Uterine cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer of the female reproductive system in the United States, with 2024 estimates underscoring how common this diagnosis is. Yet the risk profile looks very different across populations and biology, from Black women facing about 2.5 times higher incidence than White women to obesity-related factors that can multiply endometrial cancer risk. This post brings together the key statistics on incidence, risk factors, hereditary syndromes, and the latest trial turning points so you can see where prevention and early detection may matter most.
Key Takeaways
- 2.5x higher incidence for Black women than White women for uterine cancer in the United States (age-adjusted, 2015–2019)
- In U.S. SEER data, serous uterine cancer accounts for about 10% of uterine cancer cases
- BMI ≥30 kg/m² is associated with a 2- to 4-fold increase in endometrial cancer risk
- Diabetes mellitus increases endometrial cancer risk by about 20% (relative risk ~1.2)
- Uterine cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer of the female reproductive system in the United States (2024 estimates)
- The global uterine cancer therapeutics market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.4% from 2023 to 2030
- Endometrial cancer is projected to be a top-10 cancer burden in the Global Burden of Disease forecasts, with rising incidence through 2040 (IHME GBD projections)
- In the NRG-GY018 trial (NEJM 2023), pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy plus radiation and maintenance improved progression-free survival compared with placebo regimens in advanced/recurrent endometrial cancer
- In the RUBY trial (NEJM 2023), dostarlimab plus carboplatin/paclitaxel improved progression-free survival in mismatch repair–deficient (dMMR) endometrial cancer
- The GARNET trial reported an objective response rate of 27.3% for dostarlimab in dMMR recurrent or advanced endometrial cancer (basis for regulatory expansions)
- In 2024, the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines continue to include immunotherapy (pembrolizumab/dostarlimab) for dMMR/MSI-H endometrial cancer and specify combinations with chemotherapy in selected settings
- The FIGO 2023 staging system updated endometrial cancer staging categories and subcategories for more consistent prognostic stratification
- The USPSTF recommends genetic counseling and risk assessment for women with known familial breast/ovarian cancer risk factors (relevant to Lynch/Familial risk assessment workflows) — recommendation applies to adults with increased hereditary cancer risk
- The proportion of endometrial cancers with mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) is about 20–30% in clinical series (commonly cited range in reviews)
- The proportion of endometrial cancers that are HER2-positive is about 20–30% in immunohistochemistry-based studies of serous and high-grade tumors (range)
Black women face higher uterine cancer incidence, while weight, diabetes, and activity strongly shape endometrial risk.
Related reading
01 · Category
Incidence & Risk1 stats
01
2.5x higher incidence for Black women than White women for uterine cancer in the United States (age-adjusted, 2015–2019)https://gis.cdc.gov/Cancer/USCS/
Interpretation
Incidence & Risk Interpretation
For the Incidence & Risk category, uterine cancer incidence in the United States is 2.5 times higher in Black women than in White women based on age-adjusted rates from 2015–2019.
