A new WHO and IARC analysis shows that more than one-third of cancer cases worldwide are linked to preventable risk factors, highlighting the critical role of prevention in reducing the global cancer burden.
Up to 40% of cancer cases worldwide could be prevented, according to a new global analysis released by the World Health Organization and its International Agency for Research on Cancer. The study assesses 30 modifiable risk factors, including tobacco use, alcohol consumption, high body mass index, physical inactivity, air pollution, ultraviolet radiation, and, for the first time, nine infection-related causes of cancer.
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Published ahead of World Cancer Day on 4 February, the analysis estimates that 37% of all newly diagnosed cancer cases in 2022 – approximately 7.1 million cases were attributable to preventable factors. The findings underscore the significant impact that effective prevention strategies could have in reducing the global cancer burden.
Based on data from 185 countries covering 36 cancer types, tobacco use emerged as the leading preventable cause, accounting for 15% of new cancer cases worldwide. This was followed by infections, responsible for 10% of cases, and alcohol consumption, which contributed to 3%.
The analysis also found that lung, stomach and cervical cancers together represented nearly half of all preventable cancer cases among both men and women globally. Lung cancer was largely associated with smoking and air pollution, stomach cancer was mainly linked to Helicobacter pylori infection, and cervical cancer was predominantly caused by human papillomavirus.
“This is the first global analysis to show how much cancer risk comes from causes we can prevent,” said Dr André Ilbawi, WHO Team Lead for Cancer Control, and author of the study. “By examining patterns across countries and population groups, we can provide governments and individuals with more specific information to help prevent many cancer cases before they start.”
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“This landmark study is a comprehensive assessment of preventable cancer worldwide, incorporating for the first time infectious causes of cancer alongside behavioural, environmental, and occupational risks,” said Dr Isabelle Soerjomataram, Deputy Head of the IARC Cancer Surveillance Unit and senior author of the study. “Addressing these preventable causes represents one of the most powerful opportunities to reduce the global cancer burden.”
