Globe faces cancer ‘tidal wave’

pharmafile | February 5, 2014 | News story | Research and Development, Sales and Marketing Cancer, WHO, globe, world cancer report 

The World Health Organisation has warned of a ‘tidal wave’ of cancer cases which it says will sweep across the world in the next few decades.

It predicts in the World Cancer Report 2014 that diagnoses will rise from 14 million each year now to 22 million annually by 2035 – with deaths from the disease rising from 8.2 million to 13 million per year.

However, the report suggests that around half of new cases could be prevented “if current knowledge was adequately implemented”.

Carried out by the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the report brings together the views of 250 scientists from more than 40 countries and suggests that the main burden of this increase will fall upon the developing world.

Over 60% of cases – and 70% of deaths – occur in Africa, Asia, and central and South America, where lack of early detection and access to treatment are also problems.

The document’s key message is that treatment and health promotion on their own will not solve the problem on its own: legislation is also going to be required. “We cannot treat our way out of the cancer problem,” says IARC director Dr Christopher Wild.

Ignorance about the effect of diet on the development of the disease will have a major impact on cancer’s development – which is why the WHO says that policy ideas such as restricting the availability of booze, and sugar in food, should be examined.

The WHO points to the Framework Convention on Tobacco Control, an international treaty it sponsored, and which the organisation believes was ‘critical’ in reducing smoking.

“Similar approaches also need to be evaluated in other areas, notably consumption of alcohol and sugar-sweetened beverages, and in limiting exposure to occupational and environmental carcinogenic risks, including air pollution,” the report says.

“Adequate legislation can encourage healthier behaviour, as well as having its recognised role in protecting people from workplace hazards and environmental pollutants,” says report co-author Dr Bernard Stewart.

“In low- and middle- income countries, it is critical that governments commit to enforcing regulatory measures to protect their populations and implement cancer prevention plans,” he added.  

The report recommends that effective vaccination against hepatitis B virus and human papillomavirus can reduce cancers of the liver and cervix, while for governments the restriction of tobacco use, promotion of physical activity and avoidance of obesity should also be prioritised.

2012: cancer breakdown

New cases

  • lung (1.8 million cases, 13% of the total)
  • breast (1.7 million, 11.9%)
  • large bowel (1.4 million, 9.7%)

Deaths

  •  lung (1.6 million cases, 19.4% of the total)
  •  liver (0.8 million, 9.1%)
  •  stomach (0.7 million, 8.8 per cent). 

Adam Hill

Related Content

Geneos Therapeutics shares data from phase 1/2 trial for cancer vaccine

Geneos Therapeutics has announced that it has published positive safety, immunogenicity and efficacy data from …

Curve Therapeutics’ CSO publishes research on HIF inhibition for cancer treatment

Curve Therapeutics has announced that its chief scientific officer, Professor Ali Tavassoli has published research …

Verastem Oncology gains Fast Track Designation for combination NSCLC treatment

Verastem Oncology has announced that the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted Fast …

Latest content