In 2025, the American Cancer Society published "Cancer statistics, 2025", which projected cancer data for the upcoming year based on incidence data collected by central cancer registries (through 2021) and mortality data obtained from the National Center for Health Statistics (through 2022). Similarly, the National Cancer Center of China released "Cancer incidence and mortality in China, 2022" in December 2024, analyzing data from 22 cancer registries across the country. This study provides a comparative analysis of cancer incidence and mortality trends in China and the United States during the same period, with a focus on sex- and age-specific distributions and long-term changes in cancer patterns. Long-term trends indicate that lung and liver cancer mortality rates in China have declined, primarily due to tobacco control measures and hepatitis B vaccination programs. However, the burden of gastric and esophageal cancers remains substantial. In the United States, mortality rates for colorectal and lung cancers have continued to decline, largely attributed to widespread screening programs and advances in immunotherapy. As economic growth and social development, China’s cancer profile is gradually shifting towards patterns observed in countries with high human development index. However, the prevention and control of upper gastrointestinal cancers remains a critical public health challenge that requires further attention.
ObjectiveTo analyze and compare the incidence, mortality, temporal trends, and cancer spectrum differences between China and the United States (US), providing theoretical support for cancer prevention and control in China. MethodsAge standardized incidence rate (ASIR), age standardized mortality rate (ASMR), and cancer site composition were extracted from GLOBOCAN, Cancer Statistics 2025, the China Cancer Registry Annual Report, and other epidemiological sources. Spatial (urban-rural, sex specific) and temporal distributions were described, and average annual growth rate (AAGR) were calculated. ResultsFrom 2005 onward, China exhibited a modest rise in ASIR, whereas the United States showed a decline (AAGR: 0.58 vs –0.42); nevertheless, China’s overall incidence remained lower (2022 ASIR = 201.61/100 000) than that of the United States (303.60/100 000). Both countries experienced decreasing ASMRs (AAGR: –1.03 vs –1.72). Prior to 2020, US mortality exceeded that of China, but by 2022 China’s ASMR (96.47/100 000) had slightly surpassed the US figure (81.80/100 000). In both nations, male ASIR and ASMR were higher than female. Since 2005, the top three US cancers had remained prostate (men) or breast (women), lung and colorectal. In China, incidences of lung, colorectal, female breast and thyroid cancers had continued to rise, while stomach and liver cancer incidences had declined yet still rank high among men. Urban ASIR in China exceeded rural rates, whereas rural ASMR was higher than urban counterparts. ConclusionsAccelerating population ageing and lifestyle transitions have driven an upward incidence trend in China, accompanied by a shift towards a mixed pattern of traditional and emerging cancer risks. Drawing on US experience, China should intensify tobacco control measures, expand organized screening and early detection programs, implement comprehensive interventions for priority cancers, strengthen primary level capacity and improve treatment access in rural areas, thereby establishing a more effective national cancer prevention and control system.