Turn on cookies to sign in
Signing in saves your progress to your Curie account. We can only do that with cookies on — turn them on to continue.
The 2026 AACR Cancer Progress Report delivers a mixed picture: cancer mortality has dropped 35% since the early 1990s, and 5-year survival rates have climbed from 49% to 71%. But new diagnoses keep rising, with 2.1 million cases expected in 2026 alone. Experts say early detection tools and deeper cancer biology research are the next frontiers.
The 2026 AACR Cancer Progress Report paints a story of real progress shadowed by a growing challenge. Cancer-related deaths in the US have fallen 35% since the early 1990s, driven by advances in medical therapies, targeted treatments, and immunotherapy. Five-year survival rates have jumped from 49% in the mid-1970s to 71% today — and even patients with metastatic disease are faring better, with survival rates doubling from 17% to 36% over the same period.
But the good news comes with a catch: cancer incidence is climbing. An aging population — the single biggest cancer risk factor — means the US could see 2.5 million new diagnoses annually by 2050, up from 2.1 million today. Early-onset gastrointestinal cancers are also on the rise, adding urgency to the need for better screening and prevention strategies.
By the Numbers
Why it matters: The report underscores that sustained public investment in cancer research — from basic biology to AI-powered screening tools like smart mammography and liquid biopsies — is essential to bend the incidence curve and ensure that treatment breakthroughs reach all patients, not just those with the most common cancer types.
