Health Areas › Cancer

Cancer

Area 3 in the list of seventeen published by the Saudi National Institute of Health in June 2025. Order follows SNIH's published list: that number is SNIH's own position for the area; it is not a ranking by this site and it says nothing about how much research this area should receive.

This area is matched to research by its subject headings, Neoplasms (C04), and to disease burden by the WHO cause-to-area table v0.4. The two line up well enough here for the research-share-to-burden-share ratio to be shown, with the differences named: a close match.

A paper or study can count in more than one area. Areas as published by the Saudi National Institute of Health (SNIH), June 2025, applied to 2021–2025 retrospectively, for description only. A Saudi affiliation is not the same as research on the Saudi population.

Close match. The area and its WHO causes line up well enough to show the research-share-to-burden-share ratio, with the differences named.

Close match

Order follows SNIH's published list: area 3 of seventeen.

Coverage Of The Underlying Corpus · 2021–2025

On the same selection, before the area filter. Papers without MeSH terms stay in this coverage line; they are never in any area or in the grey row. It describes the corpus, not how completely this area’s research is captured.

Papers without MeSH terms cannot be assigned to any area, so this profile is never a complete count of the area’s research, and it does not measure how completely that research is captured. Coverage: records captured by the named sources that meet the published eligibility rules; coverage is not exhaustive.

Eligible publications with MeSH terms

60.6%

PubMed with OpenAlex · 2021–2025

Eligible publications matched to any area

41.3%

PubMed with OpenAlex · 2021–2025

The Burden This Area Carries

Burden Share & Research Share

Burden: WHO Global Health Estimates, 2023 · research: 2021–2025

Share of national disease burden

Source: WHO Global Health Estimates, 2023, through the WHO cause-to-area table v0.4. All-age disability-adjusted life years for one named year.

5.6%

WHO · 2023

Research share among MeSH-indexed eligible publications

Eligible publications in this area, 2021–2025, divided by all eligible publications with MeSH terms in the same selection, before the area filter. Shares across the seventeen areas do not sum to 100%.

15.3%

of the eligible publications with MeSH terms · 2021–2025

Research-share-to-burden-share ratio

Shown because this area is a close match. A ratio of 1 means equal shares under these definitions; it does not establish adequate research effort or funding, and it carries no judgement about what the right figure would be.

2.73

Recorded Research

Three Counts, Never One Total

Papers and registrations are counted separately, never added together.

A paper, a clinical trial and an observational registration are different kinds of record, so this area carries three separate counts. They are never added together.

Papers and registrations are different kinds of record. They are counted separately and never added together, anywhere on this site. Counts describe recorded activity; they do not assess quality, benefit or performance.

Registrations are ClinicalTrials.gov records; a listed site doesn't prove recruitment in Saudi Arabia.

Journals that follow ICMJE policy require clinical trials to be registered before enrolment begins, in ClinicalTrials.gov or another accepted registry; observational studies have no such requirement, so registered observational studies are a small, selective part of observational research. These figures count studies recorded in ClinicalTrials.gov; they do not measure total research volume, study completion or financial investment.

Trials and observational studies are those listing a Saudi site. A listed site does not prove that participants were recruited in Saudi Arabia. Withdrawn studies and expanded-access records are not counted.

Publications

PubMed and OpenAlex · research-related papers with a Saudi affiliation carrying Neoplasms (C04) · 2021–2025

PubMed with OpenAlex · 2021–2025 provisional

Clinical trials

ClinicalTrials.gov · interventional, listing a Saudi site · 2021–2025

ClinicalTrials.gov · 2021–2025 provisional

Observational studies

ClinicalTrials.gov · observational registrations listing a Saudi site · 2021–2025

ClinicalTrials.gov · 2021–2025 provisional

Publications By Year

Research-related papers in this area, by year of earliest publication. The axis starts at zero and ends at 2,000.

2021
2022
2023
2024
2025 provisional
Publications By Study Group

Research-related papers in this area, 2021–2025, in the five study groups. The axis starts at zero and ends at 2,500.

Interventional
Observational
Evidence synthesis
Laboratory and animal
Other designs
Clinical Trials By Phase

Trials in this area, 2021–2025. A trial registered across two phases counts in both. The axis starts at zero and ends at 25.

Early phase 1 0
Phase 1
Phase 2
Phase 3
Phase 4
Not applicable
Clinical Trials By Recruitment Status

Trials in this area, 2021–2025, by status as the registry records it on the day ClinicalTrials.gov processed the data. The axis starts at zero and ends at 20. Statuses open largest first.

