Kidney cancer (KCa) patients from racial and ethnic minority groups often delay or forgo surgical treatment and have invasive treatment. The goal of this pilot study was to understand the factors underlying KCa treatment disparities. We interviewed KCa patients (n=13) and community members without KCa (n=61) in Arizona and conducted online surveys with urologists (n=54). Many interview participants were from minority groups (82%) and had health care access difficulties. Four out of 10 patients waited over a year to see their doctor when they had potential symptoms before diagnosis. Almost 30% reported that cultural values or religious beliefs influenced their treatment choice. Many community participants had not heard about KCa (62.3%). Urologists reported that patients from minority groups more often had health care access challenges than non-Hispanic White patients. Barriers to health care access, lack of knowledge, and cultural values may be underlying forces influencing treatment decisions and delay.

BACKGROUND:Although pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare and fatal disease that is well-characterized, vasodilator-responsive PAH accounts for a minority of cases, with little mechanistic knowledge, but with dramatically improved survival. METHODS:By assembling national cohorts, we evaluated genetic influences on acute vasodilator drug response, a key determinant of the presence of vasodilator-responsive PAH. Differences between hemodynamics at rest and after a PAH-specific vasodilator were tested in a genome-wide association study. Validated loci were functionally tested in cell culture and in a hypoxic mouse model of pulmonary hypertension. RESULTS:Rs8057488 in the sorting nexin 29 (SNX29) gene reached genome-wide significance in the discovery cohort (P=4.00×10-8) and was nominally replicated (P=0.027). Consistent with its predicted function, SNX29 demonstrated an endosomal distribution in PA smooth muscle cells. Silencing SNX29 redistributed stromal interaction molecule proteins to the cell membrane and enhanced store-operated calcium entry. Over-expression of SNX29, in vivo, attenuated hypoxic vasoconstriction in isolated perfused murine lung models. CONCLUSIONS:The data cumulatively suggest SNX29 may contribute to vasodilation partly through reduced store-operated calcium entry and endosomal trafficking of store-operated calcium entry proteins, advancing our understanding of vasodilator-responsive PAH.

Abstract Background. L3 skeletal muscle index (SMI) is the CT standard for whole-body sarcopenia but does not assess thoracic musculature and may miss muscle morphology tied to respiratory mechanics and upper-body function. This study evaluated whether thoracic muscle measures provide independent or complementary information beyond L3 SMI for functional and pulmonary performance in lung cancer patients. Methods. Ninety adults with newly diagnosed lung cancer who completed clinically indicated CT imaging and baseline pre-treatment functional assessments were analyzed. SMI was quantified at L3 and thoracic levels (T4, T6, T8, T10). Functional outcomes included handgrip strength (HGS), gait speed, sit-to-stand, and 6-minute walk distance (6MWT). Pulmonary outcomes included maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures (MIP, MEP), Forced Vital Capacity (FVC), Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second (FEV1), and Peak Expiratory Flow (PEF). Outcomes were examined continuously and dichotomized at clinically relevant thresholds: weak HGS (< 28 kg for men; <18 kg for women), impaired 6MWT (<300 m), and respiratory muscle weakness (MIP ≤ 62/83 cmH2O and MEP ≤ 81/≤ 109 cmH2O in men/women). Correlations, multivariable linear regression (adjusting for age, sex, body mass index (BMI), smoking, and tumor stage), and logistic regression assessed associations; incremental predictive value of thoracic SMI beyond L3 was evaluated using area under the ROC curve (AUC). Results. Thoracic SMI showed moderate-strong correlations with HGS, MIP, MEP, and PEF (r = 0.24-0.63, all p < 0.01). In adjusted models, thoracic SMIs remained associated with HGS (β = 0.20-0.37, p ≤ 0.007) and several respiratory measures, including MEP at T4/T10 and FVC and PEF at T6/T8. L3 SMI was not independently associated with MEP, MIP, or PEF (p > 0.10), but was more strongly related to whole-body mobility (TUG and gait speed, both p < 0.02). To connect functional associations with clinical relevance, predictive performance was examined for clinically defined weakness or impairment. For inspiratory muscle weakness, L3 SMI was not predictive (p=0.30; AUC=0.903), and adding thoracic SMI did not improve discrimination (AUCs 0.898 to 0.904). For weak HGS, L3 SMI was not significant (p=0.42, AUC=0.774), whereas adding thoracic SMI increased AUC by 0.06 to 0.12, with T8 showing the largest gain (AUC 0.893). For 6MWT impairment, L3 SMI was predictive (p=0.039, AUC =0.750), while thoracic SMI was not (all p>0.10) and did not meaningfully improve increase AUC (0.75-0.79). Conclusion. Thoracic CT-derived muscle indices provide domain-specific value beyond L3 SMI, improving prediction of upper-body strength but not inspiratory muscle weakness or whole-body endurance. Incorporating thoracic muscle metrics with standard L3 assessment may enhance functional risk stratification and prehabilitation planning in lung cancer. Citation Format: Kayleigh R. Erickson, Juan Adrover Claudio, Chi-Chen Hong, Ken Batai, Nicolas F. Schlecht, Sai Yendamuri, Andrew Ray.. Thoracic ct-derived muscle indices improve prediction of respiratory function beyond standard L3 sarcopenia measures in lung cancer patients [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 2618.

