A new report from Case CCC's Population Cancer Analytics Shared Resource describes local and national early-onset cancer trends and identifies some key gaps in the burden of early-onset cancer between Northeast Ohio and the nation, raising important questions for cancer researchers.
Led by Johnie Rose, MD, PhD, and Siran Koroukian, PhD, the report, Northeast Ohio Trends in Early Onset Cancer Incidence and Mortality, examines 10-year average incidence and mortality rates for selected early-onset cancers in the catchment area and nationally, as well as cancer trends from 1996 through 2023.
Findings That Deserve Attention
- Early-onset lung cancer incidence is significantly higher in Northeast Ohio than in the U.S. broadly. While 2.9 per 100,000 people develop lung cancer each year at the national level, 4.1 (95% CI 3.9-4.4) of every 100,000 Northeast Ohioans do so. Mortality is similarly elevated locally: compared to 1.3 deaths per 100,000 per year in the U.S., 2.0 (95% CI 1.9-2.2 ) per 100,000 Northeast Ohioans die of the disease each year.
- However, overall early lung cancer cases and deaths are trending downward locally and nationally as decades of public health work have substantially curbed smoking. Steady advances in treatment and an efficacious option for early detection have also brought down rates.
- Early-onset colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality are both rising nationally and locally. In Northeast Ohio, CRC incidence increased an average of 2.1% annually from 1996 through 2023. CRC is a major driver of the broader national and local trends of rising obesity-related cancer incidence, with obesity-related cancer as a whole increasing at an average rate of 1.6% per year in Northeast Ohio.
- Two major cancer risk factors are substantially more prevalent locally: adult cigarette smoking prevalence is estimated at 15.9% in Northeast Ohio versus 11.6% nationally, while adult obesity prevalence is 37.1% locally compared with 32.9% nationally.
Connecting Research to Cancer Burden
These findings offer opportunities for Case CCC investigators, public health officials, and community health organizations to connect basic, clinical and population research to documented cancer burden in the communities served by Case CCC.
The report provides data to support research hypotheses, establish the regional significance of scientific investigations, inform grant proposals and identify opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration.
The findings are particularly timely as Case CCC prepares for its Cancer Disparities Conference, March 11–12, 2027, which focuses on early onset cancers this year.
Researchers, trainees, and community organizations are encouraged to submit abstracts by November 23, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. ET.