I am director of Salud America! at UT Health San Antonio. I have spent 30 years directing research on human and organizational communication to reduce chronic disease, cancer, and obesity health disparities affecting Latinos.
This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings."
Cancer Deaths Among Latinos in the COVID-19 Era: National and State Trends
Dr. Rogelio Sáenz is Professor of Sociology and Demography, Dean of the College of Public Policy, and holds the Mark G. Yudof Endowed Chair at the University of Texas at San Antonio. COVID-19 vulnerability Dr. Sáenz’s presentation began by discussing the vulnerability of people with cancer in the COVID-19 era. Over the last four years, a significant amount of research has observed the negative impact of COVID-19 on the survivability of people with cancer, along with rising numbers of cancer incidence and death due to disrupted health care. The growing Latino population is particularly vulnerable, ...
This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings."
Task Force: Latino Researchers Against Cancer
This session occurred at 11:15 a.m., Friday, Feb. 23, 2024, at the 4th biennial Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos conference. Dr. Amelie Ramirez is Professor at the University of Texas (UT) San Antonio, Director of the Institute for Health Promotion Research, Chair of the Department of Population Health Sciences at UT Health San Antonio, and Associate Director of Cancer Outreach and Engagement at Mays Cancer Center. Dr. Ramirez’s presentation focused on communicating the mission and first year results of the Task Force: Latino Researchers Against Cancer (TFLRAC). The Task Force’s mission is to meet quarterly for 2 ...
This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings."
Integrating Clinical and Genomic Data for Tumor Molecular Profiling in Latino Patients with Cancer
Dr. Enrique I. Velazquez-Villarreal is Assistant Professor in the Department of Integrative Translational Sciences at Beckman Research Institute and the City of Hope Comprehensive Cancer Center. Multi-omics and colorectal cancer in Latinos Dr. Velazquez-Villarreal’s presentation discussed how multi-omics can be used to understand colorectal cancer gaps in Latino individuals and how global and local ancestry impacts these disparities. He also described clinical and genomic data integration in colorectal cancer gaps and recent technologies used to understand the tumor microenvironment. ...
This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings."
Non-Medical Drivers of Health Impacting Latino Cancer Health Gaps: Genetic Cancer Risk Assessment
Dr. Alejandra Hurtado de Mendoza is an Assistant Professor at the Cancer Prevention and Control Program at Georgetown Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center. Gaps across the continuum Dr. Hurtado de Mendoza’s presentation focused on gaps in genetic cancer risk assessment, multi-level hurdles that Latinos face across the genetic cancer risk assessment continuum, and an example of a multilevel intervention to decrease gaps. The presentation began by discussing how gaps in the genetic cancer risk assessment continuum begin with awareness. Only 23% of Latino individuals were aware of ...
This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings."
Latino Cancer Survivors’ Quality of Life and Survivorship Care
Dr. Kristi D. Graves is a tenured Professor of Oncology, Cancer Prevention and Control Program leader at the Lombardi Comprehensive Cancer Center, and Associate Dean for Faculty Development at Georgetown University Medical Center. Latino cancer survivorship Dr. Graves’s presentation began by discussing cancer survivorship across the cancer continuum. The National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Office of Cancer Survivorship states that “an individual is considered a cancer survivor from the time of diagnosis through the balance of life. There are many types of survivors, including those living with cancer and those ...
This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings."
Adapting NCI’s Clinical Trials System to a Changed Clinical Research Environment
Dr. James H. Doroshow is Deputy Director for Clinical and Translational Research at the National Cancer Institute (NCI). This plenary session occurred at 8:30 am., Thursday, Feb. 22, 2024, at the 4th biennial Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos conference. COVID’s impact on cancer clinical trials Dr. Doroshow’s presentation began by discussing the initial and continuing effects of the pandemic environment on cancer clinical trials. From the start of the pandemic, several aspects of clinical trials were altered, including informed consent and in-person study activities. One major ...
This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings."
Advances in Evidence-based Digital Solutions for Supporting Latino Cancer Patients
Dr. John Piette is Professor in the School of Public Health, and Director of the Center for Managing Chronic Disease (CMCD) at the University of Michigan. Cognitive behavioral therapy Dr. Piette’s presentation began by discussing how cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be used for Latino cancer patients. CBT is the most common evidence-based intervention for cancer patients struggling with mental health, symptoms, stress, and sleep. In cancer patients, CBT has been shown to help manage distress and pain, alleviate insomnia, manage fear of cancer recurrence, and reduce emotional distress and ...
This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings."
The NCI Community Oncology Research Program: Opportunities to Increase Latino Participation in Clinical Trials
Dr. Brenda Adjei is Associate Director of the HDRP at the National Cancer Institute (NCI) Center for Cancer Research. The NCI Community Oncology Research Program Dr. Adjei’s presentation began with a discussion of Latino participation in cancer clinical trials. Variety in clinical trials is critically important because it generates biomedical knowledge relevant to all, builds trust and trustworthiness, and contributes to reductions in health gaps and fair research participation. Current limits in clinical research is due to multilevel hurdles and requires tailored, ...
This content is from the "Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos: 2024 Conference Proceedings."
Conclusion
To eliminate gaps in cancer care in Latino populations, Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos brought together researchers, scientists, physicians, healthcare professionals, patient navigators, and students from across the US and Latin America. These presenters shared research advancements, identified gaps, developed actionable goals, updated clinical best practices, described effective community interventions, and detailed professional training programs aimed at addressing inequity. In the process, most of the speakers made recommendations, either specific to their field of study or more broadly. The following are some key recommendations abstracted from their conference ...
