BACKGROUND:Usual industry and occupation text information have been collected by central cancer registries but few have had the resources to code these data, limiting their usefulness for assessing occupational cancer risks.STUDY AIMS:This project was undertaken to use software available from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) to code industry and occupation information in cancer records reported to the Texas Cancer Registry (TCR) and the Louisiana Tumor Registry (LTR) and to assess the feasibility of its use in ongoing registry operations; to assess the quality of the reported information; and to determine its usefulness in occupational cancer research.METHODS:De-identified data files of TCR (n = 103,276) and LTR (n = 26,090) cancer records were obtained for diagnosis years 2010 and 2011, respectively, for cases aged 14 years and older, with industry and occupation text. These data fields were coded to the 2000 US Census Bureau using the NIOSH Industry and Occupation Computerized Coding System (NIOCCS) software at the high level confidence (90% or greater accuracy) and through manual code assignments for records not coded by NIOCCS.RESULTS:NIOCCS assigned a code for 37.2% of TCR records and 59.9% of LTR records. Examination of the quality of the coded data found 44.2% of TCR records and 31.1% of LTR records to have missing, unknown, or otherwise insufficient text for assigning a specific industry and occupation code. Additionally, the vague noninformative category of "retired" was reported for 14.9% and 11.2% of TCR and LTR records, respectively. Records with "homemaker/housewife" or those with terms indicating that they never worked represented 7.2% of TCR cases and 9.7% of LTR cases. Excluding the unknown, never worked, and retired categories, no one specific industry or occupation major grouping represented more than 5% of cases in either of the registries.CONCLUSION:NIOCCS is a helpful tool for coding industry and occupation text and continues to improve, but other registry resources are required for implementation into ongoing operations. Improvement in data quality of reported text information in cancer records is paramount to maximize the efficiency of NIOCCS and improve the availability of coded, specific industry and occupation information for occupational cancer research.

BACKGROUND:Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is increasing in the U.S. despite a decline in cancer overall. Latinos have higher rates of HCC than the general population according to the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Program. Not included in SEER, Texas Latinos make up one-fifth of the U.S. Latino population. To determine whether HCC incidence differs among U.S. and Texas Latinos, this descriptive study compares HCC incidence from 1995 through 2006 among three Latino populations: U.S. SEER, Texas overall and a South Texas subset. To identify lines of prevention research, we compare prevalence of known HCC risk factors among these Latino groups. METHODS:Data were collected from the U.S. SEER Program, Texas Cancer Registry and Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS). Annual age-specific and age-adjusted HCC incidence rates, annual percent changes (APCs) and 95% confidence intervals were calculated as well as prevalence of obesity, diabetes, heavy alcohol use and cigarette smoking. RESULTS:Of the three Latino groups compared, South Texas Latinos had the highest age-adjusted HCC incidence rates and SEER Latinos had the lowest (10.6/100,000 (10.1-11.1) and 7.5/100,000 (7.2-7.7), respectively). HCC incidence significantly increased over time (APCs>0) among Latinos in all three geographic groups. Between 1995 and 2006, there was an increase in obesity among all three populations, and obesity was highest among South Texas Latinos. Diabetes increased among U.S. Latinos, and Latino women in South Texas had significantly higher diabetes prevalence than U.S. Latino women. Cigarette smoking and heavy alcohol use were similar among groups. CONCLUSIONS:The incidence of HCC among Latinos in South Texas is higher than elsewhere in the United States. Higher rates of HCC among Texas and South Texas Latinos may be associated with greater prevalence of obesity and diabetes, risk factors for HCC that are amenable to intervention.

Abstract Introduction. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has increased in the U.S. from 1975-2006 while overall cancer has declined. Moreover, HCC among South Texas Latinos is higher than other U.S. Latinos. In recent years a number of risk factors have been associated with HCC including hepatitis-C virus infection, heavy alcohol use, obesity, diabetes and others. Of these, only diabetes exhibits characteristics which make it a candidate for why HCC is increasing in the U.S. Latino population and increasingly higher among South Texas Latinos. This study compares incidence rates of HCC and prevalence rates of diabetes among U.S. Latinos and South Texas Latinos. We hypothesize that these data implicate diabetes in HCC and suggest a clear path to informed HCC prevention. Methods. Data from the U.S. SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) Program, Texas Cancer Registry, and the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) were obtained. Age-adjusted HCC incidence rates were calculated using SEER*Stat and SPSS software and aggregated over 3-year periods. Likewise, annual prevalence of diabetes was calculated and aggregated over the same periods. For each measure values for the mutually exclusive U.S. and South Texas populations were compared. Trend slopes for both HCC and diabetes were calculated and displayed graphically. Group differences were assessed at p < .05 if confidence intervals did not overlap. Results. U.S. (SEER) Latino HCC incidence averaged 6.1/100,000 during 1995-1997 and increased to 8.0 during 2004-2006 (slope m = 0.455). South Texas Latino rates averaged 9.2 and 11.7 during the same periods (slope m = 0.625) (incidence rate difference, p < .05). Simultaneously, the prevalence rate of diabetes was 5.9% and 7.7% among U.S. SEER Latinos (slope m = 0.450) and 7.6% and 9.6% among South Texas Latinos (slope m = 0.500) (prevalence rate difference, p < .05). Although slope differences could not be calculated, they indicate a greater rate of increase among South Texas Latinos than U.S. SEER Latinos. Conclusion. Our findings support observations that HCC and diabetes are increasing in the United States. We have described an important relationship between increasing rates of HCC and diabetes in the U.S. SEER and South Texas Latino populations. We suggest this relationship may explain higher rates of HCC among Latinos. There is a need to focus HCC etiological research to account for this relationship while simultaneously on other attributable risks for the disease as well as genetic, cultural and socioeconomic predisposing features. We note that diabetes is preventable or treatable. The potential contribution of this research can firmly establish associations and inform HCC prevention. Acknowledgements. The San Antonio Cancer Institute, San Antonio, Texas (P30-CA54174) and the National Cancer Institute, Redes En Acción (U01-CA86117). Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3595. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3595

