About this Research Topic

Background

Cancer patients of different racial and ethnic backgrounds have disparite outcomes. Some of this variation in outcome is genetic, some is the result of differences in environmental exposure, and some is the result of variances with regard to application of optimal healthcare interventions. Understanding the sources of variation and relative contributions of each of these factors has the potential to optimize care. The benefits of this research accures to both persons who suffer from the negative impacts of genetic, environmental, and social disadvantages as well as all cancer patients who benefit from greater understanding of cancer biology as a result of studying the disparities.

There is increasing recognition that advances in cancer care are not benefiting all persons equally. This is particularly true for members of disadvantaged minority groups such as Black people living in the United States. Disparities in outcomes occur for many reasons. Some are due to lack of access to optimal medical care as a result of unequal health delivery systems. Other reasons include a lack of focus by the scientific community on the problems that predominantly affect disadvantaged populations. This Research Topic will seek to reduce cancer disparities by disseminating research calling attention to places where disparities exist along genetic, environmental and social dimensions of health. Where possible, remedies for disparities will be proposed and recommendations for future research will be presented.

Manuscripts herein will focus on factors impacting disparities in cancer outcomes among different human populations. Genetic, environmental and social determinants of health are all acceptable areas of research for this issue. Submissions may address a single or multiple dimensions of disparities and may be comparative between advantaged and disadvantaged populations in structure or focus on a single area of known need where disparities are known to exist. The work may be laboratory based, population based, and may be prospective or retrospective in nature. Manuscripts that focus on issues related to the need for diversity in the the scientific and clinical workforce in cancer are welcome. Submissions from minority-based cancer workforce training sites are particularly encouraged.

Please note: Manuscripts consisting solely of bioinformatics, computational analysis, or predictions of public databases which are not accompanied by validation (independent cohort or biological validation in vitro or in vivo) will not be accepted in any of the sections of Frontiers in Oncology.

Keywords: diversity, equity and inclusion, Cancer Workforce, Population Diversity, Cancer Care Delivery, Genetic Diversity

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.

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