Early-onset cancer rates are on the rise, and why?

International experts are concerned by a new South Australian study showing an increasing number of young men and women under the age of 50 suffering from gastrointestinal cancers

Long-term SA Cancer Registry data provide compelling evidence of 'significant' increase in early-onset (18-50 years) gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma (cancer) over the past 30 years, Flinders University and other researchers call for greater efforts to understand and address this growing problem

"The trends observed in younger cases of esophageal, stomach, colon, rectal and pancreatic cancers were not reflected in those over 50.

"Although this increased incidence was evident in both sexes, it was more pronounced in men than women

"In the young-onset cohort, the improvement in survival was seen only in patients with colorectal cancer, but not in patients with esophageal, gastric and pancreatic cancers

The study calls for a concerted effort to identify the sociodemographic factors responsible for this troubling trend in order to develop prevention strategies

From 1990 to 2017, the registry recorded 28,566 patients diagnosed with colorectal, pancreatic, gastric or esophageal adenocarcinoma

During the last eight years of the study (2010-2017, incidence rate of 12.

Professor Claire Roberts, co-lead author of the study, said men between the ages of 18 and 50 had a 1 per cent increased chance of developing these cancers each year

"What's most concerning is that we don't know what the reasons for this disturbing trend are," said Professor Claire Roberts, a Matthew Flinders researcher at Flinders University

"Early-onset carcinogenesis is an area that needs urgent research

In addition to the possible role of nutrition, including a low-quality diet, obesity, and drug and alcohol abuse, experts say exposure to these substances before birth and early in life may accelerate cancer development and lead to a younger age at cancer diagnosis

In another new paper in Frontiers in Oncology, Associate Professor Barreto and UCLA's Stephen Pandol said other sociodemographic factors to investigate include the susceptibility of different racial groups, education levels and income.

The good news, the researchers say, is that survival rates for gastrointestinal adenocarcinoma in patients over the age of 50 have gradually improved over the past 28 years

The study's authors intend to apply for funding to find answers to the questions posed by the study
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