Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
. 2025 Jun 2;4(1):23.
doi: 10.1038/s44184-025-00138-6.

Exploring the link between adverse childhood experiences and cancer development - insights and intervention recommendations from a scoping review

Bethany Karnes #  1 , Alise Hanissian #  1 , Brianna M White  2 , Jason A Yaun  3 , Arash Shaban-Nejad  4 , David L Schwartz  5
Affiliations

Exploring the link between adverse childhood experiences and cancer development - insights and intervention recommendations from a scoping review

Bethany Karnes et al. Npj Ment Health Res. .

Abstract

Recent studies suggest links between adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) and elevated cancer risk, though mechanisms remain unclear. A 2021 review by Hu et al. found a dose-dependent increase in cancer risk among adults with at least one ACE. However, individual risk varies by ACE type and cancer type. For instance, childhood abuse or neglect may heighten cancer risk, while home environment ACEs may not. Potential mechanisms include risky behaviors (e.g., smoking, alcohol use), altered healthcare engagement (e.g., cancer screenings), and biological pathways (e.g., epigenetic changes). This review highlights current findings, research gaps, and implications for cancer prevention. Comprehensive, trauma-informed strategies promoting Positive Childhood Experiences (PCEs) are crucial for reducing cancer risk linked to ACEs in adulthood.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests.

References

    1. Felitti, V. J. et al. Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study. Am. J. Prev. Med.14, 245–258 (1998). - PubMed
    1. Hu, Z., Kaminga, A. C., Yang, J., Liu, J. & Xu, H. Adverse childhood experiences and risk of cancer during adulthood: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Child Abus. Negl.117, 105088 (2021). - DOI - PubMed
    1. Lester, S., Khatwa, M. & Sutcliffe, K. Service needs of young people affected by adverse childhood experiences (ACEs): A systematic review of UK qualitative evidence. Child Youth Serv. Rev.118, 105429 (2020). - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Preventing Adverse Childhood Experiences: Leveraging the Best Available Evidence. (National Center for Injury Prevention and Control, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, 2019).
    1. National Research, C. & Institute of Medicine Committee on Integrating the Science of Early Childhood, D. In From Neurons to Neighborhoods: The Science of Early Childhood Development (eds Shonkoff, J. P. & Phillips, D. A.) (National Academies Press (US). Copyright 2000 by the National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved., 2000). - PubMed

LinkOut - more resources