Dilemmas and solutions: the multifaceted impact of the U.S. SEER ban on China’s oncology progress

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) database is a vital resource for global cancer research, providing extensive clinical and epidemiological data that drive advancements in prevention, diagnosis, and treatment. However, recent U.S. restrictions have barred Chinese researchers from accessing SEER, disrupting critical studies and exposing China's reliance on foreign data. While China has developed domestic databases like the China Cancer Genomics Database, challenges remain in data standardization, sample size, and sharing mechanisms. To address these gaps, we propose a multifaceted approach: (1) establishing a national, unified cancer registry with standardized protocols, (2) enhancing funding and infrastructure for long-term database sustainability, (3) strengthening ethical and legal frameworks for data security and patient privacy, and (4) fostering international collaborations to supplement data limitations. We emphasize the need for cross-sector collaboration among policymakers, researchers, and healthcare institutions to build a robust, globally competitive cancer data ecosystem.