Cancer trends among young adults in Russian Federation: An analysis of population-based cancer registry data

Globally, cancer incidence is increasing in young adults and can rise to 2.3 million by 2045 according to GLOBOCAN 2022. Here, we present the first nationwide, long-term analysis of cancer incidence and mortality trends among young adults in the Russian Federation from 2013 to 2023.

We analyzed 140,500 and 328,370 cases in men and women aged 20-44 years, along with 60,067 and 71,431 deaths, respectively. Age-standardized and crude incidence rates were calculated for 2013-2023 using data from the Cancer Registry of the Russian Federation and Russian Federal State Statistics Service.

Overall, since 2013, cancer incidence remained stable in males but declined in females, with mortality decreasing in both sexes. By anatomical site, men showed a significant increase in thyroid, colorectal, liver, kidney, gallbladder cancers, ands melanoma, while cases of nasopharynx, lung, stomach, larynx, and connective or soft tissues cancers declined. Women demonstrated a higher incidence of small intestine, oropharynx, thyroid, oral cavity, pancreas, colorectal, breast, melanoma, and other skin tumors, whereas lip, stomach, cervical, and connective or other soft tissue cancers decreased. Mortality rates declined for the majority of cancer sites in both men and women, but remained stable for most cancers of the head and neck and gastrointestinal tract, as well as prostate, breast, and non-melanoma skin cancers.

Our findings demonstrate a cancer incidence increase among young adults in the Russian Federation and highlight new preventive, organizational, and clinical strategies to improve medical monitoring, promote early detection of cancer, and ensure timely treatment for individuals of working and reproductive age.