Liver cancer rates are falling in younger adults — and hepatitis B vaccines may be why

Good news on the liver cancer front: a large international study found that liver cancer rates among adults under 50 declined significantly across multiple countries between 2008 and 2017. Researchers analyzed data from population-based cancer registries across 47 countries and found that younger men in places like the US, South Korea, China, the Philippines, France, and Spain saw notable drops in incidence. Younger women in South Korea and China also saw meaningful declines.

The researchers point to HBV vaccination programs as a likely key driver — vaccinated birth cohorts are now aging into adulthood, and the protective effects appear to be showing up in the data. This stands in contrast to trends for colorectal and gastric cancers, which are actually rising in younger age groups. The picture isn't entirely rosy, though — middle-aged and older adults (50+) are seeing liver cancer rates go up in many regions, particularly in Northern and Western Europe and North America.

By the Numbers:

• Liver cancer incidence declined in 29% of studied populations among men aged 15–49
• Largest annual decrease for men: France at 10%, followed by Estonia and Spain at 7.5%
• Among middle-aged men (50–69), incidence increased in 39% of populations studied

Why it matters: These trends suggest HBV immunization is paying off — but researchers warn that COVID-19-fueled vaccine hesitancy and disruptions to routine immunization could jeopardize these hard-won gains. Sustaining vaccination and screening efforts is critical to keeping the downward trend going.