Objectives  This work aims to analyze the incidence and mortality rates of common cancers in developed and developing countries around the world.The results were compared with those of in China to determine the major cancers in this country.

  Methods  Relevant data, such as incidence number, incidence rate, and mortality rate of common cancers in all regions, were all based on GLOBOCAN 2008.

  Results  Lung cancer had the highest incidence rate among malignant cancers in both developed and developing countries around the world.Other frequently observed cancers, from highest to lowest, were as follows: colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer in developed countries and stomach cancer, breast cancer, and liver cancer in developing countries.The cancer types with the most significant mortality rates, from highest to lowest, were as follows: lung cancer, colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and prostate cancer in developed countries and lung cancer, liver cancer, stomach cancer, and esophageal cancer in developing countries.In China, lung cancer had the highest incidence and mortality rate.The incidence and mortality rates of stomach cancer and liver cancer were both higher in China than in developed and developing countries all over the world.By 2020.lung cancer, stomach cancer, and liver cancer will be the top three cancer types with the highest incidence and mortality rates in China.

  Conclusion  The incidence and mortality rates of different cancer types significantly vary across regions.In China, the trend in the rates of different cancer types was characteristic of those in both developed and developing countries. Lung cancer, stomach cancer, and liver cancer are the major malignant cancers that threaten the health of the Chinese population.Moreover, the effect of these cancer types will rapidly get worse over the next few decades.Thus, this study provides key insights for controlling these cancer types in China.