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Cancer statistics for African American and Black people, 2025
Abstract African American and other Black individuals (referred to as Black people in this article) have a disproportionate cancer burden, including the lowest survival of any racial or ethnic group for most cancers. Every 3 years, the American Cancer Society estimates the number of new cancer cases and deaths for Black people in the United States and compiles the most recent data on cancer incidence (herein through 2021), mortality (through 2022), survival, screening, and risk factors using population‐based data from the National Cancer Institute and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In 2025, there will be approximately 248,470 new cancer cases and 73,240 cancer deaths among Black people in the United States. Black men have experienced the largest relative decline in cancer mortality from 1991 to 2022 overall (49%) and in almost every 10‐year age group, by as much as 65%–67% in the group aged 40–59 years. This progress largely reflects historical reductions in smoking initiation among Black teens, advances in treatment, and earlier detections for some cancers. Nevertheless, during the most recent 5 years, Black men had 16% higher mortality than White men despite just 4% higher incidence, and Black women had 10% higher mortality than White women despite 9% lower incidence. Larger inequalities for mortality than for incidence reflect two‐fold higher death rates for prostate, uterine corpus, and stomach cancers and for myeloma, and 40%–50% higher rates for colorectal, breast, cervical, and liver cancers. The causes of ongoing disparities are multifactorial, but largely stem from inequalities in the social determinants of health that trace back to structural racism. Increasing diversity in clinical trials, enhancing provider education, and implementing financial incentives to ensure equitable care across the cancer care continuum would help close these gaps.
Upcoming FDA approval decisions in Q2 2025
Engineered nasal bacteria slide drugs into the brain
Bluebird Bio’s cut-price sale highlights challenges for gene therapy field
A pan‐tumor review of the role of poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose) polymerase inhibitors
Abstract Poly(adenosine diphosphate ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, such as olaparib, talazoparib, rucaparib, and niraparib, comprise a therapeutic class that targets PARP proteins involved in DNA repair. Cancer cells with homologous recombination repair defects, particularly BRCA alterations, display enhanced sensitivity to these agents because of synthetic lethality induced by PARP inhibitors. These agents have significantly improved survival outcomes across various malignancies, initially gaining regulatory approval in ovarian cancer and subsequently in breast, pancreatic, and prostate cancers in different indications. This review offers a comprehensive clinical overview of PARP inhibitor approvals, emphasizing their efficacy across different cancers based on landmark phase 3 clinical trials.
FDA approves CSF1R inhibitor for rare, non-cancerous joint tumours
Highlighting American Cancer Society‐funded research in <i>CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians</i>
FDA approves MEK inhibitor for rare neurofibromas
Underrepresentation of Hispanic women in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and medicine
Abstract Despite ongoing efforts to increase the number of women in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and in medicine, Hispanic women remain severely underrepresented in these fields. This disparity not only hinders scientific innovation and the delivery of culturally competent medical care but also perpetuates a systemic exclusion. Research specifically addressing the challenges faced by Hispanic women, the extent of underrepresentation in these disciplines, and strategies to mitigate these issues is sparce. The authors conducted a systematic analysis of peer‐reviewed articles to address this gap. The findings reveal a stark underrepresentation of Hispanic women across all examined fields, particularly compared with White women. In addition, the underrepresentation persists when compared with Hispanic men, although the disparity is less pronounced. The authors identify ongoing disparities in promotion, compensation, and retention rates for Hispanic women; present data for barriers to entry and retention; and highlight existing programs and strategies aimed at addressing this underrepresentation. Finally, a framework is presented for future studies and actionable initiatives, and the broader implications of these findings for the field of oncology are highlighted.