PurposeThis cross-sectional study explored associations of BMI with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) pathological grade and stage, and how these associations vary by BMI-related factors, to better understand the obesity paradox.MethodData was obtained from 2 academic institutions for this cross-sectional study of RCC patients who underwent surgical treatment. Logistic regression models were used to identify BMI-related factors and to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for diagnosis with high grade or advanced stage.ResultsA total of 1949 cases, 1526 from Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center (Roswell Park) and 423 from University of Arizona Baner-University Medical Center Tucson (BUMCT), were included. In both datasets, obesity was significantly associated with lower odds of high grade compared with non-obese (OR 0.69, 95% CI 0.54-0.88 in Roswell Park, OR 0.62, 95% CI 0.41-0.94 in BUMCT). In Roswell Park, unintentional weight loss at the time of surgery was associated with higher odds of high grade (OR 3.81, 95% CI 2.38-6.09) and advanced stage (OR 4.12, 95% CI 2.74-6.20). In both datasets, older age was associated with reduced odds of obesity and higher odds of high grade, and heterogeneous associations between obesity and high grade by age group were observed (PInteraction = 0.001) in Roswell Park. Former smokers had increased odds of obesity in BUMCT and increased odds of high grade in both datasets. In BUMCT, obesity was significantly associated with reduced odds of high grade in patients who never smoked, not in patients who have smoked, but heterogeneity by smoking status was not significant.ConclusionHigher BMI was linked to a lower likelihood of high-risk RCC pathological characteristics consistent with the obesity paradox. However, BMI-related factors, including older age and smoking, were associated with higher odds of RCC severity, potentially modifying the associations between BMI and severity.

American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations experience disproportionately high kidney cancer incidence and mortality compared to other groups in the United States. Literature was reviewed to explore the factors contributing to the unequally higher kidney cancer burden in AI/AN communities and to develop recommendations to reduce these disparities. The incidence of kidney cancer has been rising over the past few decades, and this increase has been especially steep among AI/AN populations. Death rates in AI/AN populations are roughly twice those of the non-Hispanic White population. The elevated kidney cancer burden in AI/AN populations may be driven by both clinical and behavioral risk factors (obesity, diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, smoking, and environmental factors) and structural drivers of health, which can critically shape these disparities. Systemic inequalities limit AI/AN patients and community members’ access to chronic disease management, smoking cessation programs, primary and specialty care for early detection, and ultimately, treatment. AI/AN patients may have mistrust or other cultural barriers to engaging with the healthcare system and providers, while implicit bias in healthcare providers may lead to undertreatment. Therefore, key interventions and tailored programs aimed at reducing kidney cancer incidence and mortality are needed. Here we highlight some current interventions, including access to disease management and smoking cessation programs, facilitating healthcare access and quality, adopting patient navigation and culturally competent education, and developing strategies for early detection. In partnership with AI/AN communities, a combination of prevention, early detection, and healthcare system improvements is needed to close the kidney cancer gap.

