In 2022, colorectal cancer accounted for nearly 40% of all new gastrointestinal cancer cases globally, making it the most prevalent of the six major types studied, according to a recent study.
In the study, published in the Chinese Medical Journal, investigators assessed the global and national burden of six major gastrointestinal cancers, with a particular focus on China. Utilizing data from the Global Cancer Observatory 2022 database, they examined the incidence and mortality rates of esophageal, gastric, colorectal, hepatic, pancreatic, and gallbladder cancers.
In 2022, Africa reported an estimated 232,094 new cases of gastrointestinal cancers. Hepatic cancer emerged as the most common type, reflecting a distinct epidemiologic profile compared with other regions where colorectal cancer was more prevalent. Colorectal cancer accounted for approximately 70,428 new cases, esophageal cancer for around 29,965 new cases, pancreatic cancer for an estimated 18,993 new cases, gastric cancer for about 33,352 cases, and gallbladder cancer for around 5,512 new cases in the region.
In terms of mortality, gastrointestinal cancers were responsible for an estimated 195,376 deaths across Africa in 2022. Hepatic cancer had the highest mortality rate among these cancers. Colorectal cancer resulted in about 46,087 deaths, esophageal cancer caused approximately 28,276 deaths, pancreatic cancer accounted for around 17,770 deaths, gastric cancer led to about 28,730 deaths, and gallbladder cancer resulted in approximately 4,198 deaths.
Globally, these six cancer types accounted for 24.6% of all new cancer cases worldwide in 2022, with nearly 4.9 million new cases diagnosed. Colorectal cancer had the highest occurrence among gastrointestinal cancers globally, with approximately 1.9 million new cases reported and age-standardized incidence rate of 18.4 per 100,000 individuals. Gastrointestinal cancers contributed to roughly 3.3 million cancer-related deaths worldwide in 2022 with colorectal cancer accounting for 27.2% of these deaths.
Regionally, 60.5% of all new gastrointestinal cancer cases worldwide occurred in Asia, whereas hepatic cancer was the most common gastrointestinal cancer in Africa, differing from other regions where colorectal cancer was more prevalent.
In China, 1.6 million new cases of gastrointestinal cancers were estimated for 2022. Projections suggest that by 2050, the number of new colorectal cancer cases in China will reach 869,000, making it the most diagnosed gastrointestinal cancer. Hepatic cancer is expected to remain the leading cause of death among gastrointestinal cancers in China, with an estimated 514,000 deaths by 2050.
The investigators identified significant geographic and temporal variations in cancer-specific incidence and mortality. In China, the incidence rates of esophageal, gastric, and hepatic cancers declined from 1988 to 2012, while colorectal and pancreatic cancers exhibited a consistent upward trend. Projections indicate that by 2050, colorectal cancer will maintain the highest incidence among gastrointestinal cancers in China, whereas hepatic cancer is expected to remain the leading cause of cancer-related mortality.
The analysis also revealed a strong correlation between the burden of gastrointestinal cancers and the Human Development Index (HDI) of different countries. Higher HDI nations exhibited a greater prevalence of colorectal and pancreatic cancers, while hepatic cancer was more prevalent in regions with lower HDI.
Full disclosures can be found in the published study.