Rajarshi Sengupta

Advances in cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment have led to substantial improvements in cancer outcomes in the United States over the past several decades. Despite this progress, these gains have not been equitably distributed, and many populations continue to experience a disproportionate burden of cancer. Persistent disparities, rooted in structural inequities, social disadvantage, and unequal access to health care, remain a major challenge to achieving health equity. The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Cancer Disparities Progress Report 2026 highlights both the progress made toward reducing cancer disparities and the critical gaps that remain. Addressing these disparities will require coordinated efforts across research, clinical care, public health, and policy to ensure that advances in cancer science benefit all populations. See AACR Cancer Disparities Progress Report 2026 .

On December 4, 2025, the American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) released its inaugural AACR Pediatric Cancer Progress Report, which highlights the remarkable scientific and clinical advances transforming outcomes for children (ages 0–14) and adolescents (ages 15–19) with cancer. This first-of-its-kind report encompasses progress against pediatric cancers made over the past decade and chronicles major developments in molecularly targeted therapies, immunotherapies, and genomic profiling that are reshaping pediatric cancer diagnosis, surveillance, and treatment. The report also underscores the enduring challenges that impede progress, including the lack of effective therapies for rarer and aggressive pediatric cancers and the persistent inequities in access to high-quality treatment and supportive care, both in the United States and worldwide. Collectively, these insights reaffirm the urgent need for increased federal investment, strengthened international collaboration, and innovative research strategies to accelerate progress against pediatric cancer. The full report is freely available at PediatricCancerProgressReport.org.

Advances in cancer prevention, early detection, and treatments have led to unprecedented progress against cancer. However, these advances have not benefited everyone equally. Because of a long history of structural inequities and systemic injustices in the United States, many segments of the US population continue to shoulder a disproportionate burden of cancer. The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Cancer Disparities Progress Report 2024 (CancerDisparitiesProgressReport.org) outlines the recent progress against cancer disparities, the ongoing challenges faced by medically underserved populations, and emphasizes the vital need for further advances in cancer research and patient care to benefit all populations.

The enteric nervous system (ENS) is an essential network of neurons and glia in the bowel wall. Defects in ENS development can result in Hirschsprung disease (HSCR), a life-threatening condition characterized by severe constipation, abdominal distention, bilious vomiting, and failure to thrive. A growing body of literature connects HSCR to alterations in miRNA expression, but there are limited data on the normal miRNA landscape in the developing ENS. We sequenced small RNAs (smRNA-seq) and messenger RNAs (mRNA-seq) from ENS precursor cells of mid-gestation Ednrb-EGFP mice and compared them to aggregated RNA from all other cells in the developing bowel. Our smRNA-seq results identified 73 miRNAs that were significantly enriched and highly expressed in the developing ENS, with miR-9, miR-27b, miR-124, miR-137, and miR-488 as our top 5 miRNAs that are conserved in humans. However, contrary to prior reports, our follow-up analyses of miR-137 showed that loss of Mir137 in Nestin-cre, Wnt1-cre, Sox10-cre, or Baf53b-cre lineage cells had no effect on mouse survival or ENS development. Our data provide important context for future studies of miRNAs in HSCR and other ENS diseases and highlight open questions about facility-specific factors in development.

