Abstract
BACKGROUND: Updated and comprehensive global assessments of cancer statistics specifically targeting adults aged ≥ 60 years have remained limited. To address this gap, we conducted a systematic epidemiological analysis of cancer burden in this rapidly growing demographic worldwide. METHODS: Population-based data from the Global Cancer Observatory (GLOBOCAN) 2022 and the Global Burden of Diseases (GBD) 2021 were used and analyzed in this study. The main outcomes of this study were age-standardised incidence (ASIR) or mortality rate (ASMR), and average annual percent change (AAPC). A Bayesian age-period-cohort model was employed to project cancer trends through 2050. RESULTS: Globally, adults aged 60 years and older accounted for 65% of cancer diagnoses and 74% of cancer-related deaths in 2022. Among all cancer types, tracheal, bronchus, and lung (TBL) cancers had the highest incidence and mortality rates. Males and populations in high socio-demographic index (SDI) regions experienced a greater cancer burden compared to females and low-SDI populations. The ASIR and ASMR increased steadily with age, peaking in the over 85 age group. Geographically, ASIR was highest in the USA and Canada, followed by Australasia and Western Europe. Central Europe, East Asia, and Western Europe showed the highest ASMR. From 1992 to 2021, while both ASIR and ASMR declined globally, there were ongoing increases in the cancer burden for certain cancers, including breast, prostate, colorectal, pancreatic, and liver cancers. Projections indicate that, by 2050, the number of cases among this age group may rise to 22.2 million annually, with deaths possibly reaching 12.9 million. TBL cancers will remain the leading cause of cancer incidence and death, followed by breast cancer. CONCLUSIONS: The global cancer burden among adults aged ≥ 60 years showed a pronounced heterogeneity across sex, age strata, geographic regions, and SDI levels, and will suffer a sustained increase over the coming decades. Our study offers a comprehensive epidemiological overview for prioritizing precision interventions targeting high-risk populations and policy formulation for aging societies. SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12877-025-06632-y.