Special journal issue maps global cancer epidemiology and charts the path to precision prevention
核心洞察
A special issue of Cancer Biology & Medicine (搜索) presents studies spanning multiple continents that leverage large cohort and registry data to project future cancer burden under current trends.
The collection positions epidemiology as the backbone of precision prevention, integrating trend projections, risk modelling, and social determinants to tailor prevention and early detection to diverse populations.
Two population-based studies covering 185 countries each reveal lifetime risk trajectories and socioeconomic inequalities for colorectal and breast cancer (搜索), highlighting where interventions are most urgently needed.
A special issue of Cancer Biology & Medicine (搜索) on cancer epidemiology brings together the latest research and viewpoints from leading epidemiologists, framing the discipline not as a static record of the past but as a forward-looking engine for precision prevention. The collection (DOI: https://www.cancerbiomed.org/content/23/7) spans multiple continents, leverages large cohort and registry data, and projects future cancer burden under current trends, with the stated aim of equipping clinicians, policymakers, and researchers with actionable tools.
The issue's epidemiological contributions cover both global and regional perspectives. An editorial opens the discussion on multi-cancer early detection (MCED), moving from promise to practice and identifying the next frontier in screening. A comprehensive review on ovarian cancer (搜索) patterns, trends, and risk factors sets the stage for the original studies that follow.
Psychosocial and behavioral dimensions of prevention
One large cross-sectional analysis from a population screening project uncovers the mediating role of mental health in the association between diet and upper gastrointestinal cancers, adding a novel psychosocial dimension to cancer prevention. This work underscores the issue's emphasis on integrating behavioral and socioeconomic factors into epidemiological analysis.
Regional mortality trends and projections
A study on lung cancer (搜索) mortality in China from 2013 to 2021, with projections to 2030, provides vital evidence for tobacco control and early screening strategies. The forward-looking projections exemplify the issue's broader commitment to trend modelling as a basis for public health action.
Global burden and socioeconomic inequalities
Two population-based studies—each covering 185 countries—reveal lifetime risk trajectories and socioeconomic inequalities for colorectal and breast cancer (搜索), respectively, highlighting where interventions are most urgently needed. These cross-national comparisons illustrate how granular, global data can direct resource allocation and screening policy.
Risk stratification and screening refinement
Three letters complement the original studies. One compares 17 risk prediction models for FIT-based colorectal cancer (搜索) screening in a large Chinese cohort, offering practical guidance for model selection in real-world settings. A second explores how genetic susceptibility and environmental risk factors relate to incident gastric cancer (搜索) across different Helicobacter pylori (搜索) infection statuses, informing more refined risk stratification. A third national multi-center study maps anogenital HPV infection patterns by anatomical site and sexual orientation in Chinese men, revealing a substantially higher overall prevalence among men who have sex with men than among heterosexual men.
Epidemiology as the backbone of precision prevention
"This collection shows that cancer epidemiology is not just about describing the past, but about equipping clinicians, policymakers, and researchers with forward-looking tools," the issue suggests. "By integrating trend projections, risk modelling, and social determinants, we can better tailor prevention and early detection to diverse populations."
The broader message of the issue is clear: the future of cancer control will depend on epidemiological research that is global in scope, granular in data, and connected to translational and clinical needs. By bringing together large-scale population studies, advanced statistical methods, and actionable risk prediction, Cancer Biology & Medicine (搜索) offers readers a vital resource for understanding and responding to the changing landscape of cancer burden worldwide.