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Journal ArticleDOI

Cancer statistics for African Americans, 2013

01 May 2013-CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians (American Cancer Society)-Vol. 63, Iss: 3, pp 151-166
TL;DR: Overall, progress in reducing cancer death rates has been made, although more can and should be done to accelerate this progress through ensuring equitable access to cancer prevention, early detection, and state-of-the-art treatments.
Abstract: In this article, the American Cancer Society estimates the number of new cancer cases and deaths for African Americans and compiles the most recent data on cancer incidence, mortality, survival, and screening prevalence based upon incidence data from the National Cancer Institute, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries and mortality data from the National Center for Health Statistics. It is estimated that 176,620 new cases of cancer and 64,880 deaths will occur among African Americans in 2013. From 2000 to 2009, the overall cancer death rate among males declined faster among African Americans than whites (2.4% vs 1.7% per year), but among females, the rate of decline was similar (1.5% vs 1.4% per year, respectively). The decrease in cancer death rates among African American males was the largest of any racial or ethnic group. The reduction in overall cancer death rates since 1990 in men and 1991 in women translates to the avoidance of nearly 200,000 deaths from cancer among African Americans. Five-year relative survival is lower for African Americans than whites for most cancers at each stage of diagnosis. The extent to which these disparities reflect unequal access to health care versus other factors remains an active area of research. Overall, progress in reducing cancer death rates has been made, although more can and should be done to accelerate this progress through ensuring equitable access to cancer prevention, early detection, and state-of-the-art treatments.
Citations
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TL;DR: Qualitative research in such mobile health clinics has found that patients value the informal, familiar environment in a convenient location, with staff who “are easy to talk to,” and that the staff’s “marriage of professional and personal discourses” provides patients the space to disclose information themselves.
Abstract: www.mobilehealthmap.org 617‐442‐3200 New research shows that mobile health clinics improve health outcomes for hard to reach populations in cost‐effective and culturally competent ways . A Harvard Medical School study determined that for every dollar invested in a mobile health clinic, the US healthcare system saves $30 on average. Mobile health clinics, which offer a range of services from preventive screenings to asthma treatment, leverage their mobility to treat people in the convenience of their own communities. For example, a mobile health clinic in Baltimore, MD, has documented savings of $3,500 per child seen due to reduced asthma‐related hospitalizations. The estimated 2,000 mobile health clinics across the country are providing similarly cost‐effective access to healthcare for a wide range of populations. Many successful mobile health clinics cite their ability to foster trusting relationships. Qualitative research in such mobile health clinics has found that patients value the informal, familiar environment in a convenient location, with staff who “are easy to talk to,” and that the staff’s “marriage of professional and personal discourses” provides patients the space to disclose information themselves. A communications academic argued that mobile health clinics’ unique use of space is important in facilitating these relationships. Mobile health clinics park in the heart of the community in familiar spaces, like shopping centers or bus stations, which lend themselves to the local community atmosphere.

2,003 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: The care for patients with laryngeal cancer continues to evolve and truly requires a multidisciplinary team-based approach as discussed by the authors, which is the most common cause of lung cancer deaths.
Abstract: Answer questions and earn CME/CNE Laryngeal cancer remains one of the most common tumors of the respiratory tract. Fortunately, significant advancements have been made over the past decade in the treatment of laryngeal cancer. Although surgery has been the historical mainstay for localized disease and still is an integral part of treatment, nonsurgical options like radiation and systemic therapy have emerged as viable options. In addition, in the metastatic setting, novel agents are showing promise for this patient population. The care for patients with laryngeal cancer continues to evolve and truly requires a multidisciplinary team-based approach. Unique morbidities, such as loss of natural voice, respiration, and airway protection during swallowing, are observed with this disease and require special consideration. CA Cancer J Clin 2017;67:31-50. © 2016 American Cancer Society.

