What question did this study set out to answer?

This research aims to evaluate how immigration history influences gastric cancer risk among Latino populations in the US.

April 5, 2026

Abstract 3564: Gastric cancer disparities across generations of Latino populations in the United States: Insights from the Multiethnic Cohort study

Key Result

Latino populations have a persistently elevated risk of gastric cancer across first (HR 2.17), second (HR 2.09), and third (HR 2.67) generations compared with non-Hispanic Whites.

Key Points

This research aims to evaluate how immigration history influences gastric cancer risk among Latino populations in the US.
Data analyzed from the Multiethnic Cohort Study enrolling Latino participants from Hawaii and California.
Cox proportional hazards models estimated hazard ratios for gastric cancer overall and by anatomical subtype.
Comparisons made with a reference group of non-Hispanic Whites.
Latino participants had approximately twice the risk of gastric cancer compared to non-Hispanic Whites.
Risk remained consistent across first-generation (HR 2.17) to third-generation (HR 2.67) Latino descendants.
Stronger associations were found for non-cardia gastric cancer than for cardia gastric cancer.

Structured PICO

Does generational immigration status affect the risk of gastric cancer in Latino populations compared to non-Hispanic Whites?

Population

79,963 participants from the population-based Multiethnic Cohort Study (MEC) residing in Hawaii and California, including self-identified Latinos of Mexican, Central or South American descent, and non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs). Median age 59 yr; 48% male.

Intervention

Latino generational immigration status (first-generation, second-generation, third-generation)

Comparator

Non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs)

Outcome

Incident gastric cancer overall and by anatomical subtypehard clinical

Latino populations in the US have a more than twofold higher risk of gastric cancer compared to non-Hispanic Whites, and this elevated risk persists across multiple generations, suggesting lasting ancestral or biological susceptibilities.

Main Result

Absolute Event Rate: 0% vs 0%

Abstract

Abstract Background: Individuals of Latin American origin in the United States (US) have higher incidence of gastric cancer (GC) than the general population. The contribution of immigration history to this disparity remains inadequately characterized. This study assessed the association between generational immigration status and GC risk among Latino populations. Methods: We analyzed data from the population-based Multiethnic Cohort Study (MEC), which enrolled residents of Hawaii and California between 1993-1996. Participants who self-identified as Latino of Mexican, Central or South American descent were included, with non-Hispanic Whites (NHWs) as reference group. Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for GC overall and by anatomical subtype. Results: Among 79,963 participants (median age 59 yr; 48% male), 377 incident GC cases were identified. Latino participants had around twice the risk of GC compared with NHWs. The risk remained stable across generations: first-generation (born in Mexico, Central/South America) had an HR of 2.17 (95%CI, 1.61-2.92); second-generation (US-born with one or both parents born in Mexico, Central/South America), HR 2.09 (95%CI, 1.56-2.80); and third-generation, HR 2.67 (95%CI, 1.87-3.82). No notable differences were observed across Mexican and Central/South American subgroups. Associations were stronger for non-cardia GC (HRs, 2.78, 2.62, and 3.42 for first-, second-, and third-generation, respectively) but were not significant for cardia GC. Conclusions: Latino descendants showed more than twofold higher GC risk compared to NHWs, with elevated risk persisting across generations. No attenuation among US-born individuals suggests lasting ancestral or biological susceptibilities beyond immigration-related exposures. These findings underscore the need to identify at-risk populations and guide targeted prevention strategies. Citation Format: Katherine De la Torre-Cisneros, Haejin In, Alexandra Adams, Chunxia Chen, Brijesh Rana, Lynne R. Wilkens, Meira Epplein. Gastric cancer disparities across generations of Latino populations in the United States: Insights from the Multiethnic Cohort study abstract. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2026; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2026 Apr 17-22; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2026;86(7 Suppl):Abstract nr 3564.

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