Early-Onset Cancer Initiative

Illustration of five, young individuals standing side by side, each wearing a lavender ribbon on their clothing, symbolizing awareness or support for those diagnosed with cancer.awareness or support for a cause.

The Early-Onset Cancer Initiative is an NCI effort to better understand and address the observed increase in cancers that were historically diagnosed in older adults. Cancers once primarily seen in people over 50 years old, including colorectal, breast, uterine, kidney, and pancreatic are now increasingly affecting younger adults.

Approach

The Early-Onset Cancer Initiative is dedicated to advancing the pace of scientific discovery, incorporating the patient experience, and improving survivorship. This includes:

interdisciplinary risk factors
novel scientific methods
survivorship care

Events

American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) 2025 Annual Meeting
Beyond the Headlines: The Real Impact of Early-Onset Cancers Special Session

Select NCI-Supported Activities

Trends Analysis: Evaluating Patterns for Early-Onset Cancer
Epidemiologists analyzed cancer incidence and mortality rates in people under age 50.
Cancer Grand Challenges
Team PROSPECT, funded by NCI as part of the Cancer Grand Challenges program, aims to use advanced approaches like precision nutrition to study the biology and physiology involved in the development of early-onset colorectal cancer.
Early-Onset Endometrial (Uterine) Cancer Study
This study was launched as part of NCI's Provocative Questions Initiative to better understand how a specific protein may contribute to the development of endometrial tumors in early-onset cancer patients with obesity.
Breast Cancer Family Registry Cohort
An international database that supports a wide range of studies on gene discovery, cancer prevention, and behavioral interventions. The cohort facilitates collaborative research on breast cancer, including early-onset breast cancer.