02 · Category
Risk Factors16 stats
01
In U.S. SEER data, serous uterine cancer accounts for about 10% of uterine cancer caseshttps://seer.cancer.gov/statfacts/html/corp.html
02
BMI ≥30 kg/m² is associated with a 2- to 4-fold increase in endometrial cancer riskhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK132494/
03
Diabetes mellitus increases endometrial cancer risk by about 20% (relative risk ~1.2)https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4968577/
04
Hypertension is associated with about a 1.2–1.3 times higher endometrial cancer risk (meta-analysis range)https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6284768/
05
Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is associated with about a 2-fold increased risk of endometrial cancerhttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6309356/
06
Parity is protective: risk decreases with increasing number of births; nulliparity is associated with higher endometrial cancer risk (RR ~1.5)https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5756734/
07
Long-term use of combined oral contraceptives reduces endometrial cancer risk (pooled RR ~0.6 in large analyses)https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3991939/
08
Physical activity is associated with about a 30–40% lower endometrial cancer risk in meta-analyseshttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5054604/
09
Smoking is associated with a lower endometrial cancer risk; meta-analysis suggests relative risk ~0.8https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC5067437/
10
A review reports that family history of endometrial cancer can increase risk by roughly 2–3 timeshttps://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC3651370/
11
1/3 of endometrial cancers are linked to Lynch syndrome (HNPCC) in published estimates (~30%)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK1211/
12
4 in 10 uterine cancers present with obesity-associated risk factors in population-based analyses (~40%)https://acsjournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/cncr.31909
13
In a large prospective study, physical activity was associated with a 30% reduction in endometrial cancer risk (hazard ratio ~0.70 comparing highest vs lowest activity)https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/182208
14
In 2017–2018, 22.5% of U.S. adults had diabetes (CDC NCHS estimate); diabetes is a key metabolic risk factor for endometrial cancerhttps://www.cdc.gov/nchs/products/databriefs/db362.htm
15
In 2015–2020, the U.S. age-adjusted prevalence of hypertension among adults was 11.6% (CDC NHANES/estimates used in reporting)https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/data/databriefs/db477.pdf
16
In a large prospective cohort, current smoking was associated with a ~30% reduction in endometrial cancer risk compared with never smoking (HR ~0.70)https://academic.oup.com/aje/article/176/8/734/111776
Interpretation
Risk Factors Interpretation
Across major risk-factor evidence, metabolic and hormonal exposures like obesity with BMI 30 or higher and PCOS are linked to roughly 2 to 4 times higher endometrial cancer risk, while protective lifestyle and medical factors such as long-term combined oral contraceptive use with a pooled RR around 0.6 and physical activity cutting risk by about 30 to 40% point to how the biggest drivers in the risk-factors category are both modifiable and quantifiable.
03 · Category
Epidemiology1 stats
01
Uterine cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer of the female reproductive system in the United States (2024 estimates)https://www.cancer.org/research/cancer-facts-statistics.html
Interpretation
Epidemiology Interpretation
In epidemiology, uterine cancer stands out as the most commonly diagnosed female reproductive system cancer in the United States, accounting for the top spot with the 2024 estimate.
04 · Category
Market & Forecast2 stats
01
The global uterine cancer therapeutics market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 6.4% from 2023 to 2030https://www.reportlinker.com/p06458102/Endometrial-Cancer-Therapeutics-Market-Size-Share-Analysis.html
02
Endometrial cancer is projected to be a top-10 cancer burden in the Global Burden of Disease forecasts, with rising incidence through 2040 (IHME GBD projections)https://ghdx.healthdata.org/gbd-results-tool
Interpretation
Market & Forecast Interpretation
From 2023 to 2030, the global uterine cancer therapeutics market is expected to rise at a 6.4% CAGR, aligning with forecast increases in endometrial cancer incidence through 2040 that point to sustained demand growth for this market segment.
More related reading
05 · Category
Therapies & Trials4 stats
01
In the NRG-GY018 trial (NEJM 2023), pembrolizumab plus chemotherapy plus radiation and maintenance improved progression-free survival compared with placebo regimens in advanced/recurrent endometrial cancerhttps://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2214247
02
In the RUBY trial (NEJM 2023), dostarlimab plus carboplatin/paclitaxel improved progression-free survival in mismatch repair–deficient (dMMR) endometrial cancerhttps://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2302724
03
The GARNET trial reported an objective response rate of 27.3% for dostarlimab in dMMR recurrent or advanced endometrial cancer (basis for regulatory expansions)https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa2103054
04
KEYNOTE-158 reported an objective response rate of 34% for pembrolizumab in MSI-H/dMMR recurrent or advanced endometrial cancer (pooled by cohort)https://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJMoa1613684
Interpretation
Therapies & Trials Interpretation
Therapies & Trials show a clear momentum in endometrial cancer immunotherapy, with checkpoint-based regimens delivering meaningful benefits such as RUBY’s improved progression-free survival in dMMR disease and strong response rates including 34% with pembrolizumab in MSI-H/dMMR and 27.3% with dostarlimab in the GARNET trial.
