Abstract IA11: Understanding and overcoming cancer disparities in the U.S. and abroad

Abstract

Abstract In the United States, although differences in cancer-associated mortality rates between various minority groups have decreased somewhat, substantial disparities remain for several cancer types. Groups with these disparities are, therefore, high-risk populations whose risk factors need to be understood and overcome when feasible. Several factors – including biology, lifestyle, and health care access/utilization – contribute to these differences. For a given cancer type, research can, in principle, determine the relative importance of each factor, the mechanisms, and the potential for short-term and long-term intervention to mitigate them. The National Cancer Institute is committed to supporting research with the potential to make substantial advances in this important field. In low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), cancer incidence and mortality rates are projected to increase for the foreseeable future. Many factors contribute to these increases. They include success against acute infectious diseases, increased life expectancy, increased tobacco consumption, limited resources, and inadequate infrastructure. There are many opportunities for research to advance understanding and mitigation of cancer in LMICs. Here, I highlight how technological advances and ongoing research – with HPV vaccination and cervical cancer screening – can lead to the cost-effective ability in LMICs to drastically reduce the incidence and mortality from cervical cancer, which remains the third most common cancer of women worldwide and is the most common female cancer in many LMICs. Citation Format: Douglas R. Lowy. Understanding and overcoming cancer disparities in the U.S. and abroad. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eighth AACR Conference on The Science of Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov 13-16, 2015; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2016;25(3 Suppl):Abstract nr IA11.