The American Association for Cancer Research has released its annual Cancer Progress Report, highlighting the recent progress in cancer research.
Keith Flaherty, M.D., chair of the AACR Cancer Progress Report 2026 Steering Committee, and colleagues spotlight advances in understanding, detecting, and treating cancer, as well as providing information for supporting cancer patients and survivors.
According to the report, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved 11 new anticancer therapeutics from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2026, including a molecularly targeted therapy for a rare, aggressive brain tumor with a specific genetic alteration; the first immune checkpoint inhibitor for ovarian cancer; and the first approval of a proteolysis-targeting chimera for patients with breast cancer. In addition, during the same time frame, the FDA approved new uses for five previously approved anticancer therapeutics; a wearable, noninvasive device for pancreatic cancer treatment; and various artificial intelligence (AI)-based tools for improving the early detection and diagnosis of cancers. Several emerging and ongoing areas of research are explored in the report, including use of weight-loss interventions such as glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for reducing the risk for obesity-related cancers; use of AI for acceleration of research, cancer drug development, screening and early detection, and predicting patient outcomes; and use of preventive and therapeutic vaccines.
“Progress against cancer is proceeding rapidly, with more breakthroughs on the horizon,” Flaherty said in a statement. “We can’t stop here. Now is the time to invest in medical research, encourage collaboration across laboratories and disciplines, and support the next generation of cancer scientists. By doing so, we will accelerate discoveries and translate them into increasingly precise, biology-driven approaches that will transform the lives of patients with cancer.”
The report shows that cancer care is moving towards:
The growing number of treatment options may also make treatment selection, biomarker testing, multidisciplinary coordination, toxicity management, and shared decision-making increasingly important.
The AACR reported that the overall cancer mortality gap between Black and white patients narrowed significantly, from Black mortality rates being 34 percent higher in 1991 to 9 percent higher in 2024. Simultaneously, Black people continue to have the highest overall cancer death rate among major U.S. racial and ethnic groups.
Other standout statistics from the report include:
These rates reveal how Black patients are disproportionately burdened by several types of cancer, underscoring a need for earlier detection and treatment to improve outcomes.
AACR’s report shows how sustained cancer research can translate into longer survival and new treatment options. But the progress is most meaningful when clinicians can help patients access, understand, and benefit from those advances.
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