Racial Definitions Have Limited Impact on Cancer Rates in Whites, Blacks, and Asians, But Exacerbate Discrepancies in Multiracial Individuals

A recent study published in the journal Cancer found that racial definitions have a limited impact on cancer rates for Whites, Blacks, and Asians. However, these definitions can significantly impact rates in multiracial individuals. The study, conducted by Mandi Yu and colleagues at the National Cancer Institute, analyzed cancer incidence rates from the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program and cancer deaths from the National Vital Statistics System.

The researchers used three different definitions of race: two compliant with the 1997 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards (race-alone and race-alone-or-in-combination) and one compliant with the previous 1977 OMB standard (bridged-race). They found that the proportions of multiracial individuals were lower in the incidence and death data, with the degree varying by age, race, and geography.

For example, the study found that compared with the population data, the proportions of multiracial individuals were 23.4% lower in the incidence data and 17.2% lower in the death data for American Indians/Alaskan Natives (AI/ANs) who are classified as bridged-race. This discrepancy highlights the need to improve the accuracy of patients' self-reported racial identification and incorporate multiracial classifications into hospital data collection systems.

Key Takeaways:

• The study found that racial definitions have a limited impact on cancer rates for Whites, Blacks, and Asians.
• However, these definitions can significantly impact rates in multiracial individuals, with discrepancies varying by age, race, and geography.
• The study found that the proportions of multiracial individuals were lower in the incidence and death data, with the degree varying by age, race, and geography.
• The researchers used three different definitions of race: two compliant with the 1997 Office of Management and Budget (OMB) standards (race-alone and race-alone-or-in-combination) and one compliant with the previous 1977 OMB standard (bridged-race).
• The study highlights the need to improve the accuracy of patients' self-reported racial identification and incorporate multiracial classifications into hospital data collection systems.
• The researchers found significant discrepancies in the classification of Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders (NHOPIs) and American Indians/Alaskan Natives (AI/ANs) between incidence and population data.
• Enhancing the accuracy of patients' self-reported racial identification and incorporating multiracial classifications into hospital data collection systems are essential steps for improving the comparability between cancer incidence and census-based population data.

Statistics:

• The proportions of multiracial individuals were 23.4% lower in the incidence data and 17.2% lower in the death data for American Indians/Alaskan Natives (AI/ANs) who are classified as bridged-race.
• The study found that the rate ratios for cancer incidence and mortality were similar across the three definitions of race for Whites, Blacks, and Asians.
• However, the rate ratios for cancer incidence and mortality were significantly different for Native Hawaiians or other Pacific Islanders (NHOPIs) and American Indians/Alaskan Natives (AI/ANs) across the three definitions of race.
• The study highlights the need for accurate and consistent racial classification in cancer data to improve the comparability between cancer incidence and census-based population data.

Sources:

• Mandi Yu, et al. "Impact of racial and ethnic definitions on cancer incidence and mortality rates". Cancer. doi: 10.1002/cncr.31966. (Published online July 21, 2025)
• National Cancer Institute. "Cancer Statistics". (Accessed July 21, 2025)
• Office of Management and Budget. "Standards for the Classification of Federal Data on Race and Ethnicity" (1997)