Differences in colorectal carcinoma stage and survival by race and ethnicity

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Abstract
BACKGROUND In the United States, blacks with colorectal carcinoma (CRC) presented with more advanced-stage disease and had higher mortality rates compared with non-Hispanic whites. Data regarding other races/ethnicities were limited, especially for Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic white subgroups. METHODS Using data from 11 population-based cancer registries that participate in the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program, the authors evaluated the relation among 18 different races/ethnicities and disease stage and mortality rates among 154,103 subjects diagnosed with CRC from 1988 to 2000. RESULTS Compared with non-Hispanic whites, blacks, American Indians, Chinese, Filipinos, Koreans, Hawaiians, Mexicans, South/Central Americans, and Puerto Ricans were 10–60% more likely to be diagnosed with Stage III or IV CRC. Alternatively, Japanese had a 20% lower risk of advanced-stage CRC. With respect to mortality rates, blacks, American Indians, Hawaiians, and Mexicans had a 20–30% greater risk of mortality, whereas Chinese, Japanese, and Indians/Pakistanis had a 10–40 % lower risk. CONCLUSIONS The authors observed numerous racial/ethnic disparities in the risks of advanced-stage cancer and mortality among patients with CRC, and there was considerable variation in these risks across Asian/Pacific Islander and Hispanic white subgroups. Although the etiology of these disparities was multifactorial, developing screening and treatment programs that target racial/ethnic populations with elevated risks of poor CRC outcomes may be an important means of reducing these disparities. Cancer 2005. © 2005 American Cancer Society.