Disparities in Esophageal Cancer Incidence and Esophageal Adenocarcinoma Mortality in the United States over the Last 25-40 Years

Background: Esophageal carcinoma presents as 2 types, esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) and esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) with the frequency of both changing in the United States (US).

Aim: To investigate EAC/ESCC incidence time trends among the 3 main US racial groups and investigate trends in US EAC survival by ethnicity.

Methods: Twenty-five years (1992-2016) of data from SEER 13 program was analyzed to compare incidence trends in EAC and ESCC between non-Hispanic whites (nHW), non-Hispanic Blacks (nHB) and Hispanics (Hisp) using SEERStat. In addition, SEER 18 data, from 1975-2015, on EAC in the US was analyzed to evaluate racial disparities in incidence and survival using SEERStat and Ederer II method.

Results: In the 3 major US ethnic groups, age-adjusted incidence of ESCC has declined while EAC has continued to rise from 1992-2016. Of note, in Hisp, the EAC incidence rate increased while ESCC decreased from 1992 to 2016, resulting in EAC as the predominant esophageal cancer subtype in this group since 2011, joining nHW. Furthermore, although ESCC remains the predominant tumor in nHB, the difference between ESCC and EAC has narrowed dramatically over 25 years. EAC survival probabilities were worse in all minority groups compared to nHw.

Conclusion: Hisp have joined nHW as US ethnic groups more likely to have EAC than ESCC. Of note, EAC incidence in nHB is increasing at the highest rate nationally. Despite lower EAC incidence in all minority groups compared to nHW, these populations have decreased survival compared to nHW.