The annual American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Cancer Progress Report is a cornerstone of AACR's efforts to educate the public and Congress about the latest advances against cancer and the importance of medical research and to advocate for increased federal funding for the NIH, NCI, FDA, and CDC.This 13th edition of the report, which covers the 12-month period from August 1, 2022, to July 31, 2023, documents how breakthroughs across basic, translational, and clinical research and population sciences have advanced the frontiers of cancer science and medicine. This report, and all previous editions, are freely available at https://cancerprogressreport.aacr.org/progress/.There has been remarkable progress against cancer in the United States, which has led to a steady decline in the overall cancer mortality rate. Between 1991 and 2020, the age-adjusted overall cancer mortality rate declined by 33%, a reduction that translates into 3.8 million cancer-related deaths avoided. The decline in cancer mortality can be attributed largely to improvements in prevention, early detection, and treatment, with the most progress made against cancers of breast, prostate, colon and rectum, as well as against previously intractable cancers such as advanced lung cancer and metastatic melanoma.Research in basic sciences is vital to our knowledge of how cancers develop. Advances in basic research along with technological innovations have led to a revolution in molecular profiling approaches such as spatial transcriptomics while also expanding the applications of proteomics and epigenetics to further our understanding of the complex disease we call cancer.Advancements in the areas of cancer prevention and early detection are helping to reduce the risk of cancer development. Forty percent of all cancers in the United States are attributable to preventable causes. Modifying behaviors such as eating a healthy diet and participating in physical activity, refraining from tobacco use, managing chronic conditions such as diabetes and infections, receiving recommended immunizations to prevent pathogenic infections such as those with the human papillomavirus (HPV), and protecting skin from UV radiation are ways to reduce the risk of developing cancer.Screening for breast, prostate, cervical, colorectal, and lung cancer has helped to reduce mortality from these cancers. Cancer screening recommendations are developed for individuals who are at an average or higher-than-average risk of being diagnosed with cancer and are based on gender and age, as well as genetic, environmental, behavioral, and social influences. Notably, during the 12 months covered in the report, the United States Preventive Services Task Force issued a draft recommendation for breast cancer screening to lower the age of eligible individuals from 50 to 40, which is estimated to save 19% more lives from breast cancer. New technologies, including artificial intelligence and liquid biopsies, that are rapidly moving from the bench to the clinic have the potential to improve detection of early-stage cancers or precancerous lesions while potentially increasing safety of screening tests. Although liquid biopsy–based tests have shown great potential for early detection of cancer, large prospective studies must demonstrate that screening using these methods can extend lives before they can be used routinely in the clinic.The report documents major progress made across the five pillars of cancer treatment – surgery, radiotherapy, cytotoxic chemotherapy, molecularly targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. Between August 1, 2022, and July 31, 2023, the FDA approved 14 new anticancer therapeutics (Table 1) and two new imaging agents and expanded the use of 12 previously approved anticancer therapeutics to treat additional cancer types. Included in the FDA approvals are the first antibody–drug conjugate for the treatment of ovarian cancer, multiple new immunotherapeutics to treat rare cancers including blood cancers, two new immune checkpoint inhibitors, and a first-of-its-kind gene therapy to treat bladder cancer. Decades of basic and translation research in immunology and cancer biology is fueling a surge in the applications of immunotherapy, one of the most exciting new areas in cancer medicine, as highlighted in a spotlight in the report titled “Immunotherapy: Pushing the Frontier of Cancer Medicine.” Furthermore, precision medicine approaches are leading to the development of personalized treatments for patients with previously intractable cancers such pancreatic cancer and glioblastoma.Advances across the cancer continuum have led to many more people living with and beyond their cancer. As of January 1, 2022, there are more than 18 million people living with a history of a cancer diagnosis, which equates to about 5% of the U.S. population. Understanding and addressing their physical, psychosocial, and financial challenges are important priorities as the number of survivors in the United States is expected to grow to 26 million by 2040. Innovative approaches in the areas of palliative care, psycho-oncology, new technologies such as mobile phone apps that help with continuity of care, and other evidence-based strategies that improve quality of life are active areas of research. Coordination of care using patient navigators and patient advocates as well as the increased use of patient reported outcomes, specifically in clinical trial research, are collectively improving the survivorship experience. It is estimated that 4 million individuals in the United States are caring for an adult with cancer. Supporting these caregivers by addressing their physical, psychologic, and financial needs is also paramount.Despite major progress, cancer continues to be an ongoing public health challenge. In the United States, a disproportionate burden of cancer is shouldered by patients from racial and ethnic minorities and other medically...

