Cancer burden in adolescents and young adults in Europe - Original Research

Sep 24, 2026

Uploaded by Patrick

Original research describing the cancer burden among adolescents and young adults (AYAs, aged 15–39) across Europe. Using data from the Global Cancer Observatory, the study compiles crude and age-standardised incidence and mortality rates for all cancers and 13 AYA-relevant cancer types across 28 EU member states. Results show substantial cross-country variation, with the highest mortality in Eastern Europe, and differences in incidence and AYA mortality potentially linked to risk factors, screening practices, early diagnosis, public awareness, and access to treatment. Conclusions stress the need for AYA-specialised services and preventive initiatives to reduce the rising burden.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryHealthcare

FormatPDF

Pages9

Reading Time23 min

AccessFree to download

Background

Patients and methods

Results

Conclusions

Introduction

Patients and methods

ORIGINAL RESEARCH Cancer burden in adolescents and young adults in Europe A. Trama1*, D. Stark2, I. Bozovic-Spasojevic3, N. Gaspar4, F. Peccatori5, A. Toss6, A. Bernasconi1, P. Quarello7,8, K. Scheinemann9,10, 11, S. Jezdic12, A. Blondeel13, G. Mountzios14, S. Bielack15, E. Saloustros16 & A. Ferrari17 1Research Department, Evaluative Epidemiology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale dei Tumori di Milano, Milan, Italy; 2Leeds Institute of Medical Research, School of Medicine University of Leeds, Leeds, UK; 3Medical Oncology Department, Institute for Oncology and Radiology of Serbia, Belgrade, Republic of Serbia; 4Department of Oncology for Child and Adolescent, Gustave Roussy Cancer Campus, Villejuif, France; 5Gynecologic Oncology Department, European Institute of Oncology IRCCS, Milan; 6Department of Oncology and Hematology, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria di Modena, Modena; 7Pediatric Onco-Hematology, Stem Cell Transplantation and Cellular Therapy Division, Regina Margherita Children’s Hospital, Azienda Ospedaliera-Universitaria Città della Salute e della Scienza, Torino; 8University of Torino, Torino, Italy; 9Division of Oncology-Hematology, Department of Pediatrics, Kantonsspital Aarau, Aarau; 10Department of Health Sciences and Medicine, University of Lucerne, Lucerne, Switzerland; 11Department of Pediatrics, McMaster Children’s Hospital and McMaster University, Hamilton, Canada; 12Scientiﬁc and Medical Division, European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO), Lugano, Switzerland; 13Department of Scientiﬁc Programme Coordination, European Society for Paediatric Oncology (SIOP Europe), Brussels, Belgium; 142nd Department of Medical Oncology and Clinical Trial Unit, Henry Dunant Hospital, Athens, Greece; 15Zentrum für Kinder, Jugend und Frauenmedizin Pädiatrie 5, Klinikum StuttgartdOlgahospital, Stuttgart, Germany; 16Department of Oncology, University Hospital of Larissa, Larissa, Greece; 17Pediatric Oncology Unit, Fondazione IRCCS Istituto Nazionale Tumori, Milan, Italy Available online 6 February 2023 Background: Cancer epidemiology is unique in adolescents and young adults (AYAs; aged 15-39 years) . The European Society for Medical Oncology/European Society for Paediatric Oncology (ESMO/SIOPE) AYA Working Group aims to describe the burden of cancers in AYAs in Europe and across European Union (EU) countries. Patients and methods: We used data available on the Global Cancer Observatory. We retrieved crude and agestandardised (World Standard Population) incidence and mortality rates. We reported about AYA cancer burden in Europe and between 28 EU member states. We described incidence and mortality for all cancers and for the 13 cancers most relevant to the AYA population. Results: Incidence and mortality varied widely between countries with the highest mortality observed in Eastern EU countries. Cancers of the female breast, thyroid and male testis were the most common cancers across countries followed by melanoma of skin and cancers of the cervix. Variations in cancer incidence rates across different populations may reﬂect different distribution of risk factors, variations in the implementation or uptake of screening as well as overdiagnosis. AYA cancer mortality disparities may be due to variation in early-stage diagnoses, different public education and awareness of cancer symptoms, different degrees of access or availability of treatment. Conclusions: Our results highlight the future health care needs and requirements for AYA-specialised services to ensure a homogeneous treatment across different countries as well as the urgency for preventive initiatives that can mitigate the increasing burden. Key words: adolescents and young adults, cancer, incidence, mortality, population-based cancer registry INTRODUCTION In Europe, many estimates of the burden of cancer in adolescents and young adults (AYAs) are derived from single centre or in single country data. Often different deﬁnitions of AYAs are u

FAQs

What age group does the study define as adolescents and young adults (AYAs)?

The study uses an all-inclusive AYA age range of 15–39 years, accepted in Europe.

What data source and measures are used to assess cancer burden?

Data come from the Global Cancer Observatory, reporting crude and age-standardised incidence and mortality rates (World Standard Population).

Why do the authors suggest cancer incidence and AYA cancer mortality differ between countries?

They attribute variations to differences in risk-factor distribution, screening implementation and uptake (including overdiagnosis), and disparities in early-stage diagnosis, public education and awareness, and access to or availability of treatment.

Sep 24, 2026

Uploaded by Patrick