Uterine Cancer Cases and Deaths Predicted to Rise
According to a study published by the American Association for Cancer Research, uterine cancer cases and deaths in the United States are expected to increase significantly in the decades to come.
Researchers created a model using the natural history of the disease and population data to show the trajectory of uterine cancer incidence and mortality over time. They separated women based on age, race and tumor type.
The model projects about a 53% rise in incidence for Black women (from 56.8 to 86.9 per 100,000) and about a 29% rise for white women (from 57.7 to 74.2 per 100,000) by 2050.
Several Factors at Play
According to Erin George, MD, a gynecologic oncologist at Moffitt Cancer Center, the rise in uterine cancer likely stems from a combination of biological, environmental and social factors. Obesity, a major risk factor affecting over 40% of adults in the U.S., plays a key role, as does an aging population because the disease is more common after menopause.
However, rising rates of obesity leading to excess estrogen exposure alone cannot fully explain the trend. Notably, the increase is not limited to low-grade, estrogen-driven tumors. Alarming increases in aggressive, nonestrogen driven tumors points to additional biological or environmental drivers that remain poorly understood.
“Rising rates of obesity — a well-established risk factor for the more common estrogen-driven endometrioid subtype — contribute significantly to increasing uterine cancer incidence across all populations, including Black women, who are disproportionately affected by obesity,” George said.
Deaths from uterine cancer are about twice as high in Black women compared to white women, and the disparity is predicted to worsen over time.
“Studies show that Black women are diagnosed with more aggressive forms of uterine cancer, such as uterine serous carcinoma and carcinosarcoma, which are associated with worse outcomes,” George said. “Compounding this is the impact of structural inequities in health care access, underrepresentation in clinical research and delays in diagnosis and treatment. Together, these factors are likely driving a steeper rise in incidence among Black women.”
More Advancements Needed
Researchers noted that the disease predictions are based on current available treatments for the disease and do not include potential advancements in treatment.
“As uterine cancer becomes more common and more lethal, we need to raise awareness, improve early diagnosis and invest in research that targets aggressive tumor subtypes. Better detection tools and more effective treatments should be paired with strategies to close racial and socioeconomic gaps in care.”
