BEIJING, Dec. 24 (Xinhua) — China’s pediatric and adolescent cancer patients have achieved a 5-year survival rate of 77.2 percent, according to a study released on Wednesday. This marks a significant improvement in the country’s healthcare outcomes, with some cancer types reaching world-class survival levels.
The study, conducted by the National Center for Pediatric Cancer Surveillance (NCPCS), revealed that the 5-year survival rate for children under 14 years was 77.8 percent, while adolescents aged 15 to 19 years had a survival rate of 75.3 percent. Interestingly, the survival rate for girls was slightly higher than for boys.
Breakthroughs in Cancer Treatment
Among the cancers surveyed, retinoblastoma exhibited the highest 5-year survival rate at 91.2 percent, while malignant bone tumors had the lowest at 60.4 percent. Notably, for the six high-priority cancer types identified by the World Health Organization (WHO)’s Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer, China’s survival rates exceeded 80 percent, with the highest reaching 93.8 percent. This achievement far surpasses the WHO’s target of a 60-percent survival rate for these cancers, which include acute lymphoblastic leukemia, Burkitt lymphoma, Hodgkin lymphoma, retinoblastoma, Wilms tumor, and low-grade glioma.
“Compared with estimates from a decade ago, the 5-year survival rate for cancer patients aged 0-19 in China has improved markedly,” said Ni Xin, director of the NCPCS and president of Beijing Children’s Hospital, affiliated with Capital Medical University.
Ni Xin attributed these advancements to China’s ongoing healthcare reforms, the improved inter-provincial medical billing system, specialized policies for major disease treatment, the adoption of standardized treatment protocols, and the development of a multi-center collaborative network.
Addressing Data Gaps
For years, the lack of authoritative, high-quality data on childhood and adolescent cancer survival rates was a significant gap in China’s healthcare landscape. To address this, the NCPCS was established in 2019 with the goal of standardizing the nationwide registration and management of pediatric oncology cases.
As of December 2025, the NCPCS has developed an extensive monitoring network that encompasses 31 provincial-level regions and integrates data from 1,760 designated hospitals and medical institutions. This network has enabled the collection and analysis of 95,189 cases of individuals aged 0-19 diagnosed between 2018 and 2020.
Comprehensive Analysis and Future Implications
The research delivered a comprehensive analysis, reporting 5-year survival rates across 12 major diagnostic categories and 47 specific cancer subtypes. The complete findings of this study have been published in the international medical journal The Lancet.
These developments represent a significant stride in China’s healthcare capabilities, particularly in pediatric oncology. The improved survival rates are expected to encourage further investment in healthcare infrastructure and research, potentially setting a new standard for cancer treatment in the region.
Looking ahead, the continued focus on data-driven healthcare policies and international collaboration could further enhance treatment outcomes for pediatric and adolescent cancer patients in China. As the NCPCS continues to expand its data collection and analysis capabilities, the potential for groundbreaking research and innovative treatment strategies remains promising.
