Most cancer deaths patients under the age of 80 in the United Kingdom “could be eliminated by 2050” if more people become aware of their risks for the disease and patients gain better access to life-saving treatment, according to a landmark new report.

In their report, “Overcoming Cancer in the 21st Century,” researchers at University College London and King’s College London say that continued investment in better preventative tools and treatments, greater public awareness about risks and symptoms, and improved care for terminal patients will all contribute to continued progress against the disease.

“The view offered here is that by the middle of this current century humanity’s ‘war against cancer’ that can be dated back to Hippocrates and before could and should have been largely won,” the researchers write.

“It is reasonable to expect that by 2050 nearly all cancer related deaths in children and adults aged up to (say) 80 years will have become preventable through life style changes and because of the availability of protective technologies and better pharmaceutical and other therapies.”

Scientists Dr. Jennifer Gill, Prof. Richard Sullivan and Prof. David Taylor released their report on Wednesday. Their work was funded by pharmacy chain Boots UK.

Age-standardized cancer deaths rates in Britain have fallen by more than 20 per cent since 1990, the researchers note. However, there are still 325,000 new cases diagnosed in the U.K. each year, and 150,000 deaths.

Just over half of deaths from cancer in Britain today are among people aged 75 and older, they say.

The researchers credit the decline in deaths to a number of factors, ranging from smoking cessation campaigns that have led to a drop in tobacco use and related cancers, effective early diagnostic strategies and more advanced surgical techniques and treatments.

They offer numerous recommendations for ensuring the downward trend continues, including:

  • continuing with widespread public health campaigns aimed at smoking cessation and weight loss.
  • enhancing access to screening and diagnostic services.
  • boosting vaccination rates for viruses linked to cancer, including HPV and hepatitis B.
  • increasing screening rates for early cancer indicators, such as bowel polyps.
  • improving awareness among patients with genetic risks for cancer and testing for the BRCA gene mutations that are linked to breast and ovarian cancers.

“In future decades combinations of innovative medicines coupled with enhanced radiological and surgical interventions will, provided research investment levels are maintained, mean that many more individuals with advanced cancers will be cured, or enabled to live with them in a fulfilling manner,” the researchers write.

The disease does pose numerous challenges, they warn. Cancers involve a wide variety of cell types and impact so many different organs in the body, and can be impacted by our genes in myriad ways.

“Such realities mean that there cannot ever be a single, low cost, ‘magic bullet’ technical solution to overcoming all the challenges that cancer presents,” they write.

Indeed, there remain some 14 million new cancer cases diagnosed around the world every year, and 8 million deaths. Some estimates suggest those figures could rise to 26 million new cases and 17 million deaths by 2030, the researchers write.

“Overcoming cancer in the 21st century will require a holistic and empathetic approach to understanding and meeting both individual and community needs,” they say.