Cancer in Saudi Arabia

IARC estimates 24,624 new cancer cases and 10,357 cancer deaths in Saudi Arabia in 2024; the commonest new cancers are breast, colorectum and thyroid. This page is assembled automatically from OnCo's data: 31 trials with a site there, 3 institutions and 1 person, and says what OnCo does not yet hold.

Cancer figures, GLOBOCAN 2024

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New cases

24,624

all cancers

Deaths

10,357

all cancers

Incidence rate

95.8

per 100,000, age-standardised

Mortality rate

44.7

per 100,000, age-standardised

Cumulative risk

10.5%

of a cancer by age 74

Population

33,962,761

IARC, 2024

Most new cases

Site	New cases	Rate	OnCo page
Breast	3,865	35.7	Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), HR-positive / HER2-negative breast cancer, HER2-positive breast cancer
Colorectum	3,508	14.8	Colorectal cancer
Thyroid	2,062	5.9	Thyroid cancer
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	1,315	4.9	Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (all types), Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Leukaemia	1,098	3.9	Acute myeloid leukaemia, Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
Trachea, bronchus and lung	913	4.3	Lung cancer (all types), Non-small-cell lung cancer, Small-cell lung cancer
Prostate	898	9.2	Prostate cancer
Kidney	865	3.2	Renal cell carcinoma
Bladder	847	4.0	Bladder & urothelial cancer
Brain, central nervous system	838	2.8	Glioma & glioblastoma

Most deaths

Site	Deaths	Rate	OnCo page
Colorectum	1,540	6.9	Colorectal cancer
Breast	1,022	10.1	Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), HR-positive / HER2-negative breast cancer, HER2-positive breast cancer
Trachea, bronchus and lung	757	3.6	Lung cancer (all types), Non-small-cell lung cancer, Small-cell lung cancer
Brain, central nervous system	672	2.3	Glioma & glioblastoma
Liver and intrahepatic bile ducts	672	3.6	Hepatocellular carcinoma
Leukaemia	645	2.4	Acute myeloid leukaemia, Acute lymphoblastic leukaemia, Chronic lymphocytic leukaemia
Pancreas	593	2.8	Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Non-Hodgkin lymphoma	491	2.0	Non-Hodgkin lymphoma (all types), Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma
Stomach	377	1.7	Gastric & gastro-oesophageal junction cancer
Bladder	300	1.6	Bladder & urothelial cancer

Incidence: method 2a, national rates applied to the 2024 population.
Mortality: method 3c, national incidence estimates applied to model-based mortality-to-incidence ratios (registry survival data).
Rates are age-standardised per 100,000 (World standard population), both sexes, all ages. Non-melanoma skin cancer is left out of the site lists, as on the deep dives. IARC lists the country as “Saudi Arabia”, in Western Asia (Asia), Very High HDI, high income.
Source: Ervik M, Laversanne M, Lam F, Colombet M, Ferlay J, Filho AM, Bray F (2026). Global Cancer Observatory: Cancer Today (2024 estimates, version 1.0). Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer. https://gco.iarc.who.int/today, read through the IARC API on 2026-11-04.

