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Colorectal cancer incidence trends in younger versus older adults: an analysis of population-based cancer registry data

Hyuna Sung, Rebecca L Siegel, Mathieu Laversanne, et al. Lancet Oncol 2025; 26: 51–63. 2025

Previous studies have shown that colorectal cancer incidence is increasing among younger adults (aged <50 years) in multiple high-income western countries in contrast with stabilizing or decreasing trends in incidence in older adults (aged ≥50 years). In the most recent 5 years (2013–17 for all countries analysed, except for Japan, Spain, and Costa Rico. The incidence rate of early-onset colorectal cancer was highest in Australia, the USA, New Zealand (14·8 [14·0–15·6]), and South Korea, and lowest in Uganda and India. The incidence rates of early-onset colorectal cancer were stable in 23 countries but increased in 27 countries. Early-onset colorectal cancer incidence rates are rising in 27 of 50 countries and territories examined, with the rise either exclusive to early-onset disease or faster than the increase in older adults in 20 of the 27 countries. 

24 Mar, 2026