Colorectal cancer is now the leading cause of cancer-related death among adults under 50 in Norway
A new research letter published in JAMA Network Open shows that colorectal cancer has become the leading cause of cancer-related death among adults younger than 50 years in Norway.
Luís Nunes, researcher in the Computational Oncology group led by Anita Sveen at Dept. of Molecular Oncology, Inst. for Cancer Research, is first author of a research letter examining trends in cancer mortality among people aged 20-49 years in Norway. Data are from the Cancer Registry of Norway and NORDCAN. Overall, the findings are encouraging, as cancer mortality has decreased by more than half among young adults since 1996. Significant declines were reported for the major cancer types.
Colorectal cancer, however, stands out from this positive trend. Mortality from colorectal cancer remained stable over the study period. Consequently, colorectal cancer has been the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among adults under 50 in Norway since 2020.
The findings highlight the importance of gaining a better understanding of colorectal cancers occurring at a young age. The research teams, led by Associate Professor Anita Sveen and Professor Ragnhild A. Lothe, are now planning a comprehensive molecular study. The aim is to gain further insight into the biology of these early-onset tumors and identify characteristics that may help improve treatment and survival in young patients.
National and international media attention
The study has already received attention in both Norwegian and international media, including:
- VG: Ny studie: Tarmkreft dødeligst blant unge voksne
- The Sun: Bowel cancer ‘deadliest type for under-50s’ and failing to improve – the 4 toilet symptoms to never ignore
For more information, see the press release on the Oslo University Hospital news website (in Norwegian):
Tarmkreft er nå den dødeligste krefttypen blant unge voksne i Norge
The paper:
Nunes L, Nesbakken A, Lothe RA, Sveen A (2026)
Temporal Trends in Cancer Mortality Among People Younger Than 50 Years in Norway
JAMA Netw Open, 9 (8), e2629437
DOI 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2026.29437, PubMed 42599710