Body composition varies by race and ethnicity and influences cancer prognosis, but the associations of body composition with pathological characteristics in renal cell carcinoma (RCC) remain unclear. This study investigated body composition variation and its association with RCC histology, tumor grade, and stage. Using preoperative imaging scans, we measured area (cm2) and radiodensity of adipose tissue sub-compartments and skeletal muscle. Area measurements were normalized for height squared (cm2/m2) to calculate intermuscular, visceral, and subcutaneous adipose tissue and skeletal muscle indices (e.g., IMATI, VATI, and SATI). Logistic regression analyses were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95

Background: Currently there are no clinically validated biomarkers recommended for prostate cancer (PCa) risk stratification other than prostate-specific antigen (PSA). Objective: This study aimed to identify urine metabolites that are associated with the presence of high-grade PCa at the time of radical prostatectomy. Methods: Urine samples were collected from patients who underwent radical prostatectomy. High-resolution metabolomics were implemented using liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LC-MS). To enhance metabolic feature identification, sample extracts were analyzed in two modes, C18 chromatography [reverse-phase (RP)] and hydrophilic interaction chromatography (HILIC). Results: This analysis included a total of 22 patients with PCa (10 high-grade and 12 low-grade) and identified 52 differential metabolites, 40 in RP and 12 in HILIC, at the p-value 0.05 level. Among these, methyl alpha-aspartyl phenylalaninate was most significantly differentiated, while 3-methylbutanoicacid had the largest difference (slope −3.488). In the pathway analysis, the histidine metabolism pathway was significantly enriched (p < 0.05) with an enrichment factor of 3.5. Although not statistically significant, alterations were also observed in the vitamin B12, B7 (biotin), B6, and B3 (niacin) pathways. Conclusions: These findings suggest that urinary metabolites may have the potential to differentiate high-grade from low-grade PCa. Our study also highlights the metabolic reprogramming that occurs as PCa becomes more aggressive and potential differences in dietary patterns.

BACKGROUND:Increased body mass index (BMI) in midlife is a recognized risk factor for renal cell carcinoma (RCC), but data on lifetime BMI patterns and their associations with RCC and subtypes remain limited. METHODS:In the National Institutes of Health-American Association of Retired Persons Diet and Health Study (n = 204,364), the authors evaluated lifetime body weight patterns using: 1) BMI at ages 18, 35, 50, and baseline (mean [SD]: 61.6 [5.3] years); 2) BMI trajectory across adulthood; 3) cumulative exposure to excess weight, measured as weighted years overweight/obese (WYO); and 4) BMI change between specific ages. Cox models estimated hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for overall RCC (n = 1425), aggressive RCC (n = 583), fatal RCC (n = 339), and histologic subtypes, including clear cell RCC (ccRCC, n = 541), papillary RCC (pRCC, n = 146), and chromophobe RCC (chRCC, n = 64). RESULTS:Higher BMI at all ages was associated with greater hazard of overall RCC and all subtypes (HR, 1.10-1.40 per 5-unit increase), except chRCC (HR, 0.80-0.98). Similar patterns were observed for BMI trajectories indicating weight gain during adulthood to overweight/obesity, compared to maintaining normal BMI. Higher WYO (per SD increase) was associated with an elevated hazard of overall RCC (HR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.12-2.22), aggressive RCC (HR, 1.21; 95% CI, 1.13-1.29), fatal RCC (HR, 1.16; 95% CI, 1.06-1.27), and ccRCC (HR, 1.20; 95% CI, 1.13-1.30), but not pRCC (HR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.97-1.32) and chRCC (HR, 0.92; 95% CI, 0.68-1.25). BMI reduction of ≥10%, particularly after age 50 (HR, 0.72; 95% CI, 0.52-0.99), was associated with lower RCC hazard. CONCLUSIONS:Lifetime excess weight and adult weight gain were associated with increased risk of RCC, particularly ccRCC, whereas weight loss was associated with reduced risk.

