Immune response and inflammation in cancer health disparities

Trends Cancer. 2022 Apr;8(4):316-327. doi: 10.1016/j.trecan.2021.11.010. Epub 2021 Dec 27.

Abstract

Cancer death rates vary among population groups. Underserved populations continue to experience an excessive burden of lethal cancers that is largely explained by health-care disparities. However, the prominent role of advanced-stage disease as a driver of cancer survival disparities may indicate that some cancers are more aggressive in certain population groups than others. The tumor mutational burden can show large differences among patients with similar-stage disease but differences in race/ethnicity or residence. These dissimilarities may result from environmental or chronic inflammatory exposures, altering tumor biology and the immune response. We discuss the evidence that inflammation and immune response dissimilarities among population groups contribute to cancer disparities and how they can be targeted to reduce these disparities.

Keywords: African American; cancer disparity; immune response; inflammation.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Black or African American*
  • Healthcare Disparities
  • Humans
  • Immunity
  • Inflammation
  • Neoplasms* / epidemiology
  • Neoplasms* / genetics