Cancer incidence trends among Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander populations in the United States, 2000-2022.

Abstract

Asian Americans (AA), Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders (NHPI), collectively referred to as AANHPI, are heterogeneous populations with varying cancer risks across ethnic groups. Incidence rates and trends are examined for eight AA groups (Asian Indian/Pakistani, Chinese (including Taiwanese), Filipino, Japanese, Kampuchean, Korean, Laotian, and Vietnamese) and three NHPI groups (Native Hawaiian, Guamanian/Chamorro, and Samoan). Annual cancer incidence from 21 Surveillance, Epidemiology, End Results (SEER) registries and population denominators from 2000-2022 were used to calculate incidence rates and average annual percentage change (AAPC). Among females, top five cancers included breast, lung, colon and rectum (CRC), uterus, and thyroid. Cancer incidence trends for breast and uterus were stable or increasing in most groups (AAPC: 0.68% to 5.29% for breast across ethnic groups; 2.13% to 3.65% for uterus). CRC trends were stable or decreasing (-4.01% to-1.06%), except among Asian Indians/Pakistanis (AAPC: 0.79%). Lung cancer increased among Asian Indians/Pakistanis (2.30%) but decreased among Chinese (-1.96%). Thyroid trends increased among Japanese (1.92%) and Vietnamese (1.35%).Among males, top five cancers included prostate, lung, CRC, liver, and non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). Lung, CRC, and liver trends were stable or decreasing in most groups. Prostate trends increased in most groups (2.12% to 5.03%) but decreased among Laotians (-11.79%), Guamanians/Chamorros (-4.67%) and Samoans (-6.89%). NHL trends increased among Asian Indians/Pakistanis (0.98%) and Chinese (1.12%). A nationwide SEER database for evaluating cancer incidence trends through 2022 in disaggregated AANHPI groups is now available from SEER. It highlights ethnically distinct contemporary patterns relevant to research and cancer control initiatives.