Recruiting
Active, not recruiting
Completed
Unknown
Terminated
Enrolling by invitation 0
Not yet recruiting 0
Suspended 0
Observational Studies By Recruitment Status

Observational studies in this area, 2021–2025, by status as the registry records it. The axis starts at zero and ends at 20. Statuses open largest first.

Completed
Unknown
Recruiting
Not yet recruiting
Terminated
Active, not recruiting 0
Enrolling by invitation 0
Suspended 0

Industry

Industry In This Area

The area's three counts narrowed to industry: research papers coded industry-involved, industry-led clinical trials and industry-led observational studies, each with its share of the area's own count. They are three kinds of record and are never added together.

Industry in papers comes from each paper's own industry code; industry in registrations comes from the lead sponsor. They are different measures of different records and are never combined.

Industry in registrations means a lead sponsor that is a company making or selling health products (drugs, vaccines, biotechnology, devices, diagnostics, health software or medical nutrition), as the industry guide defines it in its section two, or a contract research organisation with such a company listed as collaborator. Hospital groups and other providers that ClinicalTrials.gov labels “industry” are not counted. Withdrawn studies are not counted.

Journals that follow ICMJE policy require clinical trials to be registered before enrolment begins, in ClinicalTrials.gov or another accepted registry; observational studies have no such requirement, so registered observational studies are a small, selective part of observational research. These figures count studies recorded in ClinicalTrials.gov; they do not measure total research volume, study completion or financial investment.

Counts describe recorded activity; they do not measure investment, quality or performance.

Industry involvement in papers is a lower bound.

Industry involvement is identified from the paper's own record and registration; it does not establish financial investment and is a lower bound.

Industry-involved publications

3% of the 6,251 research papers in the area

PubMed with OpenAlex · 2021–2025 provisional

Industry-led clinical trials

61% of the 36 clinical trials in the area

ClinicalTrials.gov · 2021–2025 provisional

Industry-led observational studies

53% of the 19 observational studies in the area

ClinicalTrials.gov · 2021–2025 provisional

Companies

Companies Leading Studies In This Area

Every company credited with at least one industry-led clinical trial or observational study in this area, 2021–2025, with both counts: two counts, never one total. Each study is credited to one company, exactly as the industry-led counts decide it: its lead sponsor or, for a contract research organisation's study, its company collaborator listed in the registration. So the companies' studies add up to the area's industry-led counts. A study in several areas counts in each. Names are shown as registered, with no grouping into parent companies.

There is no rank column. The list opens with the most clinical trials, ties A–Z. Every count above zero opens its records.

Only studies listing a Saudi site are counted. Industry in registrations means a lead sponsor that is a company making or selling health products (drugs, vaccines, biotechnology, devices, diagnostics, health software or medical nutrition), as the industry guide defines it in its section two, or a contract research organisation with such a company listed as collaborator. Hospital groups and other providers that ClinicalTrials.gov labels “industry” are not counted. Withdrawn studies are not counted.

Journals that follow ICMJE policy require clinical trials to be registered before enrolment begins, in ClinicalTrials.gov or another accepted registry; observational studies have no such requirement, so registered observational studies are a small, selective part of observational research. These figures count studies recorded in ClinicalTrials.gov; they do not measure total research volume, study completion or financial investment.

The counts describe registered activity; they do not measure investment, quality or performance.

Showing 2021–2025 provisional

Registrations are ClinicalTrials.gov records; a listed site doesn't prove recruitment in Saudi Arabia.

A listed site does not prove that participants were recruited in Saudi Arabia. Withdrawn studies and expanded-access records are not counted.

Companies Credited With Industry-Led Studies In Cancer, 2021–2025.
CompanyClinical trialsObservational studies
AstraZeneca
Celgene 0
Janssen Research & Development, LLC 0
Novartis Pharmaceuticals
argenx 0
Boehringer Ingelheim 0
Bristol-Myers Squibb 0
GlaxoSmithKline 0
Hikma Pharmaceuticals LLC 0
Hoffmann-La Roche 0
Juno Therapeutics, Inc., a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company 0
Kyverna Therapeutics 0
Merck Sharp & Dohme LLC 0
Mirati Therapeutics Inc. 0
Pfizer
AbbVie 0

Institutions

Institutions In This Area

Every institution on the approved list with at least one research-related publication, clinical trial or observational study in this area, 2021–2025. Three counts, never one total: a paper, a clinical trial and an observational registration are different kinds of record.

They are counted exactly as on Institutions & Clusters: publications in full; a parent institution's row also counts its units' papers and studies, so rows overlap and are never added together; clinical trials and observational studies count registrations listing the institution as a site, and a listed site does not prove that participants were recruited there. Institutions are named as OpenAlex records them.

There is no rank column. The list opens with the most publications, ties A–Z; the switch orders it by clinical trials, observational studies or A–Z. Every count above zero opens its records. No citation measure is given here.

