Addressing Cancer Inequities: The Latest AACR Insights

Introduction: Highlighting Cancer Disparities in 2024

The American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) has released its 2024 report that brings to the forefront significant cancer disparities affecting diverse populations in the United States. The report calls for urgent measures to achieve health equity, emphasizing the need for better access to clinical trials and supportive policies.

Key Statistics on Cancer Disparities

Although there has been progress, disparities in cancer outcomes remain prevalent. For instance, the difference in overall cancer mortality rates between White and Black patients has decreased from 33.0% in 1990 to 11.3% in 2020. However, Black individuals still have the highest overall cancer death rates among all racial and ethnic groups.

Other populations, including American Indian/Alaska Native, Asian, Pacific Islander, and Hispanic communities, also face significant cancer burdens. These groups are twice as likely to die from stomach cancer compared to White individuals. Moreover, Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander women face a 21% higher risk of breast cancer mortality compared to White women.

Factors Contributing to Health Inequities

Health disparities extend beyond access to medical care, involving social determinants such as ZIP code and neighborhood, systemic racism, and physical barriers. Dr. Robert A. Winn, chair of the AACR Cancer Disparities Progress Report 2024 Steering Committee, stresses the importance of examining these external factors to truly understand and address the inequities in cancer outcomes.

Dr. Winn also advocates for ongoing conversations and meaningful action in affected communities to create a clearer path forward toward health equity.

Geographical and Demographic Disparities

The AACR's report highlights that residents of rural counties are 38% more likely to be diagnosed with and die from lung cancer compared to those in urban areas. For all cancers combined, people in disadvantaged neighborhoods have a 22% higher mortality rate than those in more privileged areas.

Additional disparities reveal that Black men are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer as White men, and Black individuals have a higher likelihood of receiving and dying from multiple myeloma. Although breast cancer incidence rates are similar in Black and White women, Black women have a 40% higher likelihood of dying from this disease.

Addressing Disparities: A Call to Action

Efforts to combat these disparities are underway. The AACR steering committee emphasizes that a history of structural inequities, such as racism and segregation, has contributed to current disparities in cancer care. Effective approaches to reducing these disparities include building community trust, developing culturally tailored interventions, and improving health insurance access.

The AACR is also actively collecting diverse datasets through various initiatives, aiding in the formulation of strategies to address these inequities.

Key Steps and Recommendations

The AACR recommends policies that increase access to clinical trials, enact legislation to eliminate health inequities, and support early detection and prevention efforts. Furthermore, they urge Congress to appropriate substantial funding for the National Institutes of Health and National Cancer Institute to bolster research and support new initiatives aimed at eradicating cancer disparities.

Specific funding recommendations include $51.3 billion for the NIH, $7.9 billion for the NCI, and $472.4 million for the CDC’s Division of Cancer Prevention and Control. Additionally, they support funding the Environmental Protection Agency’s Cancer Moonshot Activities.

Conclusion: Urgent Need for Action

The 2024 AACR report underscores the persistent inequalities in cancer care and outcomes across various demographics and geographical locations. It calls for immediate action from policymakers, stakeholders, and the community to close these gaps and achieve health equity for all. The goal is clear: to ensure equal access to quality health care and improve the lives of all individuals affected by cancer.