407 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Inhibition of DNMTs has demonstrated reduction in tumor formation in part through the increased expression of tumor suppressor genes, and this represents a promising approach for the prevention and treatment of many cancers.
Abstract: Cancer is the second leading cause of death in US. Despite the emergence of new, targeted agents, and the use of various therapeutic combinations, none of the available treatment options are curative in patients with advanced cancer. Epigenetic alterations are increasingly recognized as valuable targets for the development of cancer therapies. DNA methylation at the 5-position of cytosine, catalyzed by DNA methyltransferases (DNMTs), is the predominant epigenetic modification in mammals. DNMT1, the major enzyme responsible for maintenance of the DNA methylation pattern is located at the replication fork and methylates newly biosynthesized DNA. DNMT2 or TRDMT1, the smallest mammalian DNMT is believed to participate in the recognition of DNA damage, DNA recombination, and mutation repair. It is composed solely of the C-terminal domain, and does not possess the regulatory N-terminal region. The levels of DNMTs, especially those of DNMT3B, DNMT3A, and DNMT3L, are often increased in various cancer tissues and cell lines, which may partially account for the hypermethylation of promoter CpG-rich regions of tumor suppressor genes in a variety of malignancies. Moreover, it has been shown to function in self-renewal and maintenance of colon cancer stem cells and need to be studied in several cancers. Inhibition of DNMTs has demonstrated reduction in tumor formation in part through the increased expression of tumor suppressor genes. Hence, DNMTs can potentially be used as anti-cancer targets. Dietary phytochemicals also inhibit DNMTs and cancer stem cells; this represents a promising approach for the prevention and treatment of many cancers.

398 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: To quantify the degree of survival improvement over time by age, race, and sex in the United States, longitudinal analyses of cancer follow-up data from 1990 to 2010 found younger patients experienced greater benefit from recent oncology advances than elderly patients.
Abstract: Importance Substantial progress has been made in cancer diagnosis and treatment, resulting in a steady improvement in cancer survival. The degree of improvement by age, race, and sex remains unclear. Objective To quantify the degree of survival improvement over time by age, race, and sex in the United States. Design, Setting, and Participants Longitudinal analyses of cancer follow-up data from 1990 to 2010, from 1.02 million patients who had been diagnosed as having cancer of the colon or rectum, breast, prostate, lung, liver, pancreas, or ovary from 1990 to 2009 and who were included in 1 of 9 population-based registries of the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program. Main Outcomes and Measures Hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for cancer-specific death were estimated for patients diagnosed as having any of these cancers during 1995 to 1999, 2000 to 2004, and 2005 to 2009, compared with those diagnosed in 1990 to 1994. Results Significant improvements in survival were found for cancers of the colon or rectum, breast, prostate, lung, and liver. Improvements were more pronounced for younger patients. For patients aged 50 to 64 years and diagnosed from 2005 to 2009, adjusted HRs (95% CIs) were 0.57 (95% CI, 0.55-0.60), 0.48 (95% CI, 0.45-0.51), 0.61 (95% CI, 0.57-0.69), and 0.32 (95% CI, 0.30-0.36), for cancer of the colon or rectum, breast, liver, and prostate, respectively, compared with the same age groups of patients diagnosed during 1990 to 1994. However, the corresponding HRs (95% CIs) for elderly patients (those 75-85 years old) were only 0.88 (95% CI, 0.84-0.92), 0.88 (95% CI, 0.82-0.95), 0.76 (95% CI, 0.69-0.84), and 0.65 (95% CI, 0.61-0.70), for the same 4 cancer sites, respectively. A similar, although weaker, age-related period effect was observed for lung and pancreatic cancers. The adjusted HRs (95% CIs) for lung cancer were 0.75 (95% CI, 0.73-0.77) and 0.84 (95% CI, 0.81-0.86), respectively, for patients aged 50 to 64 years and 75 to 85 years diagnosed between 2005 and 2009, compared with the same age groups of patients diagnosed between 1990 and 1994 (0.73 [95% CI, 0.69-0.77] and 0.90 [95% CI, 0.85-0.95], respectively. Compared with whites or Asians, African Americans experienced greater improvement in prostate cancer survival. From 1990 to 2009, ovarian cancer survival declined among African Americans but improved among whites. No apparent sex difference in the degree of improvement for any non–sex-specific cancer was noted. Conclusions and Relevance Younger patients experienced greater benefit from recent oncology advances than elderly patients. African Americans experienced poorer survival than whites for all cancers, and the racial difference decreased for prostate cancer but increased for ovarian cancer. Identifying factors associated with varied improvement in cancer survival can inform future improvements in cancer care for all.

