Study reveals: 17 types of cancer are striking young
2025-04-29
A recent study published in The Lancet Public Health reveals that millennials and Generation X are experiencing higher incidence rates for 17 different types of cancer compared to previous generations. Advances in genomic technologies are providing new, non-invasive alternatives that help expand access to early screening across a broader population.
The study, conducted by the American Cancer Society, analyzed cancer incidence data across multiple decades. It found that individuals born in 1990 have two to three times higher rates of developing cancers such as pancreatic, kidney, and small intestine cancers compared to those born in 1955. Increases were also observed across a range of other cancers, with the incidence among millennials reaching up to 169% higher for uterine corpus cancer and 12% higher for ovarian cancer relative to previous cohorts.
Early detection significantly improves survival rates for many cancers. For instance, The five-year relative survival rate for breast cancer found and treated in the localized stage is 99%, compared to just 32% for stage IV, according to the American Cancer Society. Similarly, early-stage colorectal cancer has a five-year survival rate of approximately 90%, which drops to around 13-15% in advanced stages.
Despite the proven benefits of early detection, participation rates in cancer screening programs remain suboptimal in many regions. Various factors contribute to this, including lack of awareness, limited access to healthcare facilities, and apprehension about invasive procedures.
Innovations in screening methods are making early detection more accessible and less invasive. For example, stool DNA testing based on molecular diagnostics has shown high sensitivity and specificity in identifying early-stage colorectal cancer and precancerous lesions. This approach has gained wider clinical acceptance as technological capabilities and supporting data have advanced.
A prospective cross-section study published in the Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention (APJCP) by BGI Genomics and Siriraj Hospital demonstrates the high accuracy of multitarget stool DNA testing for colorectal cancer detection in Thai individuals, offering a non-invasive alternative to colonoscopy.
COLOTECT®, developed by BGI Genomics, is one of the stool DNA tests applying this approach. It uses multiplex methylation-specific PCR (MSP) technology to detect abnormal DNA methylation patterns associated with early colorectal cancer. The test is designed for home sample collection without special preparation, offering a non-invasive alternative to conventional screening procedures.
As cancer risk increasingly affects younger generations, expanding access to early screening has become more urgent. Advancements in screening technologies that are more accessible and reliable improve early detection rates and address the rising cancer burden.
About COLOTECT®
COLOTECT® is a non-invasive fecal DNA test developed by BGI Genomics for detecting CRC and precancerous lesions. It uses multiplex methylation-specific PCR (MSP) technology to trace abnormal DNA-methylation biomarkers in CRC from stool samples. COLOTECT® has a sensitivity of 88% for detecting CRC, and a sensitivity of 46% for the early detection of advanced adenomas—both of which outperform conventional fecal tests.
About BGI Genomics
BGI Genomics, headquartered in Shenzhen, China, is the world's leading integrated solutions provider of precision medicine. Our services cover more than 100 countries and regions, involving more than 2,300 medical institutions. In July 2017, as a subsidiary of BGI Group, BGI Genomics (300676.SZ) was officially listed on the Shenzhen Stock Exchange.
Read more:
Research Proves Stool DNA as Non-Invasive Alternative for Colorectal Cancer Screening | BGI Insight
BGI Genomics COLOTECT 3.0 Demonstrates Higher Colorectal Cancer Detection Sensitivity than FIT
2024 Global State of Colorectal Cancer Awareness Report
Beating Colorectal Cancer with Early Screening and Detection: Patient's Voice
Largest Multi-Omics Study Unveils Prognostic Genetic Insights in Colorectal Cancer
Will Colorectal Cancer Become a Chronic Disease? | BGI Insight