Leukemia in adolescents and young adults (AYAs; aged 15–39 years) is a distinct yet understudied disease. We obtained estimated age-standardised incidence rates (ASIRs) and mortality rates (ASMRs) for AYA leukemia in 186 countries from GLOBOCAN 2024. Using high-quality Cancer Incidence in Five Continents data, we analyzed incidence trends from 2003 to 2017 for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL), acute myeloid leukemia (AML), chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and leukemia of unspecified cell type. Joinpoint regression was used to estimate the average annual percentage change (AAPC) in incidence. In 2024, an estimated 65,291 new leukemia cases occurred among AYAs worldwide, corresponding to an ASIR of 2.12 per 100,000. From 2003 to 2017, ALL incidence increased significantly in both sexes in Canada and the Republic of Korea, among males in Denmark, the Netherlands, and India, and among females in Colombia. AML incidence increased significantly among males in Colombia and the Republic of Korea but did not change significantly among females. CML incidence increased significantly in both sexes in the Republic of Korea and the UK, among males in Japan, and among females in Canada. The patterns and trends in AYA leukemia across subtypes, regions, and socioeconomic contexts emphasize the need for tailored diagnostics and public health strategies.
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Fu et al. (2026) studied this question.
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