Asian Americans (AA) in the United States represent a heterogenous population from various ethnic backgrounds. We compared cancer and cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality between various AA groups and Non-Hispanic White (NHW) patients diagnosed with urologic cancer. We assembled a population-based cohort that included 389,114 prostate cancer, 98,721 renal cell cancer, and 126,485 bladder cancer patients. Cumulative cancer and CVD mortality were compared between AA and NHW groups, accounting for competing risk of death. Multivariable Cox models were used to quantify the cause-specific hazard ratio (HR) with a 95

Introduction Prostate cancer (PCa) is a major cause of cancer mortality among American men, with significant racial and ethnic disparities. Hispanic Americans (HAs) are underrepresented in PCa genomic studies despite comprising a large portion of cancer diagnoses. By comparing the frequency of common PCa mutations between HA and non-Hispanics (NHs), we aim to continue understanding the drivers of disparities in this underrepresented population. Methods We retrospectively analyzed 111 metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma patients with 313 tissue, liquid, and germline genomic sample results from patient blood at the University of Arizona Cancer Center (2015-2023). Patients were categorized by ethnicity into HAs and NHs. We assessed de-identified demographic, pathological, clinical, and genomic data. Continuous and categorical variables determined statistical significance were evaluated using t-tests or Kruskal-Wallis Rank sum tests and Chi-square or Fisher's exact tests, respectively (P < 0.05). Time-to-event data was analyzed using Kaplan-Meier Methods. Results Of the 111 patients included HAs represented 41%. HAs had higher median PSA levels at the time of diagnosis (148.5 ng/ml vs. 52.6 ng/ml, P = 0.024), more advanced pathological disease stages, including T4 (36% vs. 15%), and M1c (37.8% vs. 13.6%), less time to first-line treatment (1 vs 2 months, P ≤ 0.01), and higher median survival time from first-line to second-line treatment (23 vs 13 months, P < 0.01). TMPRSS2-ERG fusion and TMB-High (>10) mutations were more common in HAs (36% vs. 6%, P = 0.0009; 20% vs. 3%, P = 0.003). Conclusion Our study shows a more advanced clinical presentation of HAs PCa compared to NHs. Furthermore, significant genomic differences in PCa between HAs and NHWs, particularly in TMPRSS2-ERG fusion and TMB-High mutations, highlight the need for early detection and personalized treatment options. Addressing treatment disparities and expanding genomic research in HAs are crucial for developing effective interventions in this underrepresented population.

Background: Obesity is a well-established risk factor of renal cell carcinoma (RCC), however the impact of obesity on surgical outcomes for racial and ethnic minority patients with RCC is unclear. This study investigated whether a higher body mass index (BMI) or obesity (BMI >= 30 kg/m(2)) was associated with worse perioperative outcomes and if there were heterogeneous effects based on race, ethnicity, and neighborhood-level socioeconomic factor. Methods: In this single-center cross-sectional study, medical records of patients who underwent partial or radical nephrectomy between 2010 and 2022 were retrospectively reviewed. Logistic regression analysis was performed to assess associations of BMI and perioperative outcomes [ischemia time, estimated blood loss (EBL), and length of hospital stay]. Results: A total of 432 patients, including 49.8% non-Hispanic White (NHW), 35.0% Hispanic, and 6.9% American Indian (AI) patients, were included. Median [interquartile range (IQR)] BMI was 30.2 (26.3-35.2) kg/m(2), and Hispanic (31.5) and AI (32.5) patients had higher median BMI than NHW (29.1) patients (P=0.006). Median ischemia time, EBL, and length of hospital stay were 18.5 (IQR, 15.0-22.4) minutes, 150 (IQR, 75.0-300.0) mL, and 3 (IQR, 2-5) days. BMI >= 35 kg/m(2) was associated with a longer ischemia time [>18.5 minutes; odds ratio (OR), 5.17; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.81-14.76; P=0.002], and the association was stronger in NHW than Hispanic patients (BMI continuous OR, 1.13; 95% CI: 1.04-1.22; P=0.004 in NHW and OR, 1.07; 95% CI: 0.98-1.17; P=0.12 in Hispanics). Class I and II/III obese patients had over two-fold increased odds of a larger EBL (>150 mL) than patients with normal weight (OR, 2.17; 95% CI: 1.03-4.59; P=0.04 for class I and OR, 2.24; 95% CI: 1.04-4.84; P=0.04 for class II/III obese patients). This association was stronger in patients from neighborhoods with high social deprivation index (SDI) and in NHW patients (BMI >= 30 vs. <30 kg/m(2) , OR, 3.53; 95% CI: 1.57-7.97; P=0.002 in high SDI neighborhoods and OR, 2.38; 95% CI: 1.10-5.14; P=0.03 in NHW). BMI was not associated with a longer hospital stay. Conclusions: In this study, obesity increased likelihood of worse perioperative outcomes, and the associations varied based on race and ethnicity and neighborhood-level socioeconomic factors.

