Is cancer a ‘racist’ disease? Is it true some ethnic groups are more vulnerable to cancer development and death than others? Are the most aggressive subtypes of some cancers found in some specific races than in others? In this article, we will try to know the TRUE picture.
Scientifically speaking, cancer is racist and sometimes misogynist or feminist as well. Some cancers and their subtypes show age bias too. Well, there is more to this discrimination! Cancer susceptibility also depends on socioeconomic status. However, the same allegation is true for many diseases as well. Based on the evidences that cancer researchers have collected and worked on, oncologists at any cancer special hospital in Kolkata conclude that race and ethnicity play a role in cancer development, progress, and recurrence.
What Does the American Cancer Society Say?
The American Cancer Society claims that the African-American communities in the USA have the highest incidence of cancer. The incidence of cancer occurrence affects Caucasians, Hispanics, Asian-Americans and American Natives in descending orders. Death from cancer is also highest in African Americans followed by the same descending pattern in the aforementioned ethnic groups.
The American Cancer Society and the National Cancer Institute have prepared a chart of cancer incidences based on ethnicity. The chart has taken into consideration some most common types of cancer – breast, lung and prostate.
| Lung Cancer – Men and Women | Prostate Cancer – Men | Breast Cancer – Women | |
| Highest Incidence Rate | African-American Males | African-American | White, non-Hispanic |
| Lowest Incidence Rate | Hispanic Females | American Indian/Natives | Korean American |
| Highest Death Rate | African American Males | African American | African American |
| Lowest Death Rate | Hispanic Females | Asian/Pacific Islander | Chinese American |
Epidemiological Study
Several epidemiological studies have confirmed that race plays a determining factor in enhancing the risk of cancer susceptibility. As per the US registries about cancer incidences, African groups have a globally higher risk of developing cancer, followed by Caucasians and Asian Americans.
Difference in health care, lifestyle and socioeconomic status also plays a key role in the entire scenario. However, with comparable socioeconomic and healthcare status as well as lifestyles, Hispanic populations have lesser disease susceptibility than their African-American counterparts. This phenomenon is known as “Hispanic Paradox” and it points to the importance of further studies on genetic determinants.
The molecular basis of ethnical disparity in cancer development and death ranges widely from cancer-driven gene mutations and genetic polymorphisms to obesity, immune responses and chronic inflammation. Neanderthal alleles are associated with the higher risk for incidences of sun-induced precancerous skin lesions, also called actinic keratosis, in Caucasian population.
Recent progress in genome-based studies has provided novel insights into how genes play a role in causing some common diseases like cancer. Though many genetic variants are strongly associated with predisposition to particular cancer types, the correlation of the most identified variants marginally increases the risk of cancer development. The unaccounted basis of genetic predilection has been named “genetic dark matter”, strengthening the claim of genetic susceptibility to cancer.
Genetic studies for cancer and other diseases have a long way to go. Findings are expected to help oncologists at cancer hospitals in Kolkata decide how specific ethnic groups can avoid getting the disease or if they should undergo more advanced tests for detection of malignancy or pre-malignancy at the earliest.