近年来，年轻成年人癌症的发病率不断增加。早发癌（EOC）通常定义为50岁以下的患癌者，并可能由于其特殊的疾病特征而代表一个独特的亚组。总体而言，EOC通常在年轻时开始，表现出更好的身体状况但恶性程度高。EOC还共享一些流行病学和遗传风险因素。在本综述中，我们讨论了几种之前研究较为充分的代表性EOC。通过揭示它们在临床和分子方面的相似性和差异性，我们认为EOC群体相比普通癌症是一个独特的亚型。考虑到EOC对人类健康的崛起威胁，应进行更多关于分子机制的研究和大规模前瞻性临床试验，以进一步提高治疗效果。版权所有©2023，由Elsevier B.V.出版。

In recent years, the incidence of cancers is continuously increasing in young adults. Early-onset cancer (EOC) is usually defined as patients with cancers under the age of 50, and may represent a unique subgroup due to its special disease features. Overall, EOCs often initiate at a young age, present as a better physical performance but high degree of malignancy. EOCs also share common epidemiological and hereditary risk factors. In this review, we discuss several representative EOCs which were well studied previously. By revealing their clinical and molecular similarities and differences, we consider the group of EOCs as a unique subtype compared to ordinary cancers. In consideration of EOC as a rising threat to human health, more researches on molecular mechanisms, and large-scale, prospective clinical trials should be carried out to further translate into improved outcomes.Copyright © 2023. Published by Elsevier B.V.