79 of the area's 6,251 research papers have no Saudi institution identified and count in no institution · PubMed with OpenAlex · 2021–2025 provisional

Institutions With Research In Cancer, 2021–2025.
InstitutionPublicationsClinical trialsObservational studies
King Saud University 0
King Abdulaziz University 0 0
King Khalid University 0 0
Prince Sattam Bin Abdulaziz University 0 0
King Faisal Specialist Hospital & Research Centre
Umm al-Qura University 0 0
Princess Nourah bint Abdulrahman University 0 0
Jazan University 0 0
Taif University 0 0
Qassim University 0
King Saud bin Abdulaziz University for Health Sciences 0 0
Jouf University 0 0
King Abdullah International Medical Research Center
University of Tabuk 0 0
National Guard Health Affairs 0 0
Alfaisal University 0 0
University of Ha'il 0 0
Imam Abdulrahman Bin Faisal University 0 0
Imam Mohammad ibn Saud Islamic University 0 0
Shaqra University 0 0
University of Jeddah 0 0
Taibah University 0 0
King Abdulaziz Medical City
Najran University 0 0
King Fahad Specialist Hospital (location not recorded) 0 0
King Fahd Medical City 0
King Faisal University 0 0
University of Bisha 0 0
Northern Border University 0 0
Almaarefa University 0 0
Majmaah University 0 0
Batterjee Medical College 0 0
Ministry of Health 0 0
King Abdullah University of Science and Technology 0 0
King Saud Medical City 0 0
Al Baha University 0 0
Riyadh Armed Forces Hospital 0 0
King Abdul Aziz University Hospital 0
King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology 0 0
King Abdullah Medical City 0 0
Security Forces Hospital 0 0
Sulaiman Al Rajhi Colleges 0 0
Jeddah First Health Cluster 0 0
Saudi Electronic University 0 0
University of Hafr Al-Batin 0 0
King Khalid University Hospital 0 0
King Abdulaziz Hospital (Jeddah First Health Cluster) 0 0
Prince Sultan University 0 0
King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals 0 0
Riyadh Elm University 0
Ibn Sina National College for Medical Studies 0 0
King Fahad Hospital Jeddah 0 0
King Khaled Eye Specialist Hospital 0 0
Fakeeh College for Medical Sciences 0 0
King Khaled Hospital (location not recorded) 0 0
Prince Mohammad bin Fahd University 0 0
Islamic University of Madinah 0 0
Naif Arab University for Security Sciences 0 0
King Fahd Armed Forces Hospital 0 0
Saudi Aramco (Saudi Arabia) 0 0
Saudi Aramco Medical Services Organization 0 0
King Fahd Hospital of the University 0 0
Prince Sultan Military College of Health Sciences 0 0
Saudi Food and Drug Authority 0 0
Armed Forces Hospital (location not recorded) 0 0
Dar Al Uloom University 0 0
Buraydah Colleges 0 0
Asir Central Hospital 0 0
International Medical Center in Jeddah 0 0
East Jeddah Hospital 0 0
Prince Mohammed bin Abdulaziz Hospital 0 0
Soliman Fakeeh Hospital 0 0
Armed Forces Hospital Southern Region 0 0
Inaya Medical Colleges 0 0
King Fahad Central Hospital (location not recorded) 0 0
King Fahad Hospital Hufūf 0 0
King Fahd Military Medical Complex 0 0
Mohammed Almana College for Medical Sciences 0 0
Qatif Central Hospital 0 0
Effat University 0 0
King Abdulaziz Hospital (location not recorded) 0 0
Maternity and Children's Hospital (location not recorded) 0 0
Ministry of Defense 0 0
Arab East Colleges 0 0
Ministry of Education 0 0
Onaizah Colleges 0 0
University of Business and Technology 0 0
Al-Farabi College 0 0
Institute of Public Administration 0 0
King Fahd Security College 0 0
King Salman Center for Disability Research 0 0
North West Armed Forces Hospital 0 0
Adham General Hospital 0 0
Al-Ghad International Health Sciences Colleges 0 0
Aljazeera Hospital (location not recorded) 0 0
Dar Al-Hekma University 0 0
Fahd bin Sultan University 0 0
Hera General Hospital 0 0
Jeddah Regional Laboratory 0 0
North Private College of Nursing 0 0
Northern Area Armed Forces Hospital 0 0
Prince Mohammad Bin Salman College of Business and Entrepreneurship 0 0
Research and Innovation Institute (location not recorded) 0 0
Royal Commission for Jubail and Yanbu 0 0
Royal Commission Medical Center 0 0
Saudi Commission for Health Specialties 0 0
Saudi Health Council 0 0
Yanbu Industrial College 0 0

Clinical Trials

Clinical Trials By Intervention Type

The area's clinical trials, 2021–2025, by ClinicalTrials.gov's intervention type, with the industry-led part. A trial with several intervention types counts in each, so the bars are never added together and can sum to more than the area's 36 trials. “Other” is the registry's own type; it comes last, as “Not recorded” would. The list opens largest first, ties A–Z. Each count above zero opens its records. Observational studies are not shown by type.

