Infections linked to 1 in 8 global cancer cases

New research published in The Lancet Oncology indicates that approximately 1 in 8 cancer cases globally are linked to infections, many of which are preventable or treatable. In 2024, an estimated 2.3 million new cancer cases, or 12% of all diagnoses, were attributed to such infections.

Two specific infections, Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) and human papillomavirus (HPV), were responsible for more than 1.5 million cases combined, primarily driving gastric and cervical cancers. Other significant contributors include Hepatitis B (HBV), linked to 360,000 cases; the Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), associated with 260,000 cases; and Hepatitis C (HCV), tied to 160,000 cases.

Gary Clifford, a senior author and epidemiologist at the International Agency for Research on Cancer, emphasized that many of these cases could be avoided through vaccines, screening, and improved medical interventions. He noted that successful prevention requires political will, financial support, and public awareness.