One in five people will develop cancer during their lifetime, according to estimates from the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) and the American Cancer Society (ACS). In 2024 alone, 20.6 million people were diagnosed with cancer, and 9.8 million died from the disease. Worse still, cancer incidence is projected to reach 34.4 million cases by 2050, a 67% increase over 2024, according to IARC's burden projections.

As the global cancer burden continues to mount, the medical communities of China and the United States are confronting these shared challenges through pragmatic cooperation.

A platform for exchange

The China-US Anti-Cancer Summit, hosted annually by the China Anti-Cancer Association (CACA) and the US China Anti-Cancer Association (USCACA), brings together leading figures in cancer diagnosis and treatment from both countries. Participants share cutting-edge advances, discuss differences in diagnosis and treatment between the two nations, and provide guidance on clinical cancer practice. Through this academic platform for cancer prevention and treatment, the two countries have jointly promoted exchange and cooperation in standardized cancer care.

Deepening clinical partnerships

Cooperation is also deepening at the clinical level. The First Affiliated Hospital of Sun Yat-sen University (FAH-SYSU) in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province, has established a five-year strategic partnership with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School.

Leveraging FAH-SYSU's solid clinical foundation, vast patient resources, and regional experience with high-incidence cancers, combined with Dana-Farber's strengths in cutting-edge research and precision oncology, the two sides are exploring the best research methods to narrow the gap between scientific progress and broad clinical benefit.

Since the collaboration launched in 2021, seven clinical specialties have been deeply involved, with more than 100 American experts engaged in joint projects.

"This collaboration not only unites anti-cancer forces but also lights the way forward for all humanity toward a healthier, more hopeful future," said Xiao Haipeng, president of FAH-SYSU, at the Innovations in Cancer Care Symposium held by both sides in March 2026. Jeffrey Meyerhardt, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School, affirmed the results of the collaboration and looked forward to further expanding cooperation to bring the hope of conquering cancer to patients worldwide.

Expanding access and services

In May 2026, United Family Healthcare (UFH) and City of Hope, a globally renowned cancer research and treatment institution in the US, announced the simultaneous opening of City of Hope's International Patient Services offices at Guangzhou United Family Hospital and Shenzhen New Frontier United Family Hospital.

The offices will serve as an important platform for international oncology collaboration, joint case management, and continuous patient support. The long-term cooperation will focus on joint management of complex cancer cases, multidisciplinary collaborative treatment, optimization of precision treatment pathways, and joint development of clinical capabilities, promoting the deep integration of cutting-edge international cancer treatment expertise with local Chinese medical practice.

In April 2026, the Chinese company Concord Medical signed a deepened cooperation agreement with Mayo Clinic, one of the world's leading medical institutions. Unlike previous collaborations focused on cancer treatment technology, this agreement explicitly extends the scope to disease prevention, screening, rehabilitation and long-term health management – the full life cycle of health services.

Medical education cooperation

In September 2026, Peking Union Medical College Hospital (PUMCH) renewed its third five-year cooperation memorandum with the China Medical Board (CMB).

Since the first memorandum was signed in 2016, they have carried out fruitful work in standardized residency training, postgraduate medical education and clinical postdoctoral programs, advancing the standardization and internationalization of China's medical talent training system.

Roger Glass, president of the CMB, said the new five-year agreement will deepen cooperation in medical education, academic exchange and technological innovation, cultivate the next generation of medical leaders, and jointly address global health challenges through the power of science and medicine.

Zhang Shuyang, president of PUMCH, proposed strengthening cross-border exchange and the joint training of young talent, deepening collaborative innovation and the sharing of results in digital medicine, promoting dialogue on medical education quality assurance, and jointly building emergency medical capacity.