Advances in the treatment of blood cancers have given patients in the United States an estimated 25.8 million additional years of life over the past 75 years, according to a new study published in Blood Advances.
The analysis, led by Blood Cancer United in collaboration with researchers at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James) and Lumanity, examines the impact of therapeutic advances in leukaemia, lymphoma, myeloma and other blood cancers between 1949 and 2024.
Researchers introduced a new “life-years saved” methodology to quantify the impact of advances in blood cancer treatment. Rather than relying solely on conventional measures such as five-year survival or mortality rates, the approach estimates the additional years of life patients have gained as a result of therapeutic innovation.
Using data from the National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) Program, researchers integrated cancer incidence, mortality and US life expectancy data to estimate the amount of life restored through improvements in treatment.
Treatment innovation has transformed outcomes
The findings reflect the evolution of blood cancer treatment since the first chemotherapies emerged in 1949.
The study found that early gains in life‑years saved were driven by cytotoxic therapy, radiation and transplantation, while progress accelerated with the introduction of monoclonal antibodies, kinase inhibitors, and other targeted therapies.
Future progress is expected to be driven by innovative combinations, precision medicines and next-generation immunotherapies, including bispecific antibodies, antibody-drug conjugates, and cellular therapies.
The researchers highlighted that blood cancers account for nearly 10% of all cancer diagnoses in the US, with more than 192,000 new cases expected this year.
Unlike many solid tumours, where prevention and screening play an important role in reducing mortality, improvements in blood cancer outcomes depend heavily on therapeutic innovation and access to treatment.
“As blood cancer incidence continues to rise and more patients depend on ongoing or lifelong treatment for survival, traditional measures such as five-year survival rates and mortality rates do not capture the full story of progress against blood cancer,” said E. Anders Kolb, president and CEO at Blood Cancer United.
“Life-years saved – the number of additional years of life gained because of treatment advances – provides a more meaningful way to monitor progress over time and assess how changes in healthcare policy, research funding and access to treatment may impact patients’ lives,” he added.
Hodgkin lymphoma and ALL show major gains
The impact of treatment advances has varied considerably across different types of blood cancer.
Hodgkin lymphoma has contributed approximately 32% of the total life-years saved, representing the largest share among the blood cancers analysed. Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia (ALL) accounts for another 25%, reflecting decades of substantial improvements in treatment and survival.
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma contributes approximately 21% of all life-years saved. Researchers attributed much of the more recent progress to advances in immunotherapy, including rituximab, which was approved in 1997, combined with the relatively high incidence of non-Hodgkin lymphoma.
In contrast, progress has been more limited in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML), particularly among older adults. The findings highlight the need for new first-in-class therapies for AML and other myeloid cancers.
Racial disparities remain a major concern
Despite substantial overall progress, the study also highlights persistent disparitiesin survival.
Black patients have significantly poorer survival outcomes than White patients across most major blood cancers.
Multiple myeloma is an exception, with Black patients experiencing equitable or better outcomes when access to treatment is comparable.
The researchers said these differences underline the importance of ensuring that advances in blood cancer treatment reach patients regardless of race or age.
“This new methodology gives us a clear, intuitive way to measure progress, and to see where we must accelerate it,” said co-author Ann-Kathrin Eisfeld, a hematologic oncologist at The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center – Arthur G. James Cancer Hospital and Richard J. Solove Research Institute (OSUCCC – James).
“While millions of life-years have been gained, the data show stark gaps, particularly for Black patients and those with acute myeloid leukaemia. Continued investment in research and equitable access to advanced therapies are essential to ensuring all patients benefit from scientific progress. Now we will be able to track progress, or the lack thereof, moving forward, to be able to provide feedback for critical need areas—and required investments,” she added.
Nearly 19 million more life-years projected by 2040
The analysis also offers a glimpse of the potential impact of future treatment advances.
On the current trajectory, blood cancer therapies are expected to add 18.9 million life-years between 2026 and 2040. However, researchers emphasised that this is a projection rather than a guaranteed outcome.
They noted that health policy changes that limit coverage, create barriers to care, or access to effective treatments could significantly slow this progress.
According to the analysis, accelerating scientific innovation and expanding access to care could result in an estimated 1 million additional life-years by 2040, with a projected range of 0.8 million to 1.5 million beyond the current trajectory.
Research and access critical to future progress
The findings point to four key priorities for sustaining and accelerating gains in blood cancer survival: continued investment in research, broader access to advanced treatments, faster development of first-in-class therapies and targeted efforts to address racial and age-based survival disparities.
These priorities align with Blood Cancer United’s Bold Goal, which aims to enable people with blood cancer to gain more than one million additional years of life by 2040 beyond what would otherwise be achieved.
The organisation plans to develop an annual report to track progress across blood cancers and measure progress towards this goal
“The past 75 years prove that when we invest in scientific discovery, we give patients more time. Every year of life matters, and millions more are within reach if we sustain research funding, accelerate the next generation of breakthroughs and ensure better access to treatment for everyone,” Kolb said.
Blood Cancer United is a global nonprofit focused on blood cancer patient support, research, and advocacy.