Trials with a site here

31 trials in OnCo · 9 recruiting overall

31 trials

Trial			Lead sponsor
A Study of Amivantamab in Combination With Lazertinib, or Amivantamab in Combination With Platinum-Based Chemotherapy, for Common Epidermal Growth Factor Receptor (EGFR)-Mutated Locally Advanced or Metastatic Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) NCT06667076	Phase 2	Recruiting	Janssen Research & Development, LLC	204	2026-09-25
This is a Study to Learn About How the Combination of the Study Medicines Sigvotatug Vedotin Plus Pembrolizumab Works in People With Non-small Cell Lu NCT06758401	Phase 3	Recruiting	Pfizer	389	2026-09-25
A Study to Compare the Efficacy of Nivolumab and Relatlimab Plus Chemotherapy vs Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy for Stage IV/Recurrent Non-squamous N NCT06561386	Phase 3	Recruiting	Bristol-Myers Squibb	327	2026-09-23
A Study of Adagrasib Plus Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy vs. Placebo Plus Pembrolizumab Plus Chemotherapy in Participants With Previously Untreated Non-squamous Non-small Cell Lung Cancer With KRAS G12C Mutation (KRYSTAL-4) NCT06875310	Phase 3	Recruiting	Mirati Therapeutics Inc.	351	2026-09-22
A Study to Compare the Efficacy and Safety of BMS-986393 Versus Standard Regimens in Adult Participants With Relapsed or Refractory and Lenalidomide-exposed Multiple Myeloma (QUINTESSENTIAL-2) NCT06615479	Phase 3	Recruiting	Juno Therapeutics, Inc., a Bristol-Myers Squibb Company	141	2026-09-15
AGCT1531 NCT03067181	Phase 3	Recruiting	Children's Oncology Group	629	2026-08-25
Phase 3 Study of T-DXd and Rilvegostomig Versus SoC in Advanced HER2-expressing Biliary Tract Cancer NCT06467357	Phase 3	Recruiting	AstraZeneca	269	2026-08-19
A Study of Dostarlimab vs Placebo After Chemoradiation in Adult Participants With Locally Advanced Unresected Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma NCT06256588	Phase 3	Recruiting	GlaxoSmithKline	277	2026-05-26
A Study to Compare the Efficacy and Safety of Golcadomide in Combination With Rituximab (Golca + R) vs Investigator's Choice in Participants With Rela NCT06911502	Phase 3	Recruiting	Celgene	160	2026-05-20
AMPLIFY NCT03836261	Phase 3	Active not recruiting	Acerta Pharma BV	169	2026-10-05
A Study to Evaluate the Efficacy and Safety of Giredestrant in Combination With Phesgo (Pertuzumab, Trastuzumab, and Hyaluronidase-zzxf) Versus Phesgo in Participants With Locally Advanced or Metastatic Breast Cancer (heredERA Breast Cancer) NCT05296798	Phase 3	Active not recruiting	Hoffmann-La Roche	198	2026-10-02
RxPONDER (SWOG S1007) NCT01272037	Phase 3	Active not recruiting	National Cancer Institute (NCI)	1,568	2026-10-01
A Study Comparing Talquetamab Plus Pomalidomide, Talquetamab Plus Teclistamab, and Elotuzumab, Pomalidomide, and Dexamethasone or Pomalidomide, Bortez NCT06208150	Phase 3	Active not recruiting	Janssen Research & Development, LLC	242	2026-09-25
A Study of JNJ-68284528, a Chimeric Antigen Receptor T Cell (CAR-T) Therapy Directed Against B-cell Maturation Antigen (BCMA) in Participants With Mul NCT04133636	Phase 2	Active not recruiting	Janssen Research & Development, LLC	47	2026-09-25
Response-Based Chemotherapy in Treating Newly Diagnosed Acute Myeloid Leukemia or Myelodysplastic Syndrome in Younger Patients With Down Syndrome NCT02521493	Phase 3	Active not recruiting	Children's Oncology Group	191	2026-08-19
DESTINY-Breast11 NCT05113251	Phase 3	Active not recruiting	AstraZeneca	145	2026-08-11
CAMBRIA-1 & CAMBRIA-2 NCT05952557	Phase 3	Active not recruiting	AstraZeneca	661	2026-08-10
Study of Durvalumab With Tremelimumab Versus SoC as 1st Line Therapy in Metastatic Non Small-Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC) (NEPTUNE) NCT02542293	Phase 3	Active not recruiting	AstraZeneca	210	2026-08-06
DESTINY-Breast09 NCT04784715	Phase 3	Active not recruiting	AstraZeneca	283	2026-07-30
ACNS1422 NCT02724579	Phase 2	Active not recruiting	Children's Oncology Group	195	2026-07-16
EMERALD-3 NCT05301842	Phase 3	Active not recruiting	AstraZeneca	171	2026-07-13
GOLSEEK-1 NCT06356129	Phase 3	Active not recruiting	Celgene	325	2026-07-06
S1827 (MAVERICK) Testing Whether the Use of Brain Scans Alone Instead of Brain Scans Plus Preventive Brain Radiation Affects Lifespan in Patients With Small Cel NCT04155034	Phase 3	Active not recruiting	SWOG Cancer Research Network	446	2026-06-11
monarchE NCT03155997	Phase 3	Active not recruiting	Eli Lilly and Company	619	2026-04-24
DESTINY-Breast06 NCT04494425	Phase 3	Active not recruiting	AstraZeneca	293	2026-03-04
Capivasertib+Paclitaxel as First Line Treatment for Patients With Locally Advanced or Metastatic TNBC NCT03997123	Phase 3	Active not recruiting	AstraZeneca	260	2025-12-22
IMpassion131 NCT03125902	Phase 3	Completed	Hoffmann-La Roche	161	2024-03-26
OUTBACK / ANZGOG 0902 / GOG-0274 NCT01414608	Phase 3	Completed	GOG Foundation	326	2022-11-07
EXAM NCT00704730	Phase 3	Completed	Exelixis	113	2021-04-20
DECISION NCT00984282	Phase 3	Completed	Bayer	81	2018-09-13

(showing the first 30)

Trial records in OnCo whose ClinicalTrials.gov entry lists at least one site in Saudi Arabia, captured 2026-10-07 to 2026-10-07. Recruiting first, then the most recently updated. The status is the study's overall status; whether a site in Saudi Arabia is open is on the registry page, under Contacts and Locations.

Institutions, companies and people

3 institutions

King Faisal Foundation King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Centre Saudi Stem Cells Donor Registry (SSCDR)

1 person

People whose main affiliation in OnCo is an institution or company in Saudi Arabia.

Majid Ibrahim Alfayyadh

Approvals

OnCo records approvals for United States, European Union, United Kingdom, Japan, China, Australia and India. Saudi Arabia is not one of them, so no approval in OnCo speaks for it. See the approvals by region matrix for what is held.

From the country research ranking

Research funders: King Abdulaziz City for Science and Technology; Ministry of Health.
Named in the ranking: King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Saudi Cancer Registry.

From the country ranking's hand-curated row; follow its source before relying on a figure.

What OnCo does not yet hold

No registry figures. The figures above are IARC's estimates; OnCo has not read Saudi Arabia's own cancer registry, its survival figures or its stage at diagnosis.
No payer detail: who pays for cancer care in Saudi Arabia, what a patient pays, and which medicines are reimbursed.
No regulator detail: the national medicines regulator, its approval routes and its decisions.
No national cancer plan, guideline, screening schedule or treatment-centre list read from Saudi Arabia's own sources.

A deep dive for Saudi Arabia is ranked 37 of 60 in the country coverage queue (November 2026), which ranks countries without a page by cases, deaths, research output and population. Know a source? Suggest an edit.

Sources and machine-readable data

IARC Global Cancer Observatory, GLOBOCAN 2024: Cancer Today; Saudi Arabia fact sheet.
ClinicalTrials.gov study records, courtesy of the US National Library of Medicine, as captured in each trial record.
OnCo records: each chip and card opens a record with its own sources.
This page as JSON: /api/v1/countries/sa.json; every country: /api/v1/countries.json.