The National Cancer Institute (INCan) celebrated its 79th anniversary, consolidating itself as one of the country's most relevant institutions in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, research, and training of oncology specialists.
This academic ecosystem reinforces the institute's vocation as a reference center for oncological education in the country. The institution has also strengthened translational research, integrating laboratory work with clinical areas to accelerate diagnostic and therapeutic innovation.
During the ceremony, the institute's general director, Óscar Gerardo Arrieta Rodríguez, emphasized that INCan continues to strengthen its capacity to respond to the increasing oncological burden in Mexico, supported by expanding clinical and technological infrastructure and a person-centered comprehensive care model.
Arrieta Rodríguez highlighted that INCan attends to 7% of all cancer cases in Mexico, covering frequent pathologies such as breast, cervical, prostate, endometrial, ovarian, and testicular cancer. By 2025, the institute anticipates surpassing 8,300 new patients.
In terms of technology, the institute incorporated radiosurgery or stereotactic radiotherapy services in October of last year, aimed at people with skin cancer and skin lesions, and continues to use the robotic surgery equipment launched in August 2024, which has demonstrated significant benefits by reducing hospital stays, decreasing complications, and increasing surgical precision with lower associated treatment toxicity.
Regarding human resources training, Arrieta Rodríguez reported that INCan maintains an extensive network of national and international collaboration with 68 academic agreements, of which 55 correspond to undergraduate programs with 210 current students, while 13 postgraduate agreements support the training of more than 450 resident physicians.
Since 2022, INCan has operated under a free-of-charge model that includes surgery, radiotherapy, and medications, which has allowed for expanded access to targeted therapies, immunotherapy, and molecular studies—essential components of precision medicine.
In the realm of early detection, the general director highlighted the importance of the DETECTO program, a pioneer in Mexico and Latin America, which uses low-dose CT scans for the early detection of lung cancer. This model has shown high effectiveness and is projected as a strategic tool to reduce mortality associated with this disease.
Among future goals, Arrieta Rodríguez anticipated that the institute seeks to expand access to innovative medicines, strengthen radiotherapy infrastructure, optimize early diagnosis processes, and consolidate rapid referral systems.
Between 2018 and 2024, the institution registered a substantial increase in its care capacity: 146% for breast cancer, 89% for prostate cancer, and 56% for cervical cancer.
Technological modernization includes equipment such as PET-CT and advanced digital platforms, aimed at improving diagnostic precision, reducing radiation exposure, and increasing patient comfort. The expansion of complementary services, such as mental health, nutrition, and rehabilitation—essential for truly comprehensive care—is also a priority.
In 2024 alone, 318,000 consultations were provided, a figure that reflects the operational expansion of the medical, nursing, technical, and administrative staff.
The general director emphasized the importance of the staff's work that sustains the institute's daily operation, whose commitment has allowed for an increase in the quality and coverage of care in recent years.
