Early-Onset Cancer Rates Surge Worldwide, Linked to Accelerated Biological Aging

A study led by Ruiyi Tian at Washington University School of Medicine found that early‑onset cancers (diagnosed before age 50) increased by 24 % globally between 1990 and 2019. Using the PhenoAge biological‑age score, the researchers reported a 23 % rise in biological age for people born in the 1960s compared with those born in the 1950s, and a 15 % higher risk of early cancers among individuals with the highest PhenoAge scores. The analysis, which combined data from the UK Biobank (UK) and the All of Us program (US), linked accelerated organ‑specific aging—especially in lung and adipose tissue—to higher incidence of lung, colorectal and uterine cancers.

In France, public‑health data show the number of new cancer cases nearly doubled from 1990 to 2023, reaching 433,136 in 2023. Experts attribute this rise to an aging population, broader disease classification, and improved screening that detects tumors earlier, a phenomenon known as over‑diagnosis. While incidence is climbing, advances in targeted therapies and immunotherapy are improving patient outcomes.