Historic study looks at cancer risk in Asian Americans

Cancer is already the leading cause of death among Asian Americans, yet this group remains severely understudied in U.S. cancer research. The ASPIRE (Asian American Cohort Study), funded by the National Cancer Institute, is emerging as one of the most significant public health initiatives ever launched to understand cancer disparities among Asian Americans. Now the study has come to the Sacramento region. 

Collaboration key to success of research study

UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center is one of 20 academic institutions across the country helping to recruit study participants.

The cancer center is working in collaboration with UCSF, which is leading the ASPIRE study on the West Coast.

“We are looking at whether factors such as stress, environmental factors and access to care may be impacting their chances of having cancer,” said Moon Chen, UC Davis principal investigator for ASPIRE.

Chen’s team launched its local recruitment campaign to the Vietnamese and Hmong communities in February at the Lunar New Year Tết Festival at Elk Grove Park and in May at the Sacramento Iu Mien 50^th Anniversary celebration. 

ASPIRE’s bilingual/bicultural Vietnamese staff set up an information booth to talk about the study with festival visitors. Eligible participants were asked if they would like to enroll in the study. To take part, participants must be:

• Asian or Asian American
• Age 40-75
• Currently living in the United States or a U.S territory
• Never diagnosed with cancer

Participants in the ASPIRE study will receive $25 for completing four surveys over 12 months. ASPIRE outreach staff will approach potential participants at gathering places for Asian Americans such as coffee shops, grocery stores and independent living units in the Sacramento area. Meanwhile, the Hmong Cultural Center of Butte County in Oroville will lead the effort to reach out to Hmong residents, who are more likely to live in rural areas and work in agriculture.

We are looking at whether factors such as stress, environmental factors and access to care may be impacting their chances of having cancer.” —Moon Chen, UC Davis principal investigator for ASPIRE

Rising up to meet a cancer research challenge

Asian Americans represent more than 30 ethnicities and speak more than 100 languages, yet research has historically combined them into a single category, masking critical differences. The ASPIRE study seeks to change that narrative.

ASPIRE is the first longitudinal cohort study focused on Asian Americans. The study plans to recruit 20,000 Asian Americans across six recruitment sites nationwide.

Unique cancers facing a diverse population

Despite perceptions that Asian Americans enjoy high socioeconomic status and low disease burden, recent studies show rising rates of several cancers within this population. For example, nonsmoking Asian American women have disproportionately high rates of lung cancer, a phenomenon that remains poorly understood.

“We also know that certain subgroups of Asian Americans have higher risks of certain cancers such as cancers of infectious origins, which may explain why there are higher rates of gastric, liver and cervical cancers,” Chen said. “There’s another concerning new trend showing increasing rates of breast cancer among Asian American women younger than 50.”

Chen added that these unexplained patterns underscore the need for a long‑term, large‑scale study like ASPIRE.

By assembling the most comprehensive dataset ever collected on Asian American cancer risk, ASPIRE intends to deliver insights that will reshape national cancer prevention strategies. It also aims to empower communities, improve screening guidelines and inform culturally relevant public health interventions.

For more information on the ASPIRE study, go to https://aspirecohort.ucsf.edu or call 916-734-9977.