Bridging the Divide: Study Explores Geographic and Racial Influences on Uterine Cancer Survival

Racial and ethnic disparities in uterine cancer survival have been extensively studied, with Black patients experiencing worse 5-year relative survival rates compared to Asian, Hispanic, and White patients. Factors such as diagnosis delays, lack of appropriate treatment, advanced disease, and aggressive tumor histology contribute to these survival disparities. While previous research has shown no regional differences in survival among Black and Hispanic patients, recent studies have identified associations between county-level socioeconomic status (SES) and uterine cancer survival, particularly in the Northeast.

Recently published study aimed to explore the interplay of geography, diversity, and race and ethnicity in uterine cancer survival disparities. Using the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Research Plus Data, the researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study of 162,500 adult females diagnosed with uterine cancer between 2000 and 2019. The primary outcome was uterine cancer-specific survival.

Methods

Ethnicity was determined using the North American Association of Central Cancer Registries Hispanic Identification Algorithm, while race was self-reported. The study included Asian, Black, Hispanic, and White patients. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox proportional hazards models were used to assess survival distributions and estimate hazard ratios for the associations between race/ethnicity and cancer-specific survival.

Results

The study found that Asian patients with nonendometrioid or advanced-stage tumors had better cancer-specific survival compared to White patients. No significant differences were noted between Hispanic and White patients. Geographic variations in racial and ethnic disparities were observed, with survival disparities being more pronounced in locations with greater racial and ethnic diversity. The study highlighted the need for further research to understand the causes of these disparities. Limitations of the study included its descriptive nature, limited focus on specific geographic locations, and the aggregation of racial and ethnic groups into broad categories. Despite these limitations, the study's strengths included the use of a large cancer database and an analytic approach that enabled the detection of granular racial and ethnic survival disparities.

Conclusion

In conclusion, this study underscores the importance of considering geographic variations, diversity, and race and ethnicity in understanding uterine cancer survival disparities. Future research should focus on identifying the causes of these disparities and prioritizing interventions in locations with the most significant racial and ethnic disparities in uterine cancer survival.

Key Points

- Racial and ethnic disparities in uterine cancer survival have been extensively studied, with Black patients experiencing worse 5-year relative survival rates compared to Asian, Hispanic, and White patients.

- Factors such as diagnosis delays, lack of appropriate treatment, advanced disease, and aggressive tumor histology contribute to survival disparities among different racial and ethnic groups. - Recent studies have identified associations between county-level socioeconomic status (SES) and uterine cancer survival, particularly in the Northeast, highlighting geographic variations in survival disparities.

- A retrospective cohort study of 162,500 adult females diagnosed with uterine cancer between 2000 and 2019 using the SEER Research Plus Data showed varying cancer-specific survival outcomes among different racial and ethnic groups.

- Asian patients with nonendometrioid or advanced-stage tumors had better cancer-specific survival compared to White patients, while no significant differences were noted between Hispanic and White patients.

- Further research is needed to understand the causes of racial and ethnic disparities in uterine cancer survival, with a focus on geographic variations, diversity, and race and ethnicity to prioritize interventions in areas with significant disparities.

Reference –

Caitlin E. Meade et al. (2025). Geographic Variation Of Racial And Ethnic Differences In Uterine Cancer Survival. *JAMA Network Open*, 8. https://doi.org/10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2025.7227.