started · updated
IARC study: Infections caused 2.3 million cancer cases in 2024
A new study published in The Lancet Oncology by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) estimates that approximately 2.3 million new cancer cases in 2024—about 12% of all diagnoses—were caused by infections.
Five specific pathogens were responsible for the vast majority of these cases: Helicobacter pylori (760,000 cases), human papillomavirus (750,000 cases), hepatitis B (360,000 cases), Epstein-Barr virus (260,000 cases), and hepatitis C (160,000 cases). These infections are linked to more than 20 different types of cancer, including stomach, liver, and cervical cancers.
The research highlights significant geographic and economic disparities. Low- and middle-income countries bear a disproportionate burden, accounting for roughly 77% of all infection-related cancer cases. Eastern Asia recorded the highest incidence, representing 42% of the global total, driven largely by H. pylori and hepatitis B.
Researchers emphasize that many of these cancers are preventable through existing public health tools such as vaccinations, improved screening, and better infection control measures.
Entities
Gary Clifford · Harriet Rumgay · International Agency for Research on Cancer · The Lancet Oncology · World Health Organization
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.
- [● 10 SOURCES] Helicobacter pylori caused approximately 760,000 cancer cases in 2024. gabonactu.com · elnuevodiario.com.do · eveningreport.nz · www.lfm.ch · www.radiolac.ch · +5 more
- [● 11 SOURCES] Approximately 12% of new cancer diagnoses in 2024 were linked to infections. cuidateplus.marca.com · gabonactu.com · elnuevodiario.com.do · eveningreport.nz · www.lfm.ch · +6 more
- [● 5 SOURCES] Low- and middle-income countries accounted for approximately 77% of all infection-related cancer cases. elnuevodiario.com.do · time.news · www.upday.com · www.dailymail.com · dominicanaaldia.com
- [● 11 SOURCES] Infections were responsible for an estimated 2.3 million new cancer cases in 2024. cuidateplus.marca.com · gabonactu.com · elnuevodiario.com.do · eveningreport.nz · www.lfm.ch · +6 more
- [● 6 SOURCES] Eastern Asia accounted for 42% of the global total of infection-linked cancer cases. gabonactu.com · time.news · www.upday.com · www.dailymail.com · www.lfm.ch · +1 more
- [● 10 SOURCES] Human papillomavirus (HPV) was responsible for approximately 750,000 cancer cases in 2024. gabonactu.com · elnuevodiario.com.do · eveningreport.nz · www.lfm.ch · www.radiolac.ch · +5 more
- [● 2 SOURCES] The research was published in the journal The Lancet Oncology on September 28, 2026. time.news · www.scientificamerican.com
- [● 2 SOURCES] The identified infections are linked to more than 20 different types of cancer. eveningreport.nz · time.news