Our Research Programs

What does it take to outsmart cancer? Research. The American Cancer Society is the largest nonprofit funder of cancer research in the United States outside of the federal government. We've invested more than $5 billion in cancer research since 1946, all to find more – and better – treatments, uncover factors that may cause cancer, and improve cancer patients' quality of life.

ACS Research News and Highlights

Colorectal Cancer Facts and Figures 2023

Colorectal cancer is swiftly shifting to more advanced disease and younger people according to Colorectal Cancer Statistics 2023, a new report on cancer facts and trends by the American Cancer Society (ACS). Researchers showed the proportion of people in the United States diagnosed with advanced-stage colorectal cancer (CRC) increased from 52% in the mid-2000s to 60% in 2019. In addition, diagnoses of people under 55 years of age doubled from 11% (1 in 10) in 1995 to 20% (1 in 5) in 2019.

Researchers found:

  • The proportion of people in the United States diagnosed with advanced-stage colorectal cancer (CRC) increased from 52% around 2005 to 60% in 2019.
  • Diagnoses of people under age 55 doubled from just over 1 in 10 in 1995 to 1 in 5 in 2019.
  • In 2023, an estimated 153,020 people will be diagnosed with CRC in the US, and 52,550 people will die from the disease.
     

Read all about it.

Finding Answers That Save Lives

We support the full realm of cancer research from basic science in the lab to translation of evidenced-based practices in cancer clinics. Some of the work we're best known for includes in-depth surveillance statistics, large studies with adults to learn about cancer prevention, and grants to support cancer researchers across the United States.