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Cancer statistics in China: Epidemiology, risk factors, and prevention
Cao Wei, Qin Kang, Liu Bingyang, Chen Wanqing. Chinese Journal of Cancer Research, 2025-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Cancer is a leading cause of death in China, and its epidemiological profile has shifted markedly in recent years. This review summarizes contemporary trends in cancer incidence and mortality, delineates the major modifiable risk factors, and highlights recent national efforts to ease the burden of cancer. In 2022, China recorded 4.8 million new cancer cases (crude rate: 341.7 per 100,000) and 2.5 million cancer deaths (182.3 per 100,000). Lung, colorectal, thyroid, liver, stomach, and female breast cancers accounted for 65% of all diagnoses, while lung, liver, stomach, colorectal, and esophageal cancers constituted 67.5% of cancer deaths. Notable shifts in sex-specific rankings underscored the rising mortality burden of prostate, female breast, and cervical cancers. China has made measurable progress in cancer control. Between 2000 and 2018, the age-standardized mortality rate for all cancers declined by approximately 1.3% annually, and the age-standardized 5-year relative survival improved from 30.9% in 2003-2005 to 43.7% in 2019-2021. According to Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023, nearly half of cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were attributable to modifiable risk factors such as tobacco, air pollution, high alcohol use, dietary risks, and unsafe sex. In response, the government has implemented a suite of prevention-oriented policies, including expansion of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, strengthened tobacco control, sustained air pollution reduction, enhanced health education, and broadened cancer screening coverage. Collectively, these initiatives demonstrate a sustained national commitment to reducing the cancer burden.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Wei, C., Kang, Q., Bingyang, L., & Wanqing, C. (2025). Cancer statistics in China: Epidemiology, risk factors, and prevention. Chinese Journal of Cancer Research. https://doi.org/10.21147/j.issn.1000-9604.2025.06.04
Vancouver
Wei C, Kang Q, Bingyang L, Wanqing C. Cancer statistics in China: Epidemiology, risk factors, and prevention. Chinese Journal of Cancer Research. 2025. doi:10.21147/j.issn.1000-9604.2025.06.04. PMID: 41523837.
BibTeX
@article{wei2025-41523837,
author = {Wei, Cao and Kang, Qin and Bingyang, Liu and Wanqing, Chen},
title = {{Cancer statistics in China: Epidemiology, risk factors, and prevention}},
journal = {Chinese Journal of Cancer Research},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.21147/j.issn.1000-9604.2025.06.04},
pmid = {41523837},
url = {https://doi.org/10.21147/j.issn.1000-9604.2025.06.04}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- China has made measurable progress in cancer control.
- Between 2000 and 2018, the age-standardized mortality rate for all cancers declined by approximately 1.3% annually, and the age-standardized 5-year relative survival improved from 30.9% in 2003-2005 to 43.7% in 2019-2021.
- According to Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2023, nearly half of cancer deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) were attributable to modifiable risk factors such as tobacco, air pollution, high alcohol use, dietary risks, and unsafe sex.
- In response, the government has implemented a suite of prevention-oriented policies, including expansion of human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccination, strengthened tobacco control, sustained air pollution reduction, enhanced health education, and broadened cancer screening coverage.
- Collectively, these initiatives demonstrate a sustained national commitment to reducing the cancer burden.
Why it matters
This review is about cancer in China and contains no information on Alzheimer's disease treatment, cure, or prevention. Its findings concern cancer incidence, mortality, survival, and modifiable cancer risk factors such as tobacco, air pollution, alcohol, diet, and unsafe sex.
New to this subject? Start with our plain-English guide: Prevention →
Study details
- Effect size67.5%; 1.3%; 30.9%
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 44/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, studied in people and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 42 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 44 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Chinese Journal of Cancer Research) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Chinese Journal of Cancer Research: journal h-index 61 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 2 / 3 | Effect reported as a number, without an interval or test |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 23 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 7.7 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 8.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 23 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | OpenAlex's profile for last-listed author Chen Wanqing holds only 3 work(s), too few to judge a track record — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences & Peking Union Medical College: institution h-index 950 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 6 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41523837) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Points | 42 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 42 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 44 out of 100. |
| Total | 44 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.21147/j.issn.1000-9604.2025.06.04
- PubMed: 41523837
- Original source →
- Free full text: Chinese Journal of Cancer Research →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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