Pancreatic Cancer Disparities in African Americans. Issue 4 (May 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Khawja, Shumaila N.; Mohammed, Somala; Silberfein, Eric J.; Musher, Benjamin L.; Fisher, William E.; Van Buren, George
• Is Part Of: Pancreas. Volume 44:Issue 4(2015)
• Publication Date: 2015-05
• Subjects: Pancreas -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Pancreas -- Periodicals; Neuroendocrine tumors -- Periodicals; 616.37005
• DOI: 10.1097/MPA.0000000000000323
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0885-3177

Abstract

<abstract> <title> <x xml:space="preserve">Abstract</x> </title> <sec> <title>Objectives</title> <p>Pancreatic cancer is the fourth leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States. The incidence of pancreatic cancer in African Americans is 50% to 90% higher than the incidence in other racial groups. African Americans also have the worst prognosis. This is an evidence-based review of pancreatic cancer in African Americans with particular emphasis on baseline characteristics, treatment, and survival.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Methods</title> <p>We queried PubMed in search for articles describing racial disparities in pancreatic cancer. Two categories of terms were "anded" together: pancreatic cancer terms and race terms. The last search was performed on November 14, 2013.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Results</title> <p>We summarized the data on pancreatic cancer baseline characteristics, treatment, and survival for African Americans that we obtained from the following databases: (1) Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results, 1988–2008; (2) California Cancer Registry 1988–1998; (3) Cancer Survivor Program of Orange County/San Diego Imperial Organization for Cancer Control, 1988–1998; and (4) Harris County, 1998–2010.</p> </sec> <sec> <title>Conclusions</title> <p>Overall, pancreatic cancer survival of African Americans has not significantly improved over the past several decades despite advances in multimodality therapy; African Americans continue to face worse outcomes than whites. Although baseline characteristics, treatment, and biological factors offer some explanation, they do not completely explain the disparities in incidence and survival.</p> </sec> </abstract>