The epidemiology, etiology, and future prophylactic options for cancers in Mainland China

Mainland China accounts for 18.66% of the world’s population, 24.17% of global cancer new cases, and 26.44% cancer-related death worldwide in 2022. We aim to characterize the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of cancer burden, elucidate the main causes of high cancer burden, and propose evidence-...

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Main Authors: Hongsen Chen, Jie Xu, Wenbin Liu, Xi Chen, Ping Li, Guangwen Cao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Frontiers Media S.A. 2025-05-01
Series:Frontiers in Oncology
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Online Access:https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1579378/full
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author Hongsen Chen
Hongsen Chen
Hongsen Chen
Jie Xu
Wenbin Liu
Wenbin Liu
Wenbin Liu
Xi Chen
Xi Chen
Xi Chen
Ping Li
Ping Li
Ping Li
Guangwen Cao
Guangwen Cao
Guangwen Cao
author_facet Hongsen Chen
Hongsen Chen
Hongsen Chen
Jie Xu
Wenbin Liu
Wenbin Liu
Wenbin Liu
Xi Chen
Xi Chen
Xi Chen
Ping Li
Ping Li
Ping Li
Guangwen Cao
Guangwen Cao
Guangwen Cao
author_sort Hongsen Chen
collection DOAJ
description Mainland China accounts for 18.66% of the world’s population, 24.17% of global cancer new cases, and 26.44% cancer-related death worldwide in 2022. We aim to characterize the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of cancer burden, elucidate the main causes of high cancer burden, and propose evidence-based strategies for the prevention and control of major cancer types in Mainland China. We conducted a systematic search for relevant articles in PubMed and CNKI. We also analyzed the related data from two key databases: the 2022 dataset of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the records of China’s National Mortality Surveillance System (from 2004 - 2018). Lung cancer, primary liver cancer (PLC), gastric cancer, colorectal cancer (CRC), and esophageal cancer accounted for 67.50% of all cancer-related deaths. Age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR) and mortality rates (ASMR) of PLC, gastric cancer, and esophageal cancer showed downward trends, while their crude rates kept increasing. The ASMR of lung cancer kept decreasing in urban but increasing in rural populations. The burden of CRC kept increasing. Increase in cancer incidence could be attributed to the co-existence of the poverty-related risk factors like chronic infections and affluence-related ones like metabolic disorders. Primary prevention targeting to these modifiable risk factors is cost-effective. Aerobic exercise could decrease cancer occurrence and cancer-related death via decreasing systemic low-grade inflammation. The second and tertiary prophylactic options should be epidemiologically optimized. Targeting the major risk factors co-existed during economic transformation should be a cost-effective strategy to decrease cancer burden in transforming countries.
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spelling doaj-art-4a78f4e8274a4bfa8cfd9449af98ad892025-08-20T02:30:14ZengFrontiers Media S.A.Frontiers in Oncology2234-943X2025-05-011510.3389/fonc.2025.15793781579378The epidemiology, etiology, and future prophylactic options for cancers in Mainland ChinaHongsen Chen0Hongsen Chen1Hongsen Chen2Jie Xu3Wenbin Liu4Wenbin Liu5Wenbin Liu6Xi Chen7Xi Chen8Xi Chen9Ping Li10Ping Li11Ping Li12Guangwen Cao13Guangwen Cao14Guangwen Cao15Shanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Bioprotection, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Epidemiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biological Defense, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, ChinaCenter of International Scholar Exchange, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Bioprotection, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Epidemiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biological Defense, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Bioprotection, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Epidemiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biological Defense, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Bioprotection, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Epidemiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biological Defense, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, ChinaShanghai Key Laboratory of Medical Bioprotection, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, ChinaDepartment of Epidemiology, Second Military Medical University, Shanghai, ChinaKey Laboratory of Biological Defense, Ministry of Education, Shanghai, ChinaMainland China accounts for 18.66% of the world’s population, 24.17% of global cancer new cases, and 26.44% cancer-related death worldwide in 2022. We aim to characterize the spatiotemporal distribution patterns of cancer burden, elucidate the main causes of high cancer burden, and propose evidence-based strategies for the prevention and control of major cancer types in Mainland China. We conducted a systematic search for relevant articles in PubMed and CNKI. We also analyzed the related data from two key databases: the 2022 dataset of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the records of China’s National Mortality Surveillance System (from 2004 - 2018). Lung cancer, primary liver cancer (PLC), gastric cancer, colorectal cancer (CRC), and esophageal cancer accounted for 67.50% of all cancer-related deaths. Age-standardized incidence rates (ASIR) and mortality rates (ASMR) of PLC, gastric cancer, and esophageal cancer showed downward trends, while their crude rates kept increasing. The ASMR of lung cancer kept decreasing in urban but increasing in rural populations. The burden of CRC kept increasing. Increase in cancer incidence could be attributed to the co-existence of the poverty-related risk factors like chronic infections and affluence-related ones like metabolic disorders. Primary prevention targeting to these modifiable risk factors is cost-effective. Aerobic exercise could decrease cancer occurrence and cancer-related death via decreasing systemic low-grade inflammation. The second and tertiary prophylactic options should be epidemiologically optimized. Targeting the major risk factors co-existed during economic transformation should be a cost-effective strategy to decrease cancer burden in transforming countries.https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1579378/fullChina’s cancer burdencancer epidemiologyprevention strategieschronic inflammationmodifiable risk factorssystemic interventions
spellingShingle Hongsen Chen
Hongsen Chen
Hongsen Chen
Jie Xu
Wenbin Liu
Wenbin Liu
Wenbin Liu
Xi Chen
Xi Chen
Xi Chen
Ping Li
Ping Li
Ping Li
Guangwen Cao
Guangwen Cao
Guangwen Cao
The epidemiology, etiology, and future prophylactic options for cancers in Mainland China
Frontiers in Oncology
China’s cancer burden
cancer epidemiology
prevention strategies
chronic inflammation
modifiable risk factors
systemic interventions
title The epidemiology, etiology, and future prophylactic options for cancers in Mainland China
title_full The epidemiology, etiology, and future prophylactic options for cancers in Mainland China
title_fullStr The epidemiology, etiology, and future prophylactic options for cancers in Mainland China
title_full_unstemmed The epidemiology, etiology, and future prophylactic options for cancers in Mainland China
title_short The epidemiology, etiology, and future prophylactic options for cancers in Mainland China
title_sort epidemiology etiology and future prophylactic options for cancers in mainland china
topic China’s cancer burden
cancer epidemiology
prevention strategies
chronic inflammation
modifiable risk factors
systemic interventions
url https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fonc.2025.1579378/full
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