Life-years saved through therapeutic advances in blood cancers: A retrospective analysis

Results from a retrospective analysis evaluating the impact of therapeutic advances across major blood cancer types in the US were published in Blood Advances by Chang et al. The analysis used a life-years saved (LYS) methodology, which compares actual vs projected life-years lost (LYL), with and without key therapeutic innovations.

Key data: In 2025 alone, over 1.14 million LYS due to therapeutic advances were estimated across blood cancer types analyzed. An estimated 25.8 million cumulative LYS have been achieved since 1964, with the largest contributions from Hodgkin lymphoma (HL; ~32%), acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL; ~25%), and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL; ~21%); accumulated LYS for acute myeloid leukemia (AML) were lower due, for example, to limited advances in treatment and its increasing incidence in older patients. AML showed the least progress in mortality-to-incidence ratio (MIR), with a relative reduction of 21% from 1949 to 2025 vs ≥75% for ALL, chronic myeloid leukemia (CML), and HL. Among AML subtypes, the change in MIR was best for acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL). Age disparities in LYS were observed, with the most LYS in pediatric patients for ALL, patients aged 15–64 years for HL, and patients aged ≥65 years for NHL. Racial disparities persisted regardless of age, with Black patients showing worse overall survival (OS) vs White patients across all blood cancers except multiple myeloma (MM).

Key learning: Therapeutic advances have saved an estimated >25 million life-years across blood cancers since 1964; however, significant unmet needs remain, particularly for patients with AML and across racial groups, underscoring the need for continued research investment and equitable access to therapy.