United States cancer deaths decreased by 35% since 1991

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has released its 16th annual Cancer Progress Report, highlighting a 35% reduction in cancer deaths in the United States between 1991 and 2024. This decline represents approximately 4.8 million fewer deaths.

Key drivers of this progress include decreased smoking rates, advancements in prevention and early diagnosis, and more effective therapeutic options. The report notes that the five-year relative survival rate for patients with distant cancer disease has more than doubled over the last three decades, rising from 17% in the mid-1990s to 36% during the 2016–2022 period.

Future developments in oncology are expected to be shaped by artificial intelligence, liquid biopsies, cancer vaccines, and new RNA-based therapeutic approaches. These advancements are the result of decades of coordinated basic, translational, and clinical research.