Abstract A89: Gender and racial disparities in non-small cell lung cancer: A systematic review

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. and remains the least-funded cancer in North America. Many studies addressed disparities in lung cancer incidence rate among the races; however, few studies described the effect of both race and gender in the risk of manifesting this disease. These studies lack consensus for both the etiology and the magnitude of gender-based disparities and their impact on disease development on specific racial groups. These unknown race-associated characteristics between men and women might adversely affect the improvement of current therapies and patient outcomes. Characterizing gender as a possible risk modifier in lung cancer development among certain ethnic groups may aid in the development of targeted agents that improve patient outcomes.

This study aimed to investigate the global pattern of gender-based disparities in incidence of lung cancer and describe the etiologic factors associated with different racial groups in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC), since it comprises 85% of all diagnosed cases. This aim was accomplished by analyzing data scrutinized using a systematic review approach for studies published between 1996 and 2016. We found a statistically significant effect of race on lung cancer incidence rate, and this effect varies by gender. We also found that certain races are more prone to develop adenocarcinoma in their histology than others, regardless of their sex. In addition, we found that Asian women have higher rates of NSCLC regardless of their living environment.

Our findings also show that the number of cases of NSCLC is rising among women of all races, regardless of their smoking status. By visualizing NSCLC pattern in both men and women among different countries and racial groups, we stimulate future findings to establish efficacious preventative strategies and will stimulate research advancements toward sex- and racial-designed diagnostics, including alternative treatments that could reduce the manifestation of this disease.

Note: This abstract was not presented at the conference.

Citation Format: Noor Alsaadoun, Karen Kopciuk, Desiree Hao, Karl Riabowol, D. Morley Hollenberg, D. Gwyn Bebb. Gender and racial disparities in non-small cell lung cancer: A systematic review [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Tenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2017 Sep 25-28; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018;27(7 Suppl):Abstract nr A89.