A comprehensive review of cancer health disparities among U.S. Hispanics reveals a complex interplay of biological and non-biological factors contributing to unequal cancer outcomes. Despite lower overall cancer incidence and mortality rates compared to non-Hispanic Whites, Hispanics face significant barriers in cancer care and survival.The study, published in the journal Integrated Science, highlights that cancer is the leading cause of death among Hispanic Americans, surpassing heart disease. This finding underscores the urgent need to address cancer disparities in this growing population.Researchers identified several key factors influencing cancer outcomes among Hispanics. Biological factors include genetic ancestry, chronic infections, and environmental exposures…
Author: Disparity Matters
A study published in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute has shed light on the persistent racial disparities in prostate cancer treatment. The research, conducted by Fred Hutch faculty, reveals that Black patients are less likely to receive certain prostate cancer treatments despite being more than twice as likely to die from the disease compared to white patients.The study, which included urologic oncologist Yaw A. Nyame, MD, MS, found that neighborhood-level social determinants of health contribute to barriers in prostate cancer treatment for Black individuals. However, these factors alone do not fully account for the treatment inequities observed.One of…
Providing advanced research training to postgraduate trainees from underrepresented groups in medicine.
Researchers at UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center have made a significant discovery in understanding why women of color, particularly those of African descent, face higher rates of aggressive breast cancer. The study, published in Nature Communications, identifies a specific gene called DAXX that plays a crucial role in the development of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC).TNBC disproportionately affects women of African ancestry, occurring at rates two to three times higher than in white women. The research team found that DAXX mutations were more prevalent in women of African descent, explaining the higher incidence of TNBC in this population.This breakthrough came from…
A recent study by Yale researchers has uncovered a significant genetic difference in cancers affecting Black patients, potentially explaining long-observed racial disparities in cancer outcomes. The research, published in Nature, reveals that tumors in Black individuals are more likely to exhibit whole-genome duplications (WGDs) compared to those in white patients. Dr. Leanne Brown, a general surgery resident, and Dr. Jason Sheltzer, Ph.D., led the study, which examined over 1,800 cancer samples from self-reported Black patients in the United States. Their findings show that WGDs, which involve the complete duplication of an organism’s genome, are more prevalent across various cancer types…
Asthma, a chronic respiratory condition affecting millions of Americans, disproportionately impacts racial and ethnic minorities, according to new research from Syracuse University. The study, conducted by Ali Jones and Associate Professor Marc A. Garcia of the Maxwell School, sheds light on the stark disparities in asthma prevalence between Black and White communities in the United States. The research reveals that poor living conditions, exacerbated by historical housing segregation, play a significant role in the higher rates of asthma among racial minorities. One key finding highlights the increased risk of asthma for those residing near major highways, particularly children. This proximity…
A recent study by Yale researchers has uncovered a significant genomic factor that may contribute to racial disparities in cancer outcomes. The research, published in Nature, reveals that tumors in Black cancer patients are more likely to exhibit whole-genome duplications (WGDs) compared to those in white patients.Led by Leanne Brown, a general surgery resident, and Jason Sheltzer, Ph.D., the study examined over 1,800 cancer samples from self-reported Black patients in the United States. The findings show that the increased rate of WGDs is consistent across various cancer types, including breast, endometrial, and lung cancers, and is associated with shorter survival…
A recent research brief from Syracuse University highlights the stark disparities in asthma prevalence among racial and ethnic minorities in the United States. Authored by Ali Jones and Marc A. Garcia, the report reveals that Black communities face a significantly higher burden of asthma due to historical and ongoing inequities. The research points to poor living conditions, often a legacy of past housing segregation laws, as a major contributor to these disparities. Black individuals are more likely to live near major highways, exposing them to higher levels of pollutants like fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and ground-level ozone, which exacerbate asthma…
A recent study by the Rural and Minority Health Research Center reveals a complex landscape of telehealth adoption in prenatal care across the United States. Researchers analyzed electronic health records of nearly 350,000 pregnancies from 2018 to 2022, uncovering both progress and persistent disparities in telehealth usage.The study, published in JAMA Network Open, found that hybrid prenatal care—combining telehealth and in-person visits—increased from virtually non-existent levels in 2018 to a peak of 8.1 percent in 2020, before settling at 6.2 percent in 2022. This surge was particularly notable among Black and Hispanic individuals, who showed higher adoption rates compared to…
In the remote northeastern corner of Nevada, Eloisa Mendoza has spent nearly two decades helping non-English speakers navigate complex legal processes. Her work in Elko, where the Hispanic or Latino population has grown to about 26%, highlights a critical issue facing rural America: the struggle to provide language access in increasingly diverse communities.Despite the rising demand for multilingual communication in rural areas, Nevada’s recent statewide language-access law excluded smaller counties, focusing instead on the state’s most populous regions. This decision reflects a broader trend where language-access laws are primarily concentrated in urban or suburban jurisdictions, leaving rural areas behind.The consequences…