Abstract 3595: Hepatocellular carcinoma and diabetes among Latinos: Implications for prevention

Introduction. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has increased in the U.S. from 1975-2006 while overall cancer has declined. Moreover, HCC among South Texas Latinos is higher than other U.S. Latinos. In recent years a number of risk factors have been associated with HCC including hepatitis-C virus infection, heavy alcohol use, obesity, diabetes and others. Of these, only diabetes exhibits characteristics which make it a candidate for why HCC is increasing in the U.S. Latino population and increasingly higher among South Texas Latinos. This study compares incidence rates of HCC and prevalence rates of diabetes among U.S. Latinos and South Texas Latinos. We hypothesize that these data implicate diabetes in HCC and suggest a clear path to informed HCC prevention. Methods. Data from the U.S. SEER (Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results) Program, Texas Cancer Registry, and the Texas Department of State Health Services (TDSHS) were obtained. Age-adjusted HCC incidence rates were calculated using SEER*Stat and SPSS software and aggregated over 3-year periods. Likewise, annual prevalence of diabetes was calculated and aggregated over the same periods. For each measure values for the mutually exclusive U.S. and South Texas populations were compared. Trend slopes for both HCC and diabetes were calculated and displayed graphically. Group differences were assessed at p < .05 if confidence intervals did not overlap. Results. U.S. (SEER) Latino HCC incidence averaged 6.1/100,000 during 1995-1997 and increased to 8.0 during 2004-2006 (slope m = 0.455). South Texas Latino rates averaged 9.2 and 11.7 during the same periods (slope m = 0.625) (incidence rate difference, p < .05). Simultaneously, the prevalence rate of diabetes was 5.9% and 7.7% among U.S. SEER Latinos (slope m = 0.450) and 7.6% and 9.6% among South Texas Latinos (slope m = 0.500) (prevalence rate difference, p < .05). Although slope differences could not be calculated, they indicate a greater rate of increase among South Texas Latinos than U.S. SEER Latinos. Conclusion. Our findings support observations that HCC and diabetes are increasing in the United States. We have described an important relationship between increasing rates of HCC and diabetes in the U.S. SEER and South Texas Latino populations. We suggest this relationship may explain higher rates of HCC among Latinos. There is a need to focus HCC etiological research to account for this relationship while simultaneously on other attributable risks for the disease as well as genetic, cultural and socioeconomic predisposing features. We note that diabetes is preventable or treatable. The potential contribution of this research can firmly establish associations and inform HCC prevention. Acknowledgements. The San Antonio Cancer Institute, San Antonio, Texas (P30-CA54174) and the National Cancer Institute, Redes En Acción (U01-CA86117). Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 3595. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-3595