China and the United States in 2024

Yujie Wu  1 , Siyi He, Mengdi Cao, Yi Teng, Qianru Li, Nuopei Tan, Jiachen Wang, Tingting Zuo, Tianyi Li, Yuanjie Zheng, Changfa Xia, Wanqing Chen
Affiliations

Comparative analysis of cancer statistics in China and the United States in 2024

Yujie Wu et al. Chin Med J (Engl). .

Abstract

Background: Cancer patterns in China are becoming similar to those in the United States (US). Comparing the recent cancer profiles, trends, and determinants in China and the US can provide useful reference data.

Methods: This study used open-source data. We used GLOBOCAN 2022 cancer estimates and United Nations population estimates to calculate cancer cases and deaths in both countries during 2024. Data on cancer incidence and mortality trends were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program and National Centre for Health Statistics in the US and cancer registry reports of the National Cancer Center (NCC) of China. Data from the Global Burden of Disease study (GBD) and a decomposition approach were used to estimate the contributions of four determinants to the change in cancer deaths.

Results: In 2024, there are an estimated 3,246,625 and 2,510,597 new cancer cases and 1,699,066 and 640,038 cancer deaths in China and the US, respectively. The highest estimated cancer cases are lung cancer in China and breast cancer in the US. The age-standardized incidence rates of lung and colorectal cancer in the US, and stomach, liver, and esophageal cancer in China have decreased, but the incidence rates of liver cancer in the US and colorectal cancer, prostate cancer in men, and cervical cancer in women in China have increased. Increases in the adult population size and population aging are main reasons for the increase in cancer deaths; case fatality rates are a main reason for the decrease in cancer deaths in both countries.

Conclusions: China has made progress in cancer control but lags the US. Considering the transformation in China's pattern of cancers epidemiology, it is imperative to develop stronger policies by adopting the cancer prevention and control strategies used in the US to address population aging and curb growing cancer trends.

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Conflict of interest statement

None.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Trends in cancer incidence rates by sex for China and the United States (US). Analyses based on data released by the US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program and China National Cancer Center. Rates for US cancer incidence (1975–2020) standardized by the 2000 US standard population. Rates for cancer incidence in China (2010–2020) were standardized using Segi’s world standard population.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Trends in cancer mortality rates by sex for China and the United States (US). Analyses based on data released by the US Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results program and China National Cancer Center. Rates for US cancer mortality (1975–2020) standardized using the 2000 US standard population. Rates for cancer mortality in China (2010–2020) standardized using Segi’s world standard population.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Decomposition of change in age-related deaths for 29 types of cancer by sex and age group in China and the United States (1990–2021). Positive values indicate an increase and negative values indicate a decrease in age-related deaths (1990–2021). US: United States.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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