AACR cancer progress report reveals 33 percent decrease in cancer death rate, 1990 to 2020

The age-adjusted overall cancer death rate in the United States decreased by 33 percent from 1991 to 2020, according to the annual AACR Cancer Progress Report 2023 published online Sept. 13 by the American Association for Cancer Research. The annual report provides the latest statistics on cancer etiology, mortality, and survivorship, as well as updates and context regarding the latest research in cancer.

According to the report, 14 new anticancer therapeutics were approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration during Aug. 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023, including a new gene therapy-based immunotherapeutic for bladder cancer, a first-in-class antibody drug conjugate for ovarian cancer, and four new T-cell engaging bispecific antibodies for hematologic malignancies. In addition, two new imaging agents were approved and the use of 12 previously approved anticancer therapeutics were expanded.

Between 1991 and 2020, the age-adjusted overall cancer death rate in the United States decreased by 33 percent, resulting in an estimated 3.8 million cancer deaths averted due in large part to advances in prevention, early detection, and treatment. A 43 percent decline was seen in breast cancer mortality between 1989 and 2020, and the decrease in lung cancer mortality accelerated by 0.9 percent per year between 1995 and 2005 to nearly 5 percent per year between 2014 and 2020.

"It is our hope that this comprehensive resource will help to increase knowledge about the myriad diseases we call cancer as well as the innovative research that is improving and extending lives," Margaret Foti, Ph.D., M.D., the chief executive officer of the American Association for Cancer Research, said in a statement.

Copyright © 2023 HealthDay. All rights reserved.