The axis starts at zero and ends at 50.

All trials Industry-led trials

Drug ·
Biological ·
Procedure ·
Device · 0
Diagnostic Test · 0
Radiation · 0
Other ·

ClinicalTrials.gov · 2021–2025 provisional

National Health Facts · Saudi Arabia

Cancer: National Health Facts

National health facts checked against their sources: 4 November 2026 to 5 November 2026.

Each card names its source in short; its ⓘ gives the full source. The full view below holds every fact with its full source.

Estimate. Estimated or modelled by its source, not counted directly.

Registry. Cases recorded in a disease registry.

National figures for all residents unless stated.

At A Glance

24,470

new cancer cases registered in 2022, all residents

Registry Saudi Cancer Registry · 2022

Registry Saudi Cancer Registry, Cancer Incidence Report 2022 · 2022

About 11,100

cancer deaths in 2023

Estimate WHO · 2023

Estimate WHO Global Health Estimates, 2023 · 2023

31.3%

of cancers in Saudi women are breast cancer; colorectal cancer is 16.8% of cancers in Saudi men

Registry Saudi Cancer Registry · 2022

Registry Saudi Cancer Registry, Cancer Incidence Report 2022 · 2022

Show Health Facts & SourcesHide Health Facts & Sources

Burden

Lost healthy life by condition within this area, 2023 (WHO estimates, WHO causes matched to the area by the project's cause table v0.4). The area's share of national burden appears in the profile's burden comparison lower down. DALYs are the years of healthy life lost to illness, disability or early death.

Colon and rectum cancers 14%
Breast cancer 12%
Liver cancer 8%
Lymphomas and myeloma 7%
Trachea, bronchus and lung cancers 7%

Source: WHO Global Health Estimates, 2023

Key Indicators

  • 11,256 new cases in men, 2022Saudi Cancer Registry, Cancer Incidence Report 2022 · 2022
  • 13,214 new cases in women, 2022Saudi Cancer Registry, Cancer Incidence Report 2022 · 2022
  • 19,419 new cases in Saudi nationals, 2022Saudi Cancer Registry, Cancer Incidence Report 2022 · 2022
  • 144.9 new cancer cases per 100,000 Saudi men a year, age-standardised to the World Standard Population (Cancer Incidence in Five Continents, Vol. I, 1966)Saudi Cancer Registry, Cancer Incidence Report 2022 · 2022
  • 159.1 new cancer cases per 100,000 Saudi women a year, age-standardised to the World Standard Population (Cancer Incidence in Five Continents, Vol. I, 1966)Saudi Cancer Registry, Cancer Incidence Report 2022 · 2022
Most Common Cancers In Saudi Men, 2022

Share of new cancer cases in Saudi men

Colorectal 16.8%
Prostate 7.6%
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma 7.2%
Leukaemia 5.9%
Bladder 5.4%

Source: Saudi Cancer Registry, Cancer Incidence Report 2022

Most Common Cancers In Saudi Women, 2022

Share of new cancer cases in Saudi women

Breast 31.3%
Thyroid 12.3%
Colorectal 10.2%
Corpus uteri 6.2%
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma 4.5%

Source: Saudi Cancer Registry, Cancer Incidence Report 2022

Sources Of These Facts

About These Figures

How This Area Is Matched

A paper belongs to this area when any of its subject headings is one of the area's headings or sits beneath it. Registered studies use the same headings, applied to the conditions the registry records. Only records carrying subject headings can be assigned at all, and coverage is reported for every selection.

What This Page Does Not Say

Nothing here assesses quality, benefit or performance, and no figure on it should be read as a target. The research-share-to-burden-share ratio compares two shares; it does not establish that research in this area is too much, too little or correctly aimed. Counts describe what is recorded, which is not the same as what was done.

Where The Figures Come From

Publications from PubMed matched with OpenAlex; trials and observational studies from ClinicalTrials.gov. Area assignment follows the SNIH 17-area research dictionary v1.2; burden follows the WHO cause-to-area table v0.4. Both are published in full on the methods page.

* Not final: counts for these years usually rise at later updates, as many studies are registered after they start and recent papers are still being added. On this page: trials and publications 2025; observational studies 2024–2025.