Major Types of Cancers
The major types of cancers include carcinomas, sarcomas, leukemias, lymphomas, and central nervous system cancers, which collectively account for approximately 95% of all cancer diagnoses. 1
Carcinomas
Carcinomas are the most common type of cancer, originating from epithelial cells that line internal and external body surfaces. They can be further categorized as:
Adenocarcinomas: Develop in glandular tissues
Squamous Cell Carcinomas: Arise from squamous epithelial cells
- Head and neck carcinomas
- Cervical carcinoma
- Skin squamous cell carcinoma
- Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma
Sarcomas
Sarcomas develop from connective tissues such as bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, and blood vessels:
Bone Sarcomas:
- Osteosarcoma
- Ewing sarcoma (outcomes worse for patients ≥18 years) 1
Soft Tissue Sarcomas:
- Rhabdomyosarcoma (increasing age associated with poorer prognosis) 1
- Liposarcoma
- Fibrosarcoma
Hematologic Malignancies
Leukemias
Cancers that begin in blood-forming tissues:
- Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL)
- Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML) (increasing age associated with poorer prognosis) 1
- Chronic Lymphocytic Leukemia (CLL)
- Chronic Myeloid Leukemia (CML)
Lymphomas
Cancers that begin in lymphatic system cells:
- Hodgkin Lymphoma (HL): Has significantly better survival rates (94-97% 5-year survival) 2
- Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma (NHL): More diverse group with variable survival rates (55-85% depending on subtype) 2
- Burkitt and Burkitt-like lymphoma (increasing age associated with poorer prognosis) 1
Central Nervous System (CNS) Cancers
Cancers that start in brain or spinal cord tissues:
- Gliomas (including glioblastoma, astrocytomas)
- Meningiomas
- Medulloblastomas (better survival in AYA patients compared to children) 1
- Ependymomas 3
Germ Cell Tumors
Arise from reproductive cells:
- Testicular cancer (most common cancer in men ages 15-39) 1
- Ovarian germ cell tumors
- Non-gonadal germ cell tumors
Neuroendocrine Tumors
Develop from cells that release hormones in response to nervous system signals:
- Carcinoid tumors
- Pancreatic neuroendocrine tumors
- Pheochromocytomas
Epidemiology and Distribution
Cancer incidence varies significantly by age, sex, and geographic location:
- Cancer is the leading cause of death among adolescents and young adults (AYAs), excluding homicide, suicide, or unintentional injury 1
- Female AYA patients tend to have better 5-year relative survival compared to male AYA patients 1
- The most frequently occurring cancers in high-income countries are lung, colorectal, female breast, cutaneous melanoma, and prostate 4
Important Considerations
Age-Specific Distribution
The frequency and incidence of cancer types varies dramatically across different age groups:
- In women ages 15-39: Breast carcinoma (21.0 per 100,000), thyroid carcinoma (18.3), and cervical/uterine carcinoma (8.9) are most common 1
- In men ages 15-39: Germ cell neoplasms (11.2 per 100,000), melanoma (5.0), and NHL (4.7) are most common 1
Cancer Syndromes
Some cancer types occur as part of inherited cancer syndromes:
- Li-Fraumeni syndrome (p53 mutations): Predisposes to breast cancer, sarcomas, brain tumors, adrenocortical carcinoma, and leukemia 1, 5
- BRCA-related hereditary breast/ovarian cancer 1
- Fanconi anemia 1
Cancers of Unknown Primary
Approximately 3-5% of all malignancies present as metastases without an identifiable primary site 1. These are categorized pathologically as:
- Well and moderately differentiated adenocarcinomas
- Poorly differentiated carcinomas
- Squamous cell carcinomas
- Undifferentiated neoplasms
- Carcinomas with neuroendocrine differentiation 1
Modifiable Risk Factors
The most important causes of cancer include:
- Tobacco use (primarily cigarette use)
- Excess alcohol consumption
- Obesity
- Lack of physical activity
- Diets low in fruits and vegetables
- Infectious agents
- Sun exposure 4
Understanding these major cancer types and their characteristics is essential for proper diagnosis, treatment planning, and improving outcomes for patients with cancer.