Abstract Introduction: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) incidence is increasing in the U.S. for unknown reasons despite a decline in cancer overall during 1975–2006. Latinos have higher rates of HCC than other groups, and attributable risks for HCC among Latinos have been identified. This study compared HCC incidence and behavioral risk factors associated with it from 1995 through 2006 between U.S. Latinos, Texas Latinos and a South Texas Latino subset. We hypothesized that HCC incidence is higher among South Texas Latinos in conjunction with higher attributable behavioral risk factors during the same period. Methods: Data from the U.S. SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) Program, Texas Cancer Registry, and the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) were obtained. Annual age-specific and age-adjusted HCC incidence rates, annual percent changes (APCs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated as well as prevalences of obesity, diabetes, heavy alcohol use and smoking. Analyses were performed using SEER*Stat and SPSS Complex Samples software. Groups were compared using Chi-Squared and T-Tests with differences assessed at p < .05 if confidence intervals did not overlap. Results: Latinos accounted for more than a third of HCC in Texas and nearly three-fourths of all HCC in South Texas, significantly greater proportions than SEER. More than 70% of HCC in Latinos occurred in men, with similar percentages observed among SEER, Texas and South Texas groups. HCC in Latinos was highest in South Texas (10.6/100,000) and Texas (9.7/100,000) compared to SEER (7.5/100,000). South Texas Latinos were older than their SEER counterparts (Median = 67 vs. 62). More South Texas and Texas Latinos than SEER resided in rural areas (14.8%, 14.3% vs. 5.2%). Prevalence percentages of HCC-related behavioral risk factors for Latinos in the U.S., Texas and South Texas for two time periods, 1995–1997 and 2004–2006 show that obesity increased among all three groups of Latinos overall from the first to the second time period. Additionally, Texas and South Texas Latinos had higher obesity prevalence than U.S. Latinos during the most recent period (30.2% and 35.0% versus 26.7%). Moreover diabetes prevalence increased among U.S. Latinos. Texas and South Texas Latinos also showed an increasing pattern, although confidence intervals overlapped. For 2004–2006, the prevalence of diabetes was higher in South Texas Latinas than U.S. Latinas (10.3% and 7.8%, respectively). Heavy alcohol and cigarette use did not change significantly over time among any Latino group. Conclusion: Our findings support observations that HCC is alarmingly on the rise in the United States. We have described an important constellation of risks for HCC in this group that may result in higher rates of the disease among Latinos. Most if not all of these risks are modifiable, preventable or treatable. Clearly there is a need to focus on HCC etiological research and intervention that takes into account not only the most significant attributable risks for the disease, but also genetic, cultural and socioeconomic predisposing features. The potential contribution of these to HCC indicates a need for etiologic research to firmly establish associations and inform HCC-related prevention interventions. Acknowledgements: This research was possible by grants from the San Antonio Cancer Institute, San Antonio, Texas (P30-CA54174) and the National Cancer Institute, Redes En Acción (U01-CA86117). Citation Information: Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2011;20(10 Suppl):PR1.

Objective : To investigate the relationship between birth weight and risk of early age childhood cancer and whether racial differences in birth weight distribution could explain differences in the incidence of cancer in white, Hispanic, and black children. Methods : We compared birth weights of 268 children younger than five years old and diagnosed with cancer in the State of Texas in 1995 to the birth weights of 2680 randomly selected, age-matched population-based controls. Birth weight, sex, race/ethnicity, maternal age, smoking status, parity, and gestational age information was ascertained from the birth certificates. Logistic regression analyses were performed to evaluate the association between high birth weight (> 4000 g) and occurrence of childhood cancer. Results : Increased odds ratios (OR) were found for “total cancer cases” (OR 1.4, 95% CI 0.9–2.1), “leukemia cases” (OR 1.7, 95% CI 0.9–3.0) and “acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) cases” (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.2–4.1). Increased ORs in the former two groups were shown to be due to ALL cases. Including the race/ethnicity variable in the regression model did not affect the ORs. Conclusion : Compared to newborns who weighed between 2500 and 4000 g at birth, children who weighed > 4000 g had an increased risk of developing childhood ALL during the first five years of life. Birth weight differences does not explain the sequence of childhood cancer incidence by race/ethnicity.