Annual Report to the Nation: Declines in lung cancer, melanoma death rates drive overall cancer mortality drop

From 2015 to 2018, the overall cancer death rate in the United States fell by 2.3% per year for men and 2.1% per year for women—an unprecedented drop, led by accelerated decline in deaths from lung cancer and melanoma.

By way of comparatison, the death rate for men dropped 1.8% per year from 2001-2015, and the death rate in women declined 1.4% per year from 2001-2015, according to this year’s Annual Report to the Nation, a study conducted by several federal agencies and cancer groups.

The report, published in JNCI: The Journal of the National Cancer Institute, also finds that overall cancer incidence rates continue to increase among females, children, adolescents and young adults. All trends in this report cover the period before the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Byline

Alexandria Carolan

Reporter

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Table of Contents

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In Brief

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Clinical Roundup

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Podcast

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Cancer Policy

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May 01, 2026

Vol.52 No.17

By Claire Marie Porter

Clinical Roundup

65% of eligible lung cancer patients do not receive the most appropriate targeted therapies

Diaceutics has released research revealing a critical shift in precision medicine. Despite major advances in biomarker testing, nearly two-thirds of eligible patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer in the U.S. are still not receiving the most appropriate treatment.

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Drugs & Targets

FDA accepts NDA for zipalertinib for NSCLC with mutations

FDA has accepted a New Drug Application for zipalertinib for the treatment of patients with locally advanced or metastatic non-small cell lung cancer with epidermal growth factor receptor exon 20 insertion mutations whose disease has progressed on or after platinum-based chemotherapy, with or without amivantamab. The Prescription Drug User Fee Act target action date is Feb. 27, 2027.

May 01, 2026

Vol.52 No.17

Annual Report to the Nation: Declines in lung cancer, melanoma death rates drive overall cancer mortality drop

YOU MAY BE INTERESTED IN

American Cancer Society names four members to Board of Directors

University of Cincinnati achieves first-in-world remission of aggressive pituitary tumor with novel immunotherapy

Reforms pending at USPSTF, plus, FDA rejects promising melanoma drug for the second time

CDC’s recommendation to delay infant hepatitis B shot is likely to raise infections, JAMA studies show

65% of eligible lung cancer patients do not receive the most appropriate targeted therapies

FDA accepts NDA for zipalertinib for NSCLC with mutations

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