Abstract B114: Confronting cancer: Latino scholars investigate cancer disparities in Latino communities

Introduction Cancer disparities among US Latinos, who account for 19.1% of the total population, persist as a significant public health challenge, characterized by poor outcomes throughout the cancer continuum. Cancer is often diagnosed at a later stage in Latino patients, making treatment more challenging, and they are less likely to receive timely & appropriate care. Participation in clinical trials is lower among Latino patients, contributing to reduced survival rates for some cancers. However, cancer incidence and mortality vary widely within the Latino population, highlighting the need to identify specific drivers of these disparities and propose targeted solutions. To comprehensively understand these dynamics, the Task Force: Latino Researchers Against Cancer (TFLRAC) convened specialists in oncology, public health, & behavioral sciences to systematically examine the multiple influences contributing to these disparities. Methods Throughout 2023, the TFLRAC explored the causes and multilevel drivers of health impacting the Latino cancer experience in structured meetings, focusing on distinct elements of the Latino cancer continuum. These sessions featured agendas & facilitated in-depth discussions among members, who brought specialized expertise and various informational sources. This format ensured an examination of cancer disparities within the Latino community, allowing effective integration of knowledge from existing literature, clinical experience, & community engagement. The collaborative nature of these discussions enabled the distillation of key themes and contextual factors affecting Latino cancer care. Results The TFLRAC ranked key factors that contribute to the Latino cancer experience. These rankings provide a comprehensive view of the areas where experts believe are the greatest opportunities for impactful intervention. Access to Care, Lifestyle Factors, & Prevention & Early Detection emerged as top four priorities, indicating that experts view them as fundamental components for addressing health disparities. Socioeconomic Factors also ranked relatively high, underscoring their influence on health outcomes. Survivorship & End-of-Life Care & Genetic Factors were given lower priority, potentially reflecting an emphasis on upstream non-medical drivers of health rather than downstream outcomes. Conclusion The state of cancer in the US Latino population is concerning, and its causes are multifactorial. The TFLRAC has undertaken a comprehensive exploration of the multifaceted factors & key areas that influence cancer disparities among US Latinos. Addressing these disparities requires a multifaceted strategy, including targeted research, culturally tailored interventions, & comprehensive policy reforms to improve healthcare access, workforce diversity, clinical trial participation, and focus on the non-medical drivers of health. Changing the course of cancer care among Latinos is a task that requires partnership with academia, healthcare, Latino communities, government & industry. Funding provided by Gilead, Genentech & BMS. Citation Format: Edgar Munoz, Luis G. Carvajal-Carmona, Patricia Chalela, Enrique Diaz, Cliff Despres, Jose A. Lopez, Leon Bernal-Mizrachi, Paulo S. Pinheiro, Lorna Rodriguez-Rodriguez, Barbara Segarra-Vasquez, Gregory Talavera, Edward J. Trapido, R G. Ramirez. Confronting cancer: Latino scholars investigate cancer disparities in Latino communities [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 18th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities; 2025 Sep 18-21; Baltimore, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B114.