Background:Rare cancers, defined as those with an incidence rate of fewer than 6 cases per 100,000 individuals, contribute to a substantial portion of the global cancer burden. Despite their impact, they receive less attention than more common malignancies, leading to challenges in early detection, treatment strategies, and research funding. This study aims to assess the global incidence and mortality patterns of rare cancers in 2022 to better understand their contribution to the overall cancer burden and regional disparities.Methods:We conducted a comprehensive analysis using 2022 GLOBOCAN estimates to assess the global incidence and mortality of rare cancers. The study included 24 major rare cancers, such as bladder cancer, leukemia, non-Hodgkin lymphoma, esophageal cancer, and pancreatic cancer. Age-standardized rates (ASRs) were calculated to compare cancer burden across continents, and absolute case and death counts were reported.Results:In 2022, rare cancers accounted for 26.7% of all new cancer cases (5,347,784 cases) and 30% of all cancer-related deaths (2,959,369 deaths) worldwide. Bladder cancer was the most common rare cancer, with an incidence rate of 5.58 per 100,000, followed by non-Hodgkin lymphoma (5.57) and leukemia (5.26). Mortality rates were highest for pancreatic, esophageal, and brain cancers, reflecting their aggressive nature and limited treatment options. Significant regional disparities were observed, with Europe and North America reporting the highest incidence rates for bladder cancer and leukemia, while Asia bore the largest absolute burden of rare cancers.Conclusions:Rare cancers represent a considerable share of the global cancer burden, with notable geographic variations in incidence and mortality. These findings underscore the need for improved early detection, expanded treatment access, and targeted research efforts to address disparities and improve outcomes for patients with rare cancers worldwide.
背景：罕见癌症定义为发病率低于每10万人6例的癌症，其构成了全球癌症负担的重要组成部分。尽管影响重大，但与常见恶性肿瘤相比，罕见癌症受到的关注较少，导致其在早期检测、治疗策略和研究资金方面面临挑战。本研究旨在评估2022年全球罕见癌症的发病率和死亡率模式，以更好地理解其对整体癌症负担的贡献及地区差异。 方法：我们利用2022年GLOBOCAN数据进行了全面分析，以评估全球罕见癌症的发病率和死亡率。研究涵盖了24种主要罕见癌症，包括膀胱癌、白血病、非霍奇金淋巴瘤、食管癌和胰腺癌等。通过计算年龄标准化率（ASRs）来比较各大洲的癌症负担，并报告了绝对病例数和死亡数。 结果：2022年，罕见癌症占全球所有新发癌症病例的26.7%（5,347,784例），占所有癌症相关死亡的30%（2,959,369例）。膀胱癌是最常见的罕见癌症，发病率为每10万人5.58例，其次是非霍奇金淋巴瘤（5.57例）和白血病（5.26例）。胰腺癌、食管癌和脑癌的死亡率最高，反映了其侵袭性强和治疗选择有限的特点。研究观察到显著的区域差异，欧洲和北美在膀胱癌和白血病方面的发病率最高，而亚洲则承担了最大的罕见癌症绝对负担。 结论：罕见癌症在全球癌症负担中占有相当大的比例，其发病率和死亡率存在显著的地理差异。这些发现强调了需要改进早期检测、扩大治疗可及性，并开展有针对性的研究，以应对全球罕见癌症患者的差异并改善其预后。
Global Burden of Rare Cancers: Insights from GLOBOCAN 2022 Estimates
肿瘤(癌症)患者之家