A groundbreaking new global analysis from the World Health Organization (WHO) and its International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) reveals that up to four in ten cancer cases worldwide could be prevented through targeted interventions against modifiable risk factors.
Released just ahead of World Cancer Day on February 4, 2026, the study estimates that 37% of all new cancer cases in 2022, approximately 7.1 million out of 18.7 million were attributable to 30 preventable causes. These include well known lifestyle and environmental risks such as tobacco use, alcohol consumption, high body mass index (obesity), physical inactivity, air pollution, and ultraviolet radiation exposure. For the first time, the analysis incorporates nine cancer causing infections, underscoring their significant role in the global cancer burden.
The comprehensive study, published in Nature Medicine, draws on data from 185 countries and covers 36 cancer types. It highlights the immense potential for prevention to dramatically reduce the worldwide impact of cancer, which remains one of the leading causes of death globally.
Tobacco emerges as the single largest preventable contributor, responsible for 15% of all new cancer cases. Infections follow closely at 10%, with alcohol consumption accounting for 3%. Other notable factors include excess body weight, lack of physical activity, and environmental exposures.
The research identifies three major cancer types, lung, stomach, and cervical, that together account for nearly half of all preventable cases in both men and women.
• Lung cancer is primarily driven by smoking and air pollution.
• Stomach cancer is largely linked to infection with Helicobacter pylori bacteria.
• Cervical cancer is overwhelmingly caused by persistent infection with human papillomavirus (HPV).
Significant differences appear by sex and region. Men face a higher preventable burden, with 45% of their new cancer cases tied to modifiable risks (compared to 30% in women). Among men, smoking drives 23% of cases, followed by infections (9%) and alcohol (4%). In women, infections lead at 11%, with smoking (6%) and high body mass index (3%) also prominent.
Regional variations are stark, with the highest proportions of preventable cancers in areas like East Asia (up to 57% in some estimates), while lower in regions such as Latin America and the Caribbean (around 28%).
“This landmark study is a comprehensive assessment of preventable cancer worldwide, incorporating for the first time infectious causes of cancer alongside behavioural, environmental, and occupational risks,” said Dr. Isabelle Soerjomataram, Deputy Head of the IARC Cancer Surveillance Unit and senior author of the study.
Dr. André Ilbawi, WHO Team Lead for Cancer Control and a study author, emphasized the practical implications:
“This is the first global analysis to show how much cancer risk comes from causes we can prevent. By examining patterns across countries and population groups, we can provide governments and individuals with more specific information to help prevent many cancer cases before they start.”
The findings call for strengthened public health measures, including:
• Robust tobacco control policies
• Vaccination programs against HPV and hepatitis B (key infection-related risks)
• Screening and treatment for infections like H. pylori
• Promotion of healthier lifestyles to address obesity, alcohol use, and physical inactivity
• Efforts to reduce air pollution and limit UV exposure
Experts stress that these preventable factors represent a major opportunity to lessen the global cancer burden through policy, education, and accessible interventions like vaccines and lifestyle changes.
The full study is available in Nature Medicine, and more details can be found on the WHO and IARC websites.