U.S. Cancer Death Rate Declines But Cure Still Out of Reach
Research efforts still needed as death rates continue to rise in certain cancer types.
Published January 16, 2014
According to a joint report by the National Cancer Institute, American Cancer Society, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries, death rates for all cancers in the U.S. have declined steadily over the past two decades, resulting in a 20% drop in cancer deaths since 1991. Declined death rates for lung, colorectal, breast, and prostate cancers in particular contribute greatly to this reduction, accounting for more than two-thirds of the overall death rate during this time.
While overall death rates decreased by 1.8% per year among men, 1.4% per year among women, and 1.9% per year among children ages 0–14 from 2001 to 2010, however, death rates for some cancers increased during this period, including liver and pancreas cancers for both sexes, uterine cancer in women, and cutaneous melanoma and soft tissue cancers in men.
Contributing to research efforts, the Academy offers a robust line-up of cancer-related events over the next few months, including conferences on biomarker-based companion diagnostics and anti-angiogenic cancer therapy. Below you'll also find recent publications and media presenting broad-based cancer research.
To receive regular updates about upcoming cancer-related events and publications at the Academy, subscribe to our topical Newsletter at www.nyas.org/Subscribe and choose keywords "Clinical Medicine" and "Translational Medicine."
 | EventLung Cancer: Advances in Current Treatment Modalities and Patient ClassificationMarch 25, 2014 |
 | EventCompanion Diagnostics: From Biomarker Identification to Market EntryApril 28-29, 2014 |
 | EventTargeting VEGF-mediated Tumor Angiogenesis in Cancer TherapyJune 19-20, 2014 |
 | AnnalsNutrition and Physical Activity in Aging, Obesity, and Cancer: The Third International ConferenceProbing the connections of physical and nutritional factors with health and disease. The work presented here gives special attention to the deleterious effects of metabolic dysregulation and obesity as potential mechanisms that amplify the development and proliferation of cancer. Free online access provided by The Sackler Institute. |
 | AnnalsThe Renaissance of Cancer Immunotherapy: The 7th International Cancer Vaccine SymposiumThis volume presents progress in basic immunology research and translation to the development of cancer vaccines and pays tribute to the successes in the last few years that have led to the approval of new immunotherapies. The conference was dedicated to Nobel Laureate and Academy member Dr. Ralph Steinman, who shared the 2011 Prize in Physiology or Medicine for his discovery of dendritic cells, immune cells that are vital for immune responses and immunotherapies for cancer. |
 | PodcastUnraveling the Obesity–Cancer ConnectionYou've heard it once; you've heard it a thousand times: the U.S. has a big problem with obesity. But did you know that there are demonstrated links between obesity and all kinds of serious health problems—including cancer? Explore the obesity–cancer connection through this Academy-sponsored podcast. |
 | eBriefingNanotechnologies in Cancer Diagnosis, Therapy, and PreventionThis conference report focuses on the promise of nanoparticles that home in on primary or metastatic tumors and mechanisms for targeting particles to specific tissues. Presented by the Mushett Family Foundation, the Nanotechnology Center at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, and the New York Academy of Sciences. |
 | eBriefingCancer Metabolomics: Elucidating the Biochemical Programs that Support Cancer Initiation and ProgressionThe Warburg effect—that tumor tissues and normal tissues metabolize glucose differently—defined the field of cancer metabolomics. These metabolic differences could drive the formation of new cancers or speed their growth. Explore this eBriefing for the latest in cancer metabolomics research. |