From 25% to 90% — pediatric cancer survival rates widen

The five-year survival rate for pediatric cancer in the U.S. increased from 63% in the mid-1970s to 87% between 2015 and 2021, according to the American Association for Cancer Research’s “Pediatric Cancer Progress Report 2025.”

The AACR report highlights the “urgent need for increased federal and private investments, international collaborations and innovative research approaches,” to maintain the progress made against pediatric cancers, according to a Dec. 4 news release from the association.

Here are eight things to know from the report:

1. Although the five-year survival rate of all pediatric cancers reached 87% between 2015 and 2021, the rate varied for individual cancer types.
   
   For Hodgkin lymphoma, thyroid carcinoma and retinoblastoma, it exceeded 90%. For certain gliomas and sarcomas, the rate fell below 25%.
   
   
2. Between 1970 and 2000, pediatric cancer mortality decreased by 57%. Between 2001 and 2023, it decreased by 19%.
   
   
3. For certain cancers, non-Hispanic Black children are about 30% more likely to die than non-Hispanic white children.
   

4. The FDA has approved more than 20 molecularly targeted therapies and more than 10 immunotherapies for pediatric cancers, which are “biologically distinct” from adult cancers.
   
   The proportion of drugs approved for pediatric use rose from 5.9% between 2012 and 2026 to 13.8% between 2017 and 2021.
   
   
5. An estimated 15,000 U.S. children and adolescents will receive a cancer diagnosis in 2025, and around 1,700 will die from the disease.
   
   
6. Hispanic children in the U.S. have the highest cancer incidence rates.
   
   
7. As a result of cancer treatment, an estimated 60% to 90% of pediatric cancer survivors develop at least one chronic health condition by adulthood. They also experience higher rates of financial, social and psychological challenges compared to their peers without a history of cancer.
   
   
8. The report identified several avenues to maintain and support future progress:
   
   
   • Federal funding of at least $51.3 billion from the National Institutes of Health and $7.9 billion from the National Cancer Institute for fiscal year 2026, with increased support for agencies and programs dedicated to pediatric cancer care and research.
     
     
   • Regulatory reform to expand access and increase participation in clinical trials for children and adolescents.
     
     
   • Modernization of current pediatric cancer research programs and policies.
     
     
   • Increased efforts to “harmonize” all available pediatric cancer research data.
     
     
   • Foster global and public-private collaboratives to accelerate innovation in pediatric cancer research and treatment. 
     

Read the full report here.