Message From AACR
We are living in a transformative era for cancer research. In the United States, the overall cancer death rate is declining steadily, and the number of cancer survivors has reached an unprecedented level. This remarkable progress is driven by breakthroughs across all areas of cancer science and medicine, even tackling once intractable diseases such as advanced lung cancer and metastatic melanoma. Fueled by trailblazing scientific discoveries and technological innovations, we are now positioned to achieve even greater advances that will save countless more lives.
The AACR Cancer Progress Report 2024 highlights the significant strides made possible through medical research, much of which is supported by federal investments in the National Institutes of Health (NIH), National Cancer Institute (NCI), US Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These investments have catalyzed a wave of scientific breakthroughs that are deepening our understanding of the biological complexities of cancer and accelerating the development of more effective tools for prevention, detection, diagnosis, and treatment.
Noteworthy advancements between July 1, 2023, and June 30, 2024, the 12 months covered in this report, include the approval by FDA of 15 new anticancer therapeutics and the expansion of 15 previously approved therapeutics for the treatment of additional cancer types. During the same period, FDA also approved a new imaging agent to aid breast cancer surgery, several artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools to improve early detection and diagnosis of cancers, and two minimally invasive tests for assessing inherited cancer risk or for early detection of cancer.
Among the newly approved treatments highlighted in this report are the first tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte therapy, a pioneering immunotherapy strategy, for advanced melanoma; a new bispecific antibody against a novel target for patients with small cell lung cancer, a particularly intractable disease; and several new molecularly targeted therapeutics and immunotherapeutics for the treatment of an array of blood cancers. Advances in personalized treatment for cancers driven by mutated KRAS, one of the most frequently altered genes in cancer and long assumed to be “undruggable,” continue unabated with the approval of a KRAS-targeted therapeutic to treat colorectal cancer.
Spectacular progress has also been made against childhood cancers, with groundbreaking clinical advances that are transforming outcomes for patients. While cancer remains the leading cause of death by a disease among children, the landscape of childhood cancer care is evolving rapidly, driven by innovative research, new treatments, and a deeper understanding of the unique biology of childhood cancers. Just in the 12 months covered in this report, FDA approved three molecularly targeted therapeutics for the treatment of common childhood cancers, such as glioma and neuroblastoma, as well as exceedingly rare pediatric cancers driven by alteration in the NTRK gene.
Despite these achievements, in 2024, it is estimated that more than two million new cases of cancer will be diagnosed in the United States and more than 611,000 people will die from the disease. Globally, there were an estimated 20 million new cancer cases and over 9.7 million deaths from cancer in 2022. Unfortunately, cancer continues to present numerous complex challenges. Incidence rates for some cancers are increasing. Of particular concern among public health experts are the rising cases of breast, colorectal, gastric, and certain blood cancers in adults younger than 50, reasons for which are not fully understood. Additionally, as we detail in the recently published AACR Cancer Disparities Progress Report 2024, health inequities persist, with racial and ethnic minorities and other medically underserved populations bearing a disproportionate burden of cancer.
Looking to the future, we strongly believe that we have never been in a better position to bring lifesaving cancer science from the laboratory to the clinic. Integration of emerging technologies, such as sophisticated tumor profiling, liquid biopsies, AI, and novel drug delivery systems, promises to open new frontiers in cancer medicine and revolutionize patient care. And while we continue to push the boundaries of science, our goal is clear: it aims to provide every cancer patient with the best possible chance for a cure and a long, healthy life, even those who have been diagnosed with metastatic disease.
The bipartisan support for NIH and NCI funding has been instrumental in our progress against cancer, and continued investment will ensure that we sustain this momentum. It is concerning that after almost a decade of growing federal budgets for medical research, Congress cut NIH funding in fiscal year (FY) 2024. This budget reduction threatens to curtail the progress seen in recent years and stymie future strides against cancer. Therefore, AACR urges Congress to uphold robust funding increases for these critical institutions, as well as for FDA and CDC, to drive forward the next wave of breakthroughs in cancer science and medicine.
Together, with sustained commitment and investment, we can continue to push the boundaries of what is possible in cancer research and patient care and move closer to the goal of preventing and curing all cancers for all populations.
Patricia M. LoRusso, DO, PhD (hc), FAACR
President, AACR
Margaret Foti, PhD, MD (hc)
Chief Executive Officer, AACR
