Work

Underfunded, Overperforming: Endometrial cancer leads basic and translational science publications per NCI dollar

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: Objective To compare relative research funding and basic and translational science publications for gynecologic cancers vs. other common cancers, normalized to incidence and mortality rates. Methods SEER data were used to investigate incidence and deaths in the US from 2004 to 2024. Research funding was derived from National Cancer Institute (NCI) data. Google Scholar was utilized to identify oncology and medicine related journals with the highest H-indices. All abstracts on PubMed were reviewed and number of basic and translational science articles manually calculated. Results In 2024, new diagnoses of breast, prostate, lung, and colorectal cancers totaled 313,510, 299,010, 234,580, and 152,810, respectively. Endometrial, ovarian, and cervical cancers accounted for 67,880, 19,680, and 13,820, respectively. NCI funding in 2023 was approximately $542.0 million for breast, $258.6 million for prostate, $435.0 million for lung, and $238.6 million for colorectal cancers, compared to $20.0 million, $132.0 million, and $20.7 million for endometrial, ovarian, and cervical cancers, respectively. Across the highest impact journals from 2004 to 2024, 24,169 basic/translational science publications were found: 8859 (breast), 4161 (prostate), 3537 (lung), 4321 (colorectal), 412 (endometrial), 2231 (ovarian), and 648 (cervical). When adjusted for incidence, ovarian cancer had the highest number of publications, at 220.9 publications per 100,000 cases. When adjusted for funding, endometrial cancer had the highest number of publications, at 23.1 publications per $1 million average annual NCI funding. Conclusion Funding relative to disease burden varies considerably among gynecologic cancers. Endometrial cancer receives the lowest NCI funding of any cancer studied when adjusted by incidence and mortality. Despite this, endometrial cancer produced the most basic and translational science publications per dollar.

Source: Gynecologic Oncology Reports

DOI: 10.1016/j.gore.2026.102244