271 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: This article evaluates interventions to close the racial survival disparity in breast cancer and argues that prior interventions have been too narrowly focused on the patient rather than addressing the system and improving care across the continuum of breast cancer evaluation and treatment.
Abstract: It is well known that there is a significant racial divide in breast cancer incidence and mortality rates. African American women are less likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than white women but are more likely to die from it. This review explores the factors that may contribute to the racial survival disparity. Consideration is paid to what is known about the role of differences in tumor biology, genomics, cancer screening, and quality of cancer care. It is argued that it is the collision of 2 forces, tumor biology and genomics, with patterns of care that leads to the breast cancer mortality gap. The delays, misuse, and underuse of treatment for African American patients are of increased significance when these patients are presenting with more aggressive forms of breast cancer. In the current climate of health care reform ushered in by the Affordable Care Act, this article also evaluates interventions to close the disparity gap. Prior interventions have been too narrowly focused on the patient rather than addressing the system and improving care across the continuum of breast cancer evaluation and treatment. Lastly, areas of future investigation and policy initiatives aimed at reducing the racial survival disparity in breast cancer are discussed.

235 citations

References
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Journal ArticleDOI
07 Jun 2006-JAMA
TL;DR: Basal-like breast tumors occurred at a higher prevalence among premenopausal African American patients compared with postmenopausal American and non-African American patients in this population-based study, and their associations with tumor size, axillary nodal status, mitotic index, nuclear pleomorphism, combined grade, p53 mutation status, and breast cancer-specific survival were examined.
Abstract: ContextGene expression analysis has identified several breast cancer subtypes, including basal-like, human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 positive/estrogen receptor negative (HER2+/ER–), luminal A, and luminal B.ObjectivesTo determine population-based distributions and clinical associations for breast cancer subtypes.Design, Setting, and ParticipantsImmunohistochemical surrogates for each subtype were applied to 496 incident cases of invasive breast cancer from the Carolina Breast Cancer Study (ascertained between May 1993 and December 1996), a population-based, case-control study that oversampled premenopausal and African American women. Subtype definitions were as follows: luminal A (ER+ and/or progesterone receptor positive [PR+], HER2−), luminal B (ER+ and/or PR+, HER2+), basal-like (ER−, PR−, HER2−, cytokeratin 5/6 positive, and/or HER1+), HER2+/ER− (ER−, PR−, and HER2+), and unclassified (negative for all 5 markers).Main Outcome MeasuresWe examined the prevalence of breast cancer subtypes within racial and menopausal subsets and determined their associations with tumor size, axillary nodal status, mitotic index, nuclear pleomorphism, combined grade, p53 mutation status, and breast cancer–specific survival.ResultsThe basal-like breast cancer subtype was more prevalent among premenopausal African American women (39%) compared with postmenopausal African American women (14%) and non–African American women (16%) of any age (P<.001), whereas the luminal A subtype was less prevalent (36% vs 59% and 54%, respectively). The HER2+/ER− subtype did not vary with race or menopausal status (6%-9%). Compared with luminal A, basal-like tumors had more TP53 mutations (44% vs 15%, P<.001), higher mitotic index (odds ratio [OR], 11.0; 95% confidence interval [CI], 5.6-21.7), more marked nuclear pleomorphism (OR, 9.7; 95% CI, 5.3-18.0), and higher combined grade (OR, 8.3; 95% CI, 4.4-15.6). Breast cancer–specific survival differed by subtype (P<.001), with shortest survival among HER2+/ER− and basal-like subtypes.ConclusionsBasal-like breast tumors occurred at a higher prevalence among premenopausal African American patients compared with postmenopausal African American and non–African American patients in this population-based study. A higher prevalence of basal-like breast tumors and a lower prevalence of luminal A tumors could contribute to the poor prognosis of young African American women with breast cancer.

3,634 citations


"Cancer statistics for African Ameri..." refers background in this paper

  • ...negative) and basal-like breast cancers, which are distinct but overlapping aggressive subtypes of breast cancer that are associated with a shorter survival.(37,40) Studies have shown that certain reproductive patterns, that are more common among African American women (including multiparity, younger age at menarche, and early age at first pregnancy)...

