Cancer prevention from the perspective of global cancer burden patterns

Cancer is the second leading cause of death worldwide behind cardiovascular disease (1). According to the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2015 Study, which was conducted as part of a comprehensive regional and global research program assessing the mortality and disability caused by major diseases, injuries, and risk factors and involving over 500 researchers representing over 300 institutions and 50 countries, cancer mortality decreased between 2005 and 2015 despite the global incidence rates of cancer increasing during this period (1).