Federal cancer funding is extending lives but ‘uncertainty’ puts Americans at risk
The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR; PA, USA) celebrates advances in cancer research and cautions against disruption in the 15th edition of its annual Cancer Progress Report.
In their latest Cancer Progress Report, AACR has warned that while federally funded cancer research has led to the approval of 20 new cancer drugs over the last 12 months and saved millions of lives, ‘turmoil’ over future funding threatens the US’s position at the forefront of science.
The annual report covers cancer incidence, mortality and survivorship, and details how federal investment throughout the cancer research pipeline has improved America’s health. In the 12 months covered by the report, 20 new anticancer therapeutics were approved by the US FDA, including the first T-cell receptor therapy and the first IDH-targeted therapy to treat brain tumors, as well as new wearable devices, designed for at-home sampling or powered by AI.
The report also highlighted that, thanks to a reduction in smoking rates as well as advances in prevention, early detection and treatment, the age-adjusted overall cancer death rate in the US fell by 34% between 1991 and 2023. Overall, this averted more than 4.5 million deaths from cancer.
“As this report illustrates, progress against cancer requires a highly collaborative process. The exchange of knowledge among basic, translational, and clinical researchers, as well as population scientists, is vital to our understanding of the complexity of cancer and of improving outcomes for patients” explained AACR President Lillian L. Siu.
“From bench to bedside and back to the bench, technological innovations are fueling rapid advances to detect cancer earlier and develop more precise treatments that have the potential to both extend life and preserve its quality.”
In a special section introduced for this year’s edition, the report also discussed long-term advances in the treatment of blood cancers, including 29 new molecularly targeted therapies and 21 new immunotherapeutics developed over the last decade. Due to the sustained investment in this area of cancer, once-fatal diseases have been transformed into manageable conditions; between 1991 and 2023, mortality rates for non-Hodgkin lymphoma declined by 43% and multiple myeloma by 31%.
“If we continue to work together – not just scientists and clinicians, but also patients, advocates, funders, and policymakers – we can ensure that this momentum continues and that every discovery brings us closer to a world where fewer people develop cancer, more people are cured, and all patients live longer, healthier lives,” continued Siu.
However, the report also cautions that despite these huge steps forward, recent uncertainty about future funding risks further progress. The report highlights that, already, research studies have been postponed, hiring has been limited and treatment access has been delayed.
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With the incidence of certain cancers on the rise, especially early onset and colorectal cancers, there is still work to be done to protect patients. The report encourages robust funding of research into the cause of this rise, such as the impact of microplastics and other environmental factors, as well as ongoing basic research, to ensure a robust pipeline in the years to come.
“We are deeply grateful to leaders in Congress who have taken action in support of medical research during this tumultuous time,” concluded AACR Chief Executive Officer Margaret Foti. “Federal investments in cancer research reduce suffering, restore hope, and save lives. To maintain the tremendous momentum against cancer described in the AACR Cancer Progress Report 2025, robust funding for NIH and other federal health agencies must continue.”