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  • ...There is also evidence that aggressive tumor characteristics are more common in African American women than white women.(37,40) Other studies suggest that factors associated with socio-economic status may influence the biologic behavior of breast cancer....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: PSA-based screening reduced the rate of death from prostate cancer by 20% but was associated with a high risk of overdiagnosis.
Abstract: In the screening group, 82% of men accepted at least one offer of screening. During a median follow-up of 9 years, the cumulative incidence of prostate cancer was 8.2% in the screening group and 4.8% in the control group. The rate ratio for death from prostate cancer in the screening group, as compared with the control group, was 0.80 (95% confidence interval [CI], 0.65 to 0.98; adjusted P = 0.04). The absolute risk difference was 0.71 death per 1000 men. This means that 1410 men would need to be screened and 48 additional cases of prostate cancer would need to be treated to prevent one death from prostate cancer. The analysis of men who were actually screened during the first round (excluding subjects with noncompliance) provided a rate ratio for death from prostate cancer of 0.73 (95% CI, 0.56 to 0.90). Conclusions PSA-based screening reduced the rate of death from prostate cancer by 20% but was associated with a high risk of overdiagnosis. (Current Controlled Trials number, ISRCTN49127736.)

3,606 citations

Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: It is the right time for medical societies and public health regulators to consider the causal role of human papillomavirus infections in cervical cancer and to define its preventive and clinical implications.
Abstract: The causal role of human papillomavirus infections in cervical cancer has been documented beyond reasonable doubt. The association is present in virtually all cervical cancer cases worldwide. It is the right time for medical societies and public health regulators to consider this evidence and to define its preventive and clinical implications. A comprehensive review of key studies and results is presented.

3,333 citations


"Cancer statistics for African Ameri..." refers background in this paper

  • ...Cervical cancer is caused by persistent infection with certain types of human papillomavirus (HPV), especially types 16 and 18.(88,89) The US Food and Drug Administration has approved 2 vaccines for the prevention of the most common HPV infections: Gardasil (human papillomavirus quadrivalent [types 6, 11, 16, and 18] vaccine, recombinant), which protects against 4 HPV types and is approved for use in males and females, and Cevarix (human papillomavirus bivalent [types 16 and 18] vaccine, recombinant), which protects against 2 HPV types and is approved for use in females....

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Use ofImmunofluorescence in the Diagnosis of Virus Infections using audio-tape slide programme and slides and cassette by P. S. Gardner.
Abstract: Use ofImmunofluorescence in the Diagnosis of Virus Infections. By P. S. Gardner. (Audio-tape slide programme; catalogue number 76-97; 34 slides and cassette; 33 minutes. Cost: can be obtained on loan (28 days for £216 including postage oneway and VAT. Programme can be purchased by bona fide medical personnel or organisations for £12 58 including postage and VAT)). Chelmsford: Medical Recording Service Foundation.

2,772 citations


"Cancer statistics for African Ameri..." refers methods in this paper

  • ...All cancer cases were classified according to the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology.5 1Epidemiologist, Surveillance and Health Services Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA; 2Vice President, Surveillance and Health Services Research, American Cancer Society, Atlanta, GA....

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  • ...All cancer cases were classified according to the International Classification of Diseases for Oncology.(5)...

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Journal ArticleDOI
TL;DR: Changing global incidence and mortality patterns for select common cancers and the opportunities for cancer prevention in developing countries are described.
Abstract: While incidence and mortality rates for most cancers (including lung, colorectum, female breast, and prostate) are decreasing in the United States and many other western countries, they are increasing in several less developed and economically transitioning countries because of adoption of unhealthy western lifestyles such as smoking and physical inactivity and consumption of calorie-dense food. Indeed, the rates for lung and colon cancers in a few of these countries have already surpassed those in the United States and other western countries. Most developing countries also continue to be disproportionately affected by cancers related to infectious agents, such as cervix, liver, and stomach cancers. The proportion of new cancer cases diagnosed in less developed countries is projected to increase from about 56% of the world total in 2008 to more than 60% in 2030 because of the increasing trends in cancer rates and expected increases in life expectancy and growth of the population. In this review, we describe these changing global incidence and mortality patterns for select common cancers and the opportunities for cancer prevention in developing countries.

2,577 citations


"Cancer statistics for African Ameri..." refers background in this paper

  • ...factors that vary in populations originating from different parts of the world.(57,58) Similarly, African American men have the highest...

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