Arab American Cancer Research

Distribution and Determinants of Cancer Risk, Survivorship and Outcomes in Middle Eastern/Arab Americans

Middle Eastern/Arab Americans represent a large, heterogeneous and quickly growing population in the U.S. Health statistics for this group are difficult to find because Arab is not a recognized category for race/ethnicity by the U.S. Census. Program members have developed and validated a naming algorithm to enhance research in a population that makes up a large portion of our catchment area. This algorithm has a positive predictive value of 91% and a negative predictive value of 100%. Using this approach in SEER data in metropolitan Detroit, California and New Jersey, we find that Arab American men and women had similar incidence rates across the three regions and rates were comparable to non-Hispanic, non-Arab whites. Among women, however, rates of thyroid were elevated; among men, rates of bladder cancer we elevated. Arab American men also had lower overall rates of cancer and rates of prostate and lung cancer than African Americans, but higher incidence than Hispanics. To evaluate the excess rate of thyroid cancer among Arab American women, program members compared risk factors to non-Hispanic white women with this disease. Arab American women had significantly higher exposures to dental x-rays and medical radiation than non-Hispanic white women.

  • Lead Researcher: Dr. Schwartz

The Latest From Karmanos Cancer Institute

News

Karmanos Cancer Institute Receives 2025 Women’s Choice Awards® for Cancer Care, Mammogram Imaging, Minimally Invasive Surgery and Patient Experience

The Barbara Ann Karmanos Cancer Institute has been named one of America’s 2025 Best Hospitals for Cancer Care, Mammogram Imaging, Minimally Invasi...

Read More

A Melody of Courage: Sierra’s Cancer Journey After Being Diagnosed with Hodgkin Lymphoma

From a young age, music has been a big part of Sierra Watson’s life. In seventh grade, she started playing the bassoon. It became a passion of her...

Read More

IN THE NEWS – NSCLC: Racial and Socioeconomic Disparities in Survival Rates

MedPage Today Dipesh Uprety, M.D., FACP , medical oncologist, member of the  Phase I Clinical Trials  and  Thoracic Oncology  ...

Read More
News

WDET | Cancer Warning Label on Alcohol

Listen Now

WDET | Scholarship Program Aims to Encourage More Diversity in Clinical Trials

Listen Now

101 WRIF | Lung Cancer Awareness

Listen Now