Hispanics from different countries of origin are usually reported in aggregate in landmark trials. We identified patients with histologically confirmed prostate adenocarcinoma using the National Cancer Database. Hispanic Americans were divided into 4 subgroups: Mexican, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and Central/South Americans. Mexicans had more advanced PCa and lower treatment rates. Our findings demonstrate disparities between Hispanic-American subgroups by country of origin. Introduction: Among Hispanic-American (HA) men, prostatic cancer (PCa) accounts for nearly one-quarter of the total cancer burden. We sought to identify differences in PCa presentation and treatment status for HA subgroups based on country/region of origin. Material and Methods: Using the National Cancer Database, we identified patients with histologically confirmed prostate adenocarcinoma with reported race/ethnicity, clinical staging, Gleason score >= 6, and PSA level at diagnosis from 2010 to 2016. HAs were divided into 4 subgroups: Mexican, Puerto Ricans, Cubans, and Central/South Americans. Non-Hispanic White (NHW) men were used as a reference group. Statistical analysis was derived from the Kruskal-Wallis test for continuous variables and chi 2 test for categorical variables. Models were constructed to evaluate the association of Hispanic country of origin with metastatic presentation and treatment status. Results: A total of 428,829 patients were included, with 5625 (1.3%) classified as HA. Within the Hispanic group, 2880 (51.2%) were Mexican, 999 (17.8%) Puerto Rican, 477 (8.5%) Cuban, and 1269 (22.6%) South/Central American. Mexican men presented with higher median PSA, more Gleason 8 to 10 disease, and higher rates of metastatic presentation compared to NHW and other HA subgroups (all, p < .01). Metastatic rates over the study period for Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and South/Central Americans were 6.4 ( +/- 1.2), 5.3 ( +/- 3.0), 3.2 ( +/- 2.0), and 4.6% ( +/- 1.7), respectively ( p = .01). Treatment rates were 89.1, 89.6, 92.4, and 89.3% for Mexican, Puerto Rican, Cuban, and South/Central Americans, respectively ( p = .19). Mexican men had higher odds of initial metastatic presentation (OR: 1.32; 95%CI: 1.07-1.63, p = .01) but lower odds of receiving treatment (0.68; 0.55-0.85, p < .01). Conclusion: Men of Mexican origin presented with more advanced PCa when compared to NHW and other Hispanic subgroups. Our results warrant further investigation into potential biological factors affecting Hispanic patients as well as the identification of treatment barriers for this vulnerable population.

BackgroundThe association between body mass index (BMI) and mortality among individuals with renal cell cancer (RCC) is debated, with some observational studies suggesting a lower mortality associated with higher BMI. However, methodological issues such as confounding and reverse causation may bias these findings. Using BMI-associated genetic variants can avoid these biases and generate more valid estimates.MethodsIn this prospective cohort study, we included 1264 RCC patients (446 deaths) from the UK Biobank. We created a BMI polygenic score (PGS) based on 336 BMI-associated genetic variants. The association between the PGS and mortality (all-cause and RCC-specific) was evaluated by logistic regression (all RCC cases) and Cox regression (906 incident cases). For comparison, the associations of measured pre-diagnostic BMI and waist-to-hip ratio (WHR) with mortality were quantified by Cox regression among incident cases. We stratified these analyses by time between anthropometric measurement and RCC diagnosis to assess the influence of reverse causation.ResultsWe did not observe an association between the BMI PGS and all-cause mortality among RCC patients (hazard ratio (HR) per SD increase = 0.98, 95% CI: 0.88,1.10). No association was found for pre-diagnostic BMI (HR per 5 kg/m2 increase = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.83,1.04) or WHR (HR per 0.1 increase = 0.97, 95% CI: 0.83,1.13) with mortality. In patients with anthropometrics measured within 2 years before RCC diagnosis, we observed associations of higher BMI (HR per 5 kg/m2 = 0.76, 95% CI: 0.59,0.98) and WHR (HR = 0.67 per 0.1 increase, 95% CI: 0.45,0.98) with a lower risk of death. Similar patterns were observed for RCC-specific mortality.ConclusionWe found no association between either genetic variants for high BMI or measured pre-diagnostic body adiposity and mortality among RCC patients, and our results suggested a role for reverse causation in the association of obesity with lower mortality. Future studies should be designed carefully to produce unbiased estimates that account for confounding and reverse causation.

