Cancer is undoubtedly a disease of ageing. Therefore, it is not that surprising that a recent study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology found that cancer diagnoses in the United States are likely to increase by 45% by the year 2030, partly as a result of the ageing of the US population. Although this is not entirely unexpected, it emphasizes the need for specific research geared towards developing efficacious and cost-effective therapies for this population.

This study also found that cancer incidence in ethnic minorities in the United States is likely to double by 2030. Indeed, as immigration increases globally, countries besides the United States are also likely to face the oncological challenges and questions that come with having a more ethnically diverse population than that of a century ago. For example, some cancers that are particularly difficult to treat, such as those of the liver, are more prevalent in some non-white populations. In addition, there is a need to understand more about racial differences in cancer biology.

It is hoped that advances in prevention will contribute to a reduction in cancer diagnoses, and that the availability of more cancer therapies and better early detection methods will continue to improve the survival rates of those diagnosed with cancer. Nevertheless, this study has presented some sobering statistics regarding how far we still have to go, despite our efforts thus far, and highlights the challenges we will face in the next 20 years. It also emphasizes the need for research focused on cancers that occur more frequently or that are molecularly different in older and minority populations so that the biological bases for these differences can be identified. Finally, it has underlined the need for clinical trials to accurately represent the maturity and ethnic diversity of our society.