Cancer incidence increasing across age groups as ICR study identifies shared global risk patterns

Cancer incidence increasing across age groups as ICR study identifies shared global risk patterns

(IN BRIEF) A new global analysis by The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London, has found that cancer incidence is rising in both younger and older adults, disputing the idea that the global increase is limited to those under 50. The study, published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, examined data from 42 countries between 2003 and 2017, revealing similar upward trends in thyroid, breast, kidney, endometrial, and leukaemia cancers across age groups. Bowel cancer was the only type found to be increasing faster in younger adults, likely due to preventive screening among older populations. Led by Professor Amy Berrington, the research suggests that shared risk factors such as obesity may be driving these trends. Professor Kristian Helin, Chief Executive of ICR, stated that the findings challenge current perceptions and underscore the need for cancer prevention and research strategies that encompass all adults, not just the younger population.

(PRESS RELEASE) LONDON, 21-Oct-2025 — /EuropaWire/ — A major international analysis led by scientists at The Institute of Cancer Research (ICR), London, has found that cancer incidence is increasing not only in younger adults but also in older adults, challenging the widespread belief that the rise in cancer is confined to people under 50. Published in the Annals of Internal Medicine, the study evaluated data from 42 countries and discovered that rates of thyroid, breast, kidney, endometrial, and leukaemia cancers have increased in both age groups over a 15-year period.

While earlier research had focused on an apparent surge in early-onset cancers, this new study paints a more complex picture. The ICR team compared cancer trends between younger adults (aged 20–49) and older adults (aged 50–69) from 2003 to 2017, using cancer incidence data from the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) GLOBOCAN database. The results showed that 75% of countries experienced rising cancer rates in both younger and older populations for at least five of the 13 cancers studied.

Notably, bowel cancer was found to be increasing faster among younger adults in around 30% of the countries, potentially due to routine screening programs among older populations that both detect and prevent cancer development. Meanwhile, cancers of the liver, oral cavity, oesophagus, and stomach showed declines among younger adults in more than half of the countries examined, contradicting earlier reports of a global surge in these cancer types.

Professor Amy Berrington, Team Leader in Clinical Cancer Epidemiology at the ICR and lead author of the study, explained that these findings indicate the rise in cancer incidence is likely driven by factors affecting all age groups. “Our findings suggest that whatever is triggering the rise in these cancers is more likely to be common across all age groups, rather than specific to cancers in the under 50s,” she said. “There’s a risk that focusing solely on younger adults could divert resources away from the wider population, where most cancers still occur.”

Berrington added that obesity may be a key contributor, as several of the cancers on the rise are linked to excess body weight. The team is investigating how much of the increase can be attributed to obesity and whether other emerging carcinogens might play a role.

Professor Kristian Helin, Chief Executive of The Institute of Cancer Research, London, emphasized the importance of taking a broad approach to cancer research and prevention: “This study shows that cancer incidence is rising in both younger and older adults — with the exception of bowel cancer — and the rates of increase are similar across countries. It highlights the need to include all adults, not just the younger population, when designing strategies to address the rise in cancer rates.”

The findings suggest that cancer remains predominantly a disease of older adults, with the UK seeing roughly 36,000 diagnoses in people under 50 compared to nearly 350,000 in older individuals. Researchers hope the study will help shape future global policies, ensuring prevention and screening efforts are informed by evidence that spans all age groups.

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SOURCE: The Institute of Cancer Research