Abstract Background: Racial and ethnic minority patients often delay or forgo kidney cancer (KCa) surgical treatment and have an invasive surgical treatment. This study aimed to understand the underlying factors of KCa surgical treatment disparities through interviews with KCa patients and non-patients from racial and ethnic minority communities in Arizona and online surveys with urologists who practice in the U.S. Methods: We conducted phone interviews with KCa patients (n=13) and interviews at health events with community members without KCa (n=61). Online surveys were conducted with urologists (n=54). Results: Many interview participants had healthcare access issues with 22% reporting not having a primary care doctor and 12% reporting that there was a time when they could not see a doctor because of cost. Almost 50% reported that they had delayed care because they could not get an appointment soon enough. Among 10 patients who responded to a question about diagnosis delay, 4 answered that they waited over a year to see their doctor when they had health issues before their diagnosis. A quarter of community participants (25%) and about a third of patients (31%) reported that cultural values or religious beliefs influenced their choice of treatment. When community participants were asked what they knew about KCa symptoms and treatments, many did not provide relevant or correct information. Only 51% of non-patients reported that they trusted their doctor’s judgements about their medical care, but 92% of patients reported that they trusted their doctor’s judgement. About 30% of urologists reported that patients from racial and ethnic minority backgrounds often have healthcare access challenges, but only 9% responded that NHW patients often have challenges. They did not report that racial and ethnic differences in treatment exist. About 10% of urologists reported socioeconomic backgrounds of patients affect treatment decision and timeliness often or all the time. Only 46% reported that they refer patients to necessary services all the time, when patients express concerns of finance and healthcare access challenges. Many urologists strongly or slightly agreed that treatment decisions should be made by the treating clinicians (82%) and based on clinical information (87%). Many also strongly or slightly agreed that patients and their family members should contribute to decision-making (98%), while 46% strongly or slightly agreed that patients’ cultural and religious backgrounds often affect their treatment choices. In open-ended questions, urologists responded that work and family obligations, healthcare access, and health literacy rather than race and ethnicity are factors influencing treatment, while mistrust was identified as one of factors influencing treatment delay. Conclusions: Barriers to healthcare access, lack of knowledge, and mistrust before diagnosis may be underlying factors among patients, while urologists view healthcare access, social and economic factors, and mistrust influence KCa surgical treatment decision and delay. Citation Format: Ken Batai, Alex Cruz, Juan Adrover, Daphne Larose, D'Andre Gomez, Francine C. Gachupin, Jacquanette R. Slowtalker, Benjamin R. Lee, Juan Chipollini. Underlying factors influencing kidney cancer surgical treatment disparities: Patients, non-patient community members and urologists’ perspectives [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B128.

Racism has been a long-standing influential factor that has negatively impacted both past and current health disparities within the United Sates population. Existing problems of racism and its impact on both health disparities and health inequalities were only amplified during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic allowed both clinicians and researchers to recognize a growing list of health concerns at the macro-, meso-, and micro-level among underserved racially minoritized patients with specific chronic illnesses such as cancer. Based on these concerns, this Special Issue was designed to highlight the challenges of cancer screening, cancer treatment, and cancer-centered educational outreach among racially minoritized communities.

Abstract Background Hispanics and American Indians (AI) have high kidney cancer incidence and mortality rates in Arizona. This study assessed: (1) whether racial and ethnic minority patients and patients from neighborhoods with high social vulnerability index (SVI) experience a longer time to surgery after clinical diagnosis, and (2) whether time to surgery, race and ethnicity, and SVI are associated with upstaging to pT3/pT4, disease‐free survival (DFS), and overall survival (OS). Methods Arizona Cancer Registry (2009–2018) kidney and renal pelvis cases (n = 4592) were analyzed using logistic regression models to assess longer time to surgery and upstaging. Cox‐regression hazard models were used to test DFS and OS. Results Hispanic and AI patients with T1 tumors had a longer time to surgery than non‐Hispanic White patients (median time of 56, 55, and 45 days, respectively). Living in neighborhoods with high (≥75) overall SVI increased odds of a longer time to surgery for cT1a (OR 1.54, 95% CI: 1.02–2.31) and cT2 (OR 2.32, 95% CI: 1.13–4.73). Race and ethnicity were not associated with time to surgery. Among cT1a patients, a longer time to surgery increased odds of upstaging to pT3/pT4 (OR 1.95, 95% CI: 0.99–3.84). A longer time to surgery was associated with PFS (HR 1.52, 95% CI: 1.17–1.99) and OS (HR 1.63, 95% CI: 1.26–2.11). Among patients with cT2 tumor, living in high SVI neighborhoods was associated with worse OS (HR 1.66, 95% CI: 1.07–2.57). Conclusions High social vulnerability was associated with increased time to surgery and poor survival after surgery.

