Cancer burden in South Asians in the United States: Epidemiologic report using Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program.

10574 Background: Studying racial-ethnic disparities in cancer risk can help in identifying underlying factors and developing targeted screening and education strategies. South Asian Americans (SAA), Asian Indians and Pakistanis, are a fast-growing ethnic group in the US, but there is limited research on their cancer risks. This study examines cancer prevalence patterns in the SAA population compared to Whites in the US. Methods: We analyzed cancer prevalence in 5,120,423 patients diagnosed with 23 different types of cancer between 2000 and 2018, using data from 18 SEER cancer registries. We compared cancer prevalence between SAA and Whites and examined factors such as cancer types, demographics, socioeconomic status, and urban vs. rural residency. Χ 2 test was used to determine statistical significance (p<0.001). Results: Our analysis revealed higher prevalence of breast (19.0% vs. 14.6%) and thyroid (5.9% vs. 2.8%) cancers among SAAs compared to Whites, but lower rates of lung (6.5% vs. 12.0%), colorectal (5.9% vs. 7.4%), and melanoma (0.8% vs. 5.4%) cancers; p<0.001. Demographically, a significantly larger proportion of younger individuals (22.3% vs. 10.0%, ages 00-44) were found in the SAA cohort. The SAA survivor cohort also had a significantly higher percentage of females (50.8% vs. 48.6%) and married individuals than their White counterparts (69.3% vs 55.3%). Lastly, there were significant state-based variances in cancer prevalence. In California, SAAs had a lower cancer prevalence (23%) compared to Whites (38.5%), while in New Jersey, SAAs had a higher cancer prevalence (36.7%) than Whites (12.3%). Conclusions: Our analysis shows a disparity, highlighting the need for culturally attuned healthcare policies to enhance cancer education and screening among diverse groups. The higher prevalence of breast cancer in SAAs suggest possible effective screening, while lower rates of colorectal and lung cancers point to potential awareness gaps or cultural barriers. Addressing these, alongside researching genetic, environmental, and lifestyle influences—particularly given the younger SAA cancer population—is prudent. A focused approach, emphasizing targeted public health initiatives and further research, is necessary to enhance cancer outcomes and ensure health equity.