Introduction Evaluation of the extent of socioeconomic inequalities in cancer incidence and mortality is essential to generate hypotheses in population health research and provides evidence for population-based strategies for comprehensive cancer control. The objective of this study was to create an area-based socioeconomic position (SEP) index to assess possible socioeconomic disparities in incidence and mortality of selected cancers in Puerto Rico. Methods Data for cancer incidence and mortality from 1995 to 2004 were obtained from the Puerto Rico Central Cancer Registry and the Puerto Rico Department of Health, and Puerto Rico socioeconomic data were obtained from the US Census 2000. We used principal component and factor analysis methods to construct the SEP index at the municipality level. We calculated age-adjusted incidence and mortality for each SEP area and used rate ratios to evaluate the differences by SEP. Results Incidence and mortality of cancer in Puerto Rico varied by SEP area. In general, the incidence and mortality for cancers of the esophagus and stomach were higher for municipalities with the lowest SEP; in contrast, rates for breast, colorectal, kidney, pancreas, prostate, and thyroid were higher for areas with the highest SEP. Conclusion These results highlight cancer disparities in Puerto Rico by SEP level that warrant further research.

Purpose This study compares incidence and mortality of penile cancer in Puerto Rico (PR) with other racial/ethnic groups in the United States (US) and evaluates the extent in which socioeconomic position index (SEP) or its components influence incidence and mortality in PR. Materials and Methods Age-standardized rates were calculated for incidence and mortality based on data from the PR Cancer Registry and the US National Cancer Institute’s Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results program, using the direct method. Results PR men had approximately 3-fold higher incidence of penile cancer as compared to non-Hispanic white (Standardized rate ratio [SRR]: 3.33; 95%CI=2.80–3.95). A higher incidence of penile cancer was also reported in PR men as compared to non-Hispanic blacks and Hispanics men. Mortality from penile cancer was also higher for PR men as compared to all other ethnic/racial groups. PR men in the lowest SEP index had 70% higher incidence of penile cancer as compared with those PR men in the highest SEP index. However, the association was marginally significant (SRR: 1.70; 95%CI=0.97, 2.87). Only low educational attainment was statistically associated with higher penile cancer incidence (SRR: 2.18; 95%CI=1.42–3.29). Conclusions Although penile cancer is relatively uncommon, our results support significant disparities in the incidence and mortality rates among men in PR. Low educational attainment might influence the high incidence of penile cancer among PR men. Further studies are strongly recommended to explore these disparities.

Our findings establish baseline survival data for anal cancer in Hispanics from Puerto Rico. Since now, the national guidelines for anal cancer screening and treatment are on their way to be determined; baseline information about survival will allow monitoring the efficacy that standardized screening programs may eventually have in increasing anal cancer survival in this population.

BACKGROUND: In Puerto Rico (PR), colorectal cancer (CRC) represents the second most common cause of cancer in men and women. Incidence and mortality of CRC are increasing in Puerto Rican Hispanics, especially among young individuals. Screening rates for CRC are lower in Hispanic-American individuals compared to non-Hispanic patients. However, there is limited data on genetic epidemiological CRC disparities in Hispanic patients. OBJECTIVES: (1) To prospectively identify and recruit 30 probands with a family history of CRC and 15 family-history negative (2) To prospectively identify and recruit selected relatives from the 45 probands. METHODS: Eligible cases are Hispanic patients with incident diagnosis of CRC, ≥ 21 years old. We identified the probands and their selected family members using the Puerto Rico Central Cancer Registry from July 1, 2007 to the present. PRELIMINARY DATA AND RECRUITMENT: Seven hundred and fifty-one communications were sent to the physicians, three hundred and seventy-four communications were responded (374/751=49.8%).Three hundred and forty-one communications were sent to the patients, one hundred and forty-seven letters were responded (147/341=43.1%) and 16 refused. One hundred and fifty-nine participants (probands and relatives) were enrolled. One hundred and two probands (mean age 56.9 ±13.3 yrs., 54.9% male); 30 with and 72 without family history of CRC. At present, we collected 153 (96.2%) risk factors questionnaires, 135 (84.9%) blood samples and 60 (52.6%) blocks of tissue. CONCLUSIONS: Successful implementation of logistics for identification of incident CRC through the PR Central Cancer Registry during a three-year period. We established the first Familial CRC island-wide registry in Puerto Rico through the implementation of a network of community physicians, laboratories and professional societies. We are developing a tissue and blood bank with epidemiological, nutritional, and demographic data that will assist us to understand the genetic epidemiology of CRC in Puerto Ricans. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3767. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-3767

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