To evaluate the predictive value of individual components of the R.E.N.A.L scoring system for Laparoscopic (LPN) and Robotic Partial Nephrectomy (RPN). Patients that had undergone a Laparoscopic (LPN) or Robotic Partial Nephrectomy (RPN) between 2018 and 2023 were reviewed. Our data collection included Race, Ethnicity, Age, BMI, R.E.N.A.L nephrometry score, and complications. Cases that achieved trifecta outcomes were designated as “Group A” and cases that did not achieve trifecta were “Group B”. All the data were collected using REDCap database. A total of 111 cases were included, Group A consisted of 82

BACKGROUND:Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a highly lethal cancer with few treatment options available to patients. Most HCC cases in Arizona, a state with a high proportion of Hispanic adults, have not been included in recent reports of HCC incidence. This study describes trends in HCC incidence and stage at diagnosis among Arizona residents between 2009-2017 and reports on racial and ethnic disparities for these outcomes. METHODS:The Arizona Cancer Registry was used to identify Arizonans aged 19 or older diagnosed with liver cell carcinoma diagnosed between 2009-2017. A total of 5043 cases were examined. Adjusted annual and 3-year HCC incidence rates (per 100,000) were examined for non-Hispanic White (NHW) and Hispanic adults. RESULTS:The total age-adjusted HCC incidence rate increased significantly between 2009-2012 and then declined significantly between 2012-2017. Across nearly all years, age-adjusted HCC incidence in Hispanic adults was twice that of NHW adults. Hispanic adults were more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage across all time periods. The disparity in 3-year age-adjusted HCC incidence rate between NHW and Hispanic adults decreased between 2009-2017. CONCLUSION:Whe total age-adjusted HCC incidence rate increased significantly between 2009-2012 and then declined significantly between 2012-2017. Across nearly all years, age-adjusted HCC incidence in Hispanic adults was twice that of NHW adults. Hispanic adults were more likely to be diagnosed at a later stage across all time periods. The disparity in 3-year age-adjusted HCC incidence rate between NHW and Hispanic adults decreased between 2009-2017.

