Abstract B026: The Southwest Coalition for Colorectal Cancer Screening (SuCCCeS) Program funded by CPRIT PP110156, PP140164, PP170068, PP210005

Abstract Colorectal cancer represents a significant public health concern and ranks as the third leading cause of mortality in the United States. It originates in the colon or rectum, which are components of the large intestine. The disease typically begins as small, benign growths known as polyps on the internal lining, which may evolve into malignant tumors over time. Risk factors encompass advanced age, a family history of medical conditions, specific genetic predispositions, a diet high in red or processed meats, a sedentary lifestyle, obesity, smoking, and excessive alcohol consumption. Populations residing in underserved, rural, or border communities in South and West Texas encounter an imbalance in colorectal cancer incidence and outcomes due to socioeconomic status, geographic location, and racial or ethnic minority status. Despite the widespread recommendation for screening, participation rates remain notably low in many counties of El Paso in comparison to national goals. Early detection through screening remains crucial for optimizing survival outcomes (Siegel et al., 2023). The objective is to increase colorectal cancer (CRC) screening rates across 56 counties in West Texas and to deliver culturally relevant education on CRC, thereby enhancing early detection and improving overall health outcomes through preventive measures. Our methodologies are an evidence-based colorectal cancer screening intervention program (SuCCCeS) was implemented within the community and expanded to hospital and clinic systems throughout West Texas. The SuCCCeS 1 and 2 initiatives, which commenced in 2017 and have been ongoing until the present, received funding from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT). These initiatives build upon the foundation established by the ACCION program in 2011. The ACCION/SuCCCeS program has maintained continuous operation for fourteen years, with ongoing expansion and enhancements aimed at ensuring its effectiveness. Eligibility criteria include men and women aged 45 to 75 years who are uninsured or underinsured, possess a self-reported Texas address, and are due for screening. The program provides education, navigation services, no-cost fecal immunochemical testing (FIT), and colonoscopy services. Descriptive statistics were employed to characterize program participation. Since the inception of our program in 2011, 46,482 participants have been enrolled, 34,491 have received a fecal immunochemical test, and 34,667 have returned the test. A total of 2,353 colonoscopies have been completed, of which 915 were screening colonoscopies and 1,438 were diagnostic colonoscopies. Furthermore, 1,222 adenomatous polyps were identified, and 39 patients were diagnosed with colorectal cancer. All patients diagnosed with cancer were referred for treatment. In conclusion, a well-established CRC screening program can be implemented across the community and healthcare sector to enhance CRC screening rates. Citation Format: Grace Otitoju, Sarai Martinez, Pracheta Matharasi, Jennifer Molokwu. The Southwest Coalition for Colorectal Cancer Screening (SuCCCeS) Program funded by CPRIT PP110156, PP140164, PP170068, PP210005 [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 18th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities; 2025 Sep 18-21; Baltimore, MD. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2025;34(9 Suppl):Abstract nr B026.