Overview
- The Lancet Oncology analysis, published Monday, estimated infections were linked to about 12% of cancers in 2024, equal to roughly 2.3 million new cases worldwide.
- Five pathogens accounted for most infection-related cancers: Helicobacter pylori, human papillomavirus, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and Epstein-Barr virus, with H. pylori responsible for about 760,000 cases.
- The authors say many of these cancers are preventable through existing tools such as vaccination, screening, diagnostics and curative antiviral therapy for hepatitis C, but these measures remain underused.
- Low- and middle-income countries carry about 77% of the burden, with eastern Asia alone accounting for roughly 42% of infection-linked cases, reflecting gaps in vaccination, screening and treatment access.
- Researchers highlight urgent needs to expand proven programs and to accelerate vaccine development for EBV, H. pylori and hepatitis C because new vaccines and wider testing could substantially reduce global cancer rates.