Nashville, TN - Appendiceal cancer cases have surged in recent generations, with rates tripling for Americans born between 1976 and 1984 and quadrupling for those born between 1981 and 1989, according to a study published in the Annals of Internal Medicine on June 9. Researchers analyzed data from the National Cancer Institute’s SEER Program, using the 1941-1949 cohort as a baseline.

Lead author Andreana Holowatyj, PhD, MSCI, of Vanderbilt University Medical Center, emphasized the urgent need for greater awareness of appendiceal cancer, as one in three cases affects individuals under 50. She urged both clinicians and the public to recognize symptoms—such as abdominal pain, bloating, and changes in bowel habits—and to prioritize early diagnosis.

Appendiceal cancer remains rare, with approximately 3,000 new U.S. cases annually, but its lack of standardized screening and defined risk factors has contributed to late diagnoses and poor prognoses. Up to half of patients are diagnosed with metastatic disease, with survival rates ranging from 10% to 63%.

Holowatyj and colleagues have identified six key research priorities to improve understanding and treatment of the disease, publishing recommendations earlier this year in Nature Reviews Cancer. Their work is supported by the Appendix Cancer Pseudomyxoma Peritonei (ACPMP) Research Foundation and the National Institutes of Health.