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Cancer Progress Report 2022 marks the twelfth edition of this annual report, a cornerstone of AACR's mission to educate the public and the Congress about the latest advances against cancer and the importance of medical research, and to advocate for increased federal funding for NIH, NCI, FDA, and CDC.Continuing the tradition of the previous 11 reports, the current edition highlights how researchers are decoding the biological complexities of cancer using integrative scientific approaches to transform outcomes for patients. This report documents advances made during the 12-month period (August 1, 2021, to July 31, 2022) and, along with all previous editions, is freely available at https://cancerprogressreport.aacr.org/progress/.The AACR Cancer Progress Report 2022 has eight main sections. The first section, “Cancer in 2022,” gives an overview of the current landscape of cancer incidence and mortality in the United States and around the globe. There has been remarkable progress against cancer, which has led to a decline in the overall U.S. cancer mortality rate by 32% between 1991 and 2019 in the United States, a decline that amounts to 3.5 million deaths avoided. This reduction in cancer-related death rates has translated into more than 18 million cancer survivors living in the United States as of January 1, 2022. This section also highlights some of the ongoing challenges including the economic burden of cancer. For example, the direct medical cost of cancer care was estimated to be $183 billion in 2015 and is expected to rise to $246 billion by 2030. Other challenges to progress against cancer include disparities in access to cancer care experienced by medically underserved populations; rising incidence of certain cancers including kidney, pancreatic, and uterine cancers; and the growing incidence of early onset colorectal cancer in the younger population. The burden of cancer and its economic toll, both on individuals and the U.S. health care system, are expected to rise in the coming decades, highlighting the urgent need for more research to accelerate the pace of progress against cancer.The second section, “Understanding How Cancer Develops,” is a broad overview of our current understanding of basic cancer biology, including genetic, epigenetic, and protein level changes, as well as the cellular and systems level influences, both of which contribute to cancer initiation and progression. The section highlights how progress in these areas, as well as in the areas of genetic sequencing, has greatly contributed to the use of precision medicine in cancer treatment.In the United States, four out of ten cancer cases are associated with preventable risk factors. The third section, “Preventing Cancers: Identifying Risk Factors,” identifies the common modifiable cancer risk factors including smoking, which is associated with 17 different types of cancer in addition to lung cancer. Combinations of other risk factors such as excess body weight, poor diet, physical inactivity, and alcohol consumption are attributable to nearly 20% of new cancer cases and 16% of cancer deaths in U.S. adults. This section explores how modifying behaviors to reduce exposure to cancer risk factors can reduce the risk of developing certain types of cancer.Breakthroughs in the understanding of cancer initiation and progression are facilitating the development of cancer screening tests that can detect cancer at the earliest stage before it has spread to other organs. The fourth section, “Screening for Early Detection,” discusses the early detection methods and U.S. Preventive Services Task Force (USPSTF) guidelines on population-level screening for breast, cervical, colorectal, lung, and prostate cancer. This section details recent advances in technologies including artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools such as Lunit, which was FDA approved in November 2021 for detecting breast cancer lesions in mammograms, and EndoScreener, which was approved in March 2022 for detecting polyps during colonoscopy. The section also discusses liquid biopsies that are being tested in multi-cancer early detection. Widespread implementation of screening through multilevel, multipronged approaches will be necessary to achieve equitable access and optimal adherence to cancer screening. Strategies such as comprehensive public health campaigns; access to health insurance; culturally tailored interventions and engagements; reduction of structural barriers; and improved patient-provider communication will help to increase screening adherence among individuals from all population groups.The next section of the report, “Decoding Cancer Complexity, Integrating Science, Transforming Patient Outcomes,” describes the recent advances across the five pillars of cancer treatment—surgery, radiotherapy, cytotoxic chemotherapy, molecularly targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. This includes approval of eight new anticancer therapeutics and two imaging agents, and expansion of 10 previously approved anticancer therapies to treat new cancer types. The impact of some of these therapies is showcased through the personal journeys of patients with cancer who have benefited from these therapeutics.The section “Supporting Cancer Patients and Survivors” details the many unique challenges that are associated with a cancer diagnosis, which can continue long after completion of treatment. Broadly, these include side effects from cancer and its treatment, financial toxicity, worsened health-related quality of life, increased risk of new primary cancers, and psychosocial challenges. Approaches to improve health-related quality of life among survivors include promoting healthy behaviors, facilitating palliative care, and improving access to mental health services.Discussing the new wave of scientific and technological breakthroughs in...

