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PERSPECTIVE article

Front. Public Health

Sec. Life-Course Epidemiology and Social Inequalities in Health

Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1591074

This article is part of the Research TopicRacial and Ethnic Inequalities in Multiple Long-term Conditions: Current Trends and Viable SolutionsView all 6 articles

Uncovering Multilevel Drivers of Cancer Disparities Among Latinos in the United States

Provisionally accepted
Amelie G. RamirezAmelie G. Ramirez1*Edgar MunozEdgar Munoz1Lorna Rodriguez-RodriguezLorna Rodriguez-Rodriguez2Leon Bernal-MizrachiLeon Bernal-Mizrachi3Jose Aron LopezJose Aron Lopez4Paulo S PinheiroPaulo S Pinheiro5Barbara Segarra-VasquezBarbara Segarra-Vasquez6Gregory TalaveraGregory Talavera7Luis G Carvajal-CarmonaLuis G Carvajal-Carmona8Adolfo Diaz DuqueAdolfo Diaz Duque1Cliff DespresCliff Despres1Edward J TrapidoEdward J Trapido9
  • 1The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, United States
  • 2City of Hope National Medical Center, Duarte, California, United States
  • 3Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia, United States
  • 4University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, United States
  • 5University of Miami, Coral Gables, Florida, United States
  • 6University of Puerto Rico, San Juan, Puerto Rico
  • 7San Diego State University, San Diego, California, United States
  • 8University of California, Davis, Davis, California, United States
  • 9Louisiana State University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, United States

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Cancer disparities among Latinos in the United States persist as a significant public health challenge, characterized by inequitable outcomes throughout the cancer continuum. Latinos experience elevated rates and poorer prognoses in certain cancers compared to other populations, driven by complex, multilevel interactions involving environmental exposures, genetic factors, cultural practices, and systemic inequalities. Recognizing the substantial heterogeneity among Latinos-including differences in national origin, immigration experiences, socioeconomic status, language, and race-is crucial, as oversimplification risks masking key disparities. To comprehensively understand these dynamics, the Task Force: Latino Researchers Against Cancer (TFLRAC) convened specialists in oncology, public health, and behavioral sciences to systematically examine the multiple influences contributing to these disparities. Findings highlight environmental hazards, genetic susceptibilities, cultural stigmas, and linguistic barriers as significant drivers. Systemic issues such as discrimination, colorism, inadequate healthcare coverage, workforce disparities, socioeconomic challenges, and underrepresentation in clinical trials further compound these inequities. Addressing these disparities requires a multifaceted strategy, including targeted research, culturally tailored interventions, and comprehensive policy reforms to improve healthcare access, workforce diversity, and clinical trial inclusion. Collaborative efforts across academia, healthcare systems, community organizations, governmental agencies, and industry partners are imperative to achieve equitable cancer outcomes among Latinos.

Keywords: cancer disparities, Latinos, health equity, Cultural barriers, clinical trial diversity, Environmental Health

Received: 10 Mar 2025; Accepted: 27 Jun 2025.

Copyright: © 2025 Ramirez, Munoz, Rodriguez-Rodriguez, Bernal-Mizrachi, Lopez, Pinheiro, Segarra-Vasquez, Talavera, Carvajal-Carmona, Diaz Duque, Despres and Trapido. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

* Correspondence: Amelie G. Ramirez, The University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, United States

Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.

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