Message from AACR

We are living in an era of unprecedented progress against cancer. Advances across the continuum of cancer science and medicine are contributing to a steady decline in overall cancer mortality in the United States (US) and improved survival for millions of patients. Despite this progress, large segments of the US population continue to shoulder a disproportionate burden of cancer due to socioeconomic, geographic, and structural barriers to health care. Persistent disparities in access to evidence-based prevention, early detection, timely diagnosis, treatments, clinical trials, and survivorship care all contribute to disparities in cancer incidence, mortality, and quality of life for many segments of the US population. Cancer disparities place a substantial burden on the nation’s health care system and economy by limiting access to high-quality care, delaying diagnoses, and increasing reliance on emergency departments, with consequences that ultimately affect all patients. The goal of eliminating these disparities will require continued progress in cancer research and care delivery as well as implementation of science-based public policies to ensure that advances against cancer reach and benefit all populations.

Launched in 2020, the AACR Cancer Disparities Progress Report to Congress and the public is a cornerstone of AACR’s educational and advocacy efforts to address the problem of cancer disparities. This fourth edition of the report highlights the significant strides being made in understanding and reducing cancer disparities, as well as the critical challenges that remain. The scientific community has increasingly recognized that eliminating cancer disparities requires understanding the biological underpinnings of cancer as well as addressing the social, environmental, economic, and structural drivers that influence health outcomes. The report underscores the urgent need to accelerate efforts that overcome these multilevel and interconnected drivers of cancer disparities by expanding access to evidence-based interventions such as patient navigation, strengthening community-centered approaches to cancer prevention and care, increasing participation in clinical research, and diversifying the workforce.

Major progress has been made against cancer. However, the overall cancer death rate remains higher among Black and American Indian or Alaska Native populations. In addition, all racial and ethnic minority populations have lower 5-year relative cancer survival compared to the White population. Residents living in rural areas and those living in persistent-poverty regions experience a higher burden of cancer. Further, population-level cancer data among sexual and gender minority populations remain limited, hindering efforts to fully understand and address disparities. Encouragingly, research-driven advances have led to some progress in reducing cancer disparities. As one example, the gap in overall cancer mortality rates between Black and White populations has narrowed significantly over the past three decades. Disparities between racial and ethnic minority populations and the White population have also narrowed for certain cancer types, including cervical cancer mortality among Hispanic individuals and stomach cancer mortality among Asian or Pacific Islander individuals. Notwithstanding these gains, cancer disparities remain a pressing public health challenge.

As a scientific organization focused on preventing and curing all cancers for all populations, AACR is fiercely committed to advancing the science of cancer disparities through research, education, collaborations, workforce development, and advocacy. Recognizing that cancer disparities are a complex and multifaceted problem, AACR has supported multidisciplinary approaches to better understand and address inequities in cancer incidence and outcomes. Through data initiatives such as AACR Project GENIE® to advance more equitable precision medicine, AACR is helping generate critical insights into differences in cancer biology observed among populations with diverse ancestral backgrounds. AACR convenes the cancer disparities research community to disseminate the latest research through its longstanding annual AACR Conference on The Science of Cancer Health Disparities, while fostering collaboration among US cancer centers through the AACR Cancer Centers Alliance to advance education and training and diversify clinical trials. In addition, AACR is committed to strengthening the cancer science and medicine training pathway and workforce through its Minorities in Cancer Research and Women in Cancer Research constituency groups, a broad portfolio of research grants and professional development programs, and partnerships such as the Robert A. Winn Excellence in Clinical Trials program which trains physician-scientists from all backgrounds to advance inclusive clinical research and the science of community outreach and engagement.

The milestones in cancer science and medicine, many of which have been documented in AACR annual progress reports, are a direct result of sustained investments in medical and public health research and policy initiatives that support scientific innovation. For decades, federal agencies have been expanding cancer disparities research programs and launching new initiatives focused on advancing a representative training pathway and workforce. However, since January 2025, the landscape of cancer disparities research has become increasingly uncertain, accompanied by a shift in priorities and the termination of several National Institutes of Health (NIH)–wide efforts focused on addressing health disparities. Removal of cancer disparities research terms from federal programs and policies, as well as the elimination of data collection requirements, threatens efforts to address the root causes of inequities in cancer outcomes by dismantling the ability to accurately measure the underlying drivers of disparities and effectively coordinate disparities research. Additionally, the disruption of studies that were ongoing for many years will lead to the loss of scientific knowledge that is key to addressing cancer and health disparities and delay the delivery of care to the patients who need it the most.

The current medical research workforce is not fully representative of either the general US population or the patient populations it serves. Recent federal policy changes, including the elimination or disruption of longstanding NIH initiatives focused on mentoring and advancing the careers of investigators from underrepresented backgrounds, termination of National Cancer Institute (NCI)–funded grants, declines in life sciences doctoral enrollment, and restructuring of medical education and workforce development, will undermine efforts to support and sustain a diverse workforce that is vital to addressing cancer disparities.

AACR is deeply concerned that the instability in federal support for medical research and public health initiatives will slow progress against cancer and further exacerbate existing cancer disparities. Any interruptions in programs and policies that support community engagement, population sciences, prevention and screening initiatives, implementation research, and inclusive clinical trials disproportionately affect populations already experiencing significant barriers to high-quality cancer care and participation in research. AACR has consistently emphasized that robust, sustained, and predictable federal funding for NIH, NCI, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and other relevant federal agencies is essential to maintaining the extraordinary momentum against cancer. Continued investments in cancer research and a diverse and representative cancer workforce not only fuel scientific discovery and innovation, but also strengthen the nation’s ability to ensure that future advances benefit every patient and every population.

Ensuring that all segments of the US population have equitable access to, and benefit from, progress against cancer requires eliminating cancer disparities. This goal is a shared responsibility of all stakeholders in the scientific and medical research community. We are now at an inflection point in cancer research. The knowledge gained about the causes of cancer can inform interventions and policies that could dramatically improve population health. Thanks to revolutionary new ideas driving science and technology, we are poised to deliver even more transformative breakthroughs for our patients. But we must be equally committed to ensuring that no populations or communities are left behind. We must continue to work together to ensure that advances in precision medicine, early detection, and cancer prevention are accessible to all populations. We must also protect and strengthen the scientific infrastructure, public health systems, and community partnerships that are so vital to equitable health care. Achieving these goals will require unwavering congressional support for science, sustained investment in medical research, and continued efforts to address the adverse influences of the structural and social drivers of health. AACR is committed to working with all sectors to stimulate innovative research, advocate for effective national policies, and foster collaborations that are needed to accelerate progress toward preventing and curing all cancers for all patients and all populations.

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