1 in 8 Cancer Cases Worldwide Are Linked to Infections

Approximately one in eight cancer cases worldwide in 2024 were caused by infections, according to a study published in The Lancet Oncology. This finding highlights the significant preventable portion of the global cancer burden, according to Dr. David Greenberg of Hackensack Meridian Jersey Shore University Medical Center. Historically, infectious diseases and oncology have been treated as separate fields, but the study emphasizes their deep interconnection.

By prioritizing aggressive infection control and prevention measures, millions of future cancer diagnoses could potentially be avoided.

The research revealed that 2.3 million new cancer cases globally in 2024 were attributed to infections, constituting 12% of all cancer cases. The most common causes were Helicobacter pylori (760,000 cases, or 4%), Human Papillomavirus (750,000 cases, or 4%), Hepatitis B (360,000 cases, or 2%), Epstein-Barr Virus (260,000 cases, or 1%), and Hepatitis C (160,000 cases).

Over three quarters of the infection-attributable cancers occurred in low- and middle-income countries. Eastern Asia had the highest burden, accounting for 990,000 cases, or 42% of the global total. Certain regions, including sub-Saharan Africa, Central and Eastern Europe, and Southeast Asia, also experienced higher infection-attributable cancer rates than the global average.