Global Cancer Prevention: Current Approaches and Future Directions

Area of Science:

• Global oncology
• Cancer epidemiology
• Preventive medicine

Background:

• Cancer represents a significant and escalating global health challenge, with millions of new cases and deaths annually.
• A substantial proportion of cancer cases are preventable by addressing modifiable risk factors such as tobacco use, obesity, alcohol consumption, and infections like human papillomavirus (HPV).
• Despite proven effectiveness, primary cancer prevention strategies are not fully implemented worldwide.

Purpose of the Study:

• To synthesize the global burden of preventable cancers.
• To review progress and challenges in cervical cancer elimination via HPV vaccination, screening, and treatment.
• To examine cancer control strategies in Africa, highlighting areas with high preventable cancer fractions.

Main Methods:

• Quantification of preventable cancer burden using population attributable fractions.
• Synthesis of data from the 2026 ASCO Annual Meeting Education Session on global cancer prevention.
• Review of evidence-based approaches for cancer control and elimination strategies.

Main Results:

• The global burden of preventable cancers is substantial, with significant variations across regions.
• Progress in cervical cancer elimination is noted, but challenges remain in widespread HPV vaccination, screening, and treatment.
• Cancer control approaches in Africa show potential, with a high preventable fraction of cancer burden.

Conclusions:

• Translating existing prevention evidence into practice requires coordinated policy, financing, workforce development, and research.
• Priority actions are needed to reduce cancer incidence and mortality, particularly in resource-limited settings.
• Enhanced global efforts in primary cancer prevention are essential to mitigate the growing cancer burden.