New Study Investigates Rising Cancer Risks Among Asian Americans

California researchers have launched the ASPIRE Cohort, a $12.5 million National Cancer Institute-funded study designed to investigate rising cancer rates among Asian Americans. The project will follow 20,000 participants to understand why lung cancer is increasing in non-smoking women and why early-onset breast cancer is rising rapidly within these communities.

The effort is led by UC San Francisco (UCSF) in collaboration with UC Irvine, UC Davis, Cedars-Sinai, and Temple University. It represents the first large-scale longitudinal cancer study specifically focused on Asian Americans.

According to Scarlett Gomez, a cancer epidemiologist at UCSF, Asian Americans are the first racial and ethnic group where cancer has become the leading cause of death.

Why are lung and breast cancer rates rising in Asian American communities?

Health experts are seeing a concerning trend in lung cancer among Asian American women who have never smoked. In fact, more than half of Asian American women diagnosed with lung cancer are nonsmokers.

While lung cancer rates have generally dropped across the U.S. as smoking declines, researchers have observed a slight increase in this specific group. Iona Cheng, a molecular epidemiologist at UCSF, notes that many previous studies on nonsmoker lung cancer were conducted in Asia, where exposure patterns differ from those in the U.S.

Researchers are looking into factors like secondhand smoke, outdoor air pollution, and cooking oil fumes. However, it isn’t yet clear if these specific triggers explain the patterns seen in the United States.

Did You Know? Asian Americans are the first racial and ethnic group for whom cancer is the leading cause of death.

How does the ASPIRE Cohort study differ from previous research?

A primary goal of the ASPIRE study is to stop treating “Asian Americans” as a single, uniform category. The group includes people from dozens of countries, from the Pacific islands to Sri Lanka and China’s border with Russia, all with different cuisines and environmental exposures.

Iona Cheng explains that separating these distinct ethnicities reveals wide variations in cancer types. For example, Filipino women show a higher incidence of thyroid cancer, while stomach cancer is more common among some Japanese and Korean people.

Salma Shariff-Marco, a social and behavioral scientist at UCSF, points out a significant gap in representation. Despite making up nearly 8% of the U.S. population, Asian Americans have historically received very little research funding.

Expert Insight: Samantha Carter suggests that the stakes of this study lie in the transition from broad categorization to precision medicine. By dismantling the “monolithic” view of Asian American health, researchers may uncover specific environmental or genetic triggers that were previously hidden by averaged data.

What may happen next for cancer research in these communities?

The ASPIRE Cohort may lead to more targeted research by providing a broader range of ethnic groups and contemporary exposure data. This could potentially help experts understand why early-onset breast cancer—diagnosed before age 50—is rising fastest among Asian Americans.

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Because rates among Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders are now approaching those of non-Hispanic white women, future findings could reshape screening guidelines. A possible next step may involve identifying the specific causes behind these shifting trends to improve early detection.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the ASPIRE Cohort? It is a $12.5 million National Cancer Institute-funded study following 20,000 Asian Americans to research cancer patterns and exposures.
Why is the study focusing on nonsmokers? More than half of Asian American women diagnosed with lung cancer have never smoked, making it critical to find other causes.
Which specific cancers vary by ethnicity? Filipino women have a higher incidence of thyroid cancer, while some Korean and Japanese individuals experience more common stomach cancer.

How do you think personalized medical research could change healthcare for minority communities?