Advances in cancer prevention and early detection coupled with breakthroughs in treatments have led to a steady decline in overall U.S. cancer mortality rates and increase in the number of people living longer and fuller lives after a cancer diagnosis. However, it is evident that large segments of the U.S. population have not benefitted equally from these advances and continue to have higher rates of cancer incidence; be diagnosed with more aggressive cancer; and suffer worse outcomes. The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Cancer Disparities Progress Report 2022 (https://www.aacr.org/CDPR2022/) outlines the recent progress against cancer health disparities, the ongoing challenges faced by racial and ethnic minorities and other medically underserved populations and emphasizes the vital need for further advances in cancer research and patient care to benefit all populations. This commentary summarizes the highlights of the Report.Racial and ethnic minorities and other medically underserved populations in the United States continue to share a disproportionate burden of cancer. Compared with the White population, American Indian/Alaskan Native population experiences higher incidence rates of lung, colorectal, and kidney cancers, as well as of liver, stomach, and cervical cancers that are caused by infectious agents; this population also has higher mortality from kidney and liver cancers compared with the White population. The Asian population, which encompasses those from a highly diverse group of countries, cultures, and ethnicities, is more likely to be impacted by cancers caused by infectious agents. Black or African American individuals constitute the third largest racial and ethnic population in the United States. Compared with White men, cancer incidence in Black men is 6% higher and cancer mortality is 19% higher, while Black women have 8% lower cancer incidence than White women, but 12% higher cancer mortality. The Hispanic population, one of the fastest growing ethnic groups in the United States, has a higher incidence and mortality from liver, stomach, and cervical cancers compared with the non-Hispanic White population. Compared with non-Hispanic Whites, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander groups have higher incidence of breast, multiple myeloma, and lung cancers, with higher mortality from prostate, lung, breast, liver, and intrahepatic bile duct cancers. Other groups that experience disparities in the cancer burden include rural populations; individuals who belong to sexual and gender minority populations or low socioeconomic status such as those living in persistent poverty.The causes of cancer health disparities stem from adverse social determinants of health (SDOH), which are complex, interrelated and overlapping factors that operate at the individual, community, and societal levels. SDOH include socioeconomic factors; modifiable cancer risk factors; psychologic factors; environmental factors; health care access and experiences; as well as biological and genetic factors. It is increasingly evident that structural racism and systemic injustices are key contributors to adverse SDOH, creating conditions that perpetuate health inequities, including cancer health disparities, for racial and ethnic minorities and other medically underserved populations.Routine cancer screening is one of the most effective ways to reduce the burden of cancer at the population level. Yet, many disparities in cancer screening exist for racial and ethnic minority groups and other medically underserved populations. These disparities can stem from mistrust of the health care system caused by historical exploitation of certain populations; cultural beliefs and stigmas around getting screened; as well as suboptimal screening guidelines that were developed based on studies performed in White, cis-gendered participants. Research has indicated that the most effective ways to increase knowledge about screening and reduce stigma comprise culturally appropriate, community-centered public health interventions. Evidence is also accruing that reducing structural and financial barriers to cancer screening is an effective approach to increase access to these services.Use of anticancer treatments (surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, molecularly targeted therapy, and immunotherapy)—alone or in combinations—has become the standard of care for patients with cancer. Despite major advances in these treatments in recent years, racial and ethnic minority groups and other medically underserved populations frequently experience severe and multilevel barriers in their access to quality cancer treatment, including delays in or lack of access to standard-of-care treatments. Ninety-three percent of the respondents to a survey of 165 cancer physicians practicing in community- or hospital-based settings agreed that SDOH negatively impacted their patients’ health outcomes. Many patients from disadvantaged population groups also experience overt discrimination and/or implicit bias during the receipt of care. While this is influenced by many factors including physician training, one solution is to increase the diversity of the healthcare workforce. Fewer Black adults (22%) report having providers who are of the same race compared with White adults (74%). Among Hispanic/Latino adults, only 23% report having a provider who is of the same race and/or ethnicity, or language preference as they are. Increasing diversity of healthcare workers will increase patient–provider trust and communication.Development of new anticancer treatments and cancer detection methods relies on their testing in clinical trials to ensure their safety and efficacy. Therefore, it is imperative that the clinical trial participant population is highly diverse; also important is equal representation of each subgroup (i.e., oversampling of nonmajority populations) to produce statistically powerful estimates of an effect...