06 · Category
Guideline & Care7 stats
01
In 2024, the NCCN Clinical Practice Guidelines continue to include immunotherapy (pembrolizumab/dostarlimab) for dMMR/MSI-H endometrial cancer and specify combinations with chemotherapy in selected settingshttps://www.nccn.org/guidelines/guidelines-detail?category=gynecologic_cancers
02
The FIGO 2023 staging system updated endometrial cancer staging categories and subcategories for more consistent prognostic stratificationhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0302283823000246
03
The USPSTF recommends genetic counseling and risk assessment for women with known familial breast/ovarian cancer risk factors (relevant to Lynch/Familial risk assessment workflows) — recommendation applies to adults with increased hereditary cancer riskhttps://jamanetwork.com/journals/jama/fullarticle/2780445
04
The NCCN recommends universal screening approaches for Lynch syndrome in selected endometrial cancer patients; at least one widely cited guideline pathway uses mismatch repair testing by immunohistochemistry/PCRhttps://www.nccn.org/guidelines/guidelines-detail?category=genetic_disorders
05
ACOG guidance advises that endometrial cancer evaluation for abnormal uterine bleeding should be expedited with endometrial sampling or imaging based on age and risk factorshttps://www.acog.org/clinical/clinical-guidance/committee-opinion/articles/2021/08/abnormal-uterine-bleeding
06
The National Cancer Institute’s PDQ notes that endometrial cancer treatment commonly includes total hysterectomy with salpingo-oophorectomy for early-stage disease when appropriatehttps://www.cancer.gov/publications/pdq
07
NICE guideline NG12 (updated 2023 in some components) recommends investigation pathways for suspected endometrial cancer presenting with symptoms like abnormal uterine bleedinghttps://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng12
Interpretation
Guideline & Care Interpretation
In 2024, the Guidelines and Care landscape is clearly moving toward more tailored endometrial cancer management, with the NCCN continuing to incorporate immunotherapy options like pembrolizumab and dostarlimab for dMMR or MSI H disease alongside specific combination settings, while staging refinement through the 2023 FIGO updates and expanded Lynch syndrome screening recommendations help sharpen risk stratification across care pathways.
07 · Category
Diagnostics & Biomarkers4 stats
01
The proportion of endometrial cancers with mismatch repair deficiency (dMMR) is about 20–30% in clinical series (commonly cited range in reviews)https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7612847/
02
The proportion of endometrial cancers that are HER2-positive is about 20–30% in immunohistochemistry-based studies of serous and high-grade tumors (range)https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/152571444102100501
03
In a large meta-analysis, p53 abnormality (as a surrogate for TP53 mutation) is present in ~90% of uterine serous carcinoma caseshttps://journals.lww.com/ijgc/Fulltext/2019/03000/Molecular_Classification_of_Endometrial_Cancer.2.aspx
04
Mismatch repair testing sensitivity for detecting Lynch syndrome-associated cancers in endometrial cancer cohorts is reported in the literature as high (commonly >90% for dMMR detection)https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1522790020305100
Interpretation
Diagnostics & Biomarkers Interpretation
In Diagnostics & Biomarkers, the most actionable trend is that key molecular signals are frequently detectable in endometrial cancers with about 20 to 30% dMMR and HER2 positivity and roughly 90% p53 abnormality in uterine serous carcinoma, while mismatch repair testing shows high sensitivity of over 90% for identifying Lynch syndrome associated cases.
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Henrik Dahl. (2026, February 13). Uterus Cancer Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/uterus-cancer-statistics
MLA
Henrik Dahl. "Uterus Cancer Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/uterus-cancer-statistics.
Chicago
Henrik Dahl. 2026. "Uterus Cancer Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/uterus-cancer-statistics.
Sources & references
35 datasets cited across this report
+16 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)