Abstract Background: Obesity is more prevalent in minoritized groups, including Hispanics, American Indian (AI), and non-Hispanic Black (NHB), and these groups have higher renal cell carcinoma (RCC) incidence and mortality rates than non-Hispanic White (NHW). However, the role of abdominal adiposity in RCC disparities are still unknown. To address this gap, we investigated body composition variation and associations with RCC pathological characteristics accounting for neighborhood characteristics. Methods: Social vulnerability index (SVI) scores were linked to the zip code of patient’s residence. Preoperative CT and MRI scans were obtained. SliceOmatic software was used to measure intermuscular, visceral, and subcutaneous adipose tissue and skeletal muscle areas and were normalized for height to obtain intermuscular, visceral, and subcutaneous adipose tissue index (IMATI, VATI, and SATI) and skeletal muscle index (SMI). Non-parametric tests were used to examine correlations, and logistic regression analyses were performed to obtain odds ratio (OR) and confidence interval (CI). Results: A total of 235 patients, including 70 (29.8%) Hispanic, 17 (7.2%) AI, and 20 (8.5%) NHB, were included. Obesity was more common in Hispanic (58.6%), AI (70.6%), and NHB (60.0%) than NHW (47.9%) patients. Compared to NHW patients, SATI was higher in Hispanic (P<0.001) and AI (P=0.002), and VATI was higher in Hispanic patients (P=0.04). Patients from minoritized racial and ethnic groups were more likely to come from neighborhoods with high SVI. SVI was significantly positively correlated with BMI (P=0.02) and SATI (P<0.001). Among SVI themes, socioeconomic, housing and transportation, and minority and language characteristics were significantly positively correlated with SATI (P<0.01). All body composition measurements were significantly positively correlate with BMI (P<0.001). Patients from minoritized racial and ethnic groups were also more likely to have hypertension and diabetes, and patients with both conditions had higher BMI (P=0.002), IMATI (P<0.001), VATI (P<0.001), and SATI (P=0.01) than patients without either condition. Obesity was associated with reduced odds of high grade RCC (OR 0.53, 95% CI 0.29-0.93). After including comorbidities in the model, association was no longer significant. In the same model, AI patients showed a trend for increased odds of high grade (OR 3.28, 95% CI 0.85-12.62, P=0.08) compared to NHW patients. AI patients also had significantly increased odds of having advanced stage RCC (OR 3.72, 95% CI 1.14-12.19). The highest quartile of IMATI significantly increased odds of advanced stage (OR 4.53, 95% CI 1.43-14.36) and clear cell subtype (OR 5.87, 95% CI 1.17-29.55) compared to the lowest quartile with significant P for trend (0.009 and 0.03 respectively). The third quartile of VATI was also significantly associated with clear cell subtype (OR 13.27, 95% CI 13.27). Conclusion: Obesity rates and body composition vary among racially and ethnically diverse RCC patients and are associated with RCC pathological characteristics. Citation Format: Ken Batai, Juan Adrover Claudio, Robert M. Blew, Benjamin R. Lee, Hina Arif Tiwari, Patrick Wightman, Qian Liu, Charles L. Roche, Evan W Davis, Rikki Cannioto, Eric C. Kauffman, Jennifer W. Bea. Racial and ethnic variation in obesity rates and body composition and their associations with renal cell carcinoma grade, stage, and histologic subtype [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 17th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2024 Sep 21-24; Los Angeles, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024;33(9 Suppl):Abstract nr A059.

30 Background: Genomic testing through the employment of somatic and germline testing has become increasingly relevant in determining the prognosis and targeted therapies for advanced prostate cancer patients. Prostate cancer health disparities resulting in worse presentations and clinical outcomes have been observed in HA compared to NHW. Understanding the prevalence of different genomic alterations is paramount to bridge the gap between the two ethnic groups. Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of 190 metastatic prostate adenocarcinoma patients with 24.2% HA who presented to the University of Arizona Cancer Center from 2015 to 2022. Patients in both groups may have undergone more than one type of testing. Homologous recombination repair (HRR) included ATM, BRCA1/2, BARD1, BRIP1, CDK12, CHEK1/2, FANCA/L, HDAC2, PALB2, RAD-51B/1C/51D, or 54L. Tissue-agnostic therapy approvals are dMMR, MSI-H, TMB-High, BRAF V600E, and NTRK/RET fusion. The proportion of HA and NHW was determined, and the statistical significance of the differences was reported using Chi2 or Fisher’s Exact test. Results: 43.6%, 34.7%, and 38.9% of patients had somatic tissue, liquid, and germline testing, respectively analyzed for pathogenic variants. TMB-High >10 (30% vs 3.6%, p=0.02), PD-L1 CPS>5 (9.4% vs 0%, p=0.03) and TMPRSS2-ERG fusion (37.5 vs 7.8%, p=0.0009) had higher proportion in HA compared to NHW. No test showed a difference in BRCA 1/2 or another HRR deficiency actionable mutation between the two ethnicities. There were no other statistically significant differences in common mutations or variants of unknown significance among groups. Conclusions: Liquid and tissue biopsies indicated a difference in proportions for tissue-agnostic and immune-oncology therapeutic indications, being more prevalent in HA. TMPRSS2-ERG fusions have differences in PC development and progression by race and now potentially by ethnicity, as shown by our study. Our review revealed increased germline and somatic testing over time according to targeted therapies approval and guideline recommendations, although, there remains a critical need for advancing genomic sequencing efforts for underrepresented HA. The Hispanic Americans Prostate Cancer Comprehensive Genomic Profiling Study's (THAPCA-GPS) future investigations aim to delineate the pathogenetic differences between HA and NHW and may reduce healthcare disparities and improve clinical outcomes in HA patients. [Table: see text]