Abstract A106: Neighborhood gentrification, income inequality, and cancer incidence among adults in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos

Abstract Background: Social determinants of health (SDOH) such as neighborhood, built environment, and economic stability may impact cancer development and timely diagnosis. Although gentrification (the process where a neighborhood’s demographic, social, and cultural characteristics change) and income inequality are two important components of SDOH, few studies have examined their roles in cancer incidence particularly among Hispanic/Latino adults. The objective of this study was to examine the associations between measures of neighborhood gentrification and income inequality and cancer incidence among a community-based sample of Hispanic/Latino adults. Methods: This study included 16,029 Hispanic/Latino adults (ages 18-75) with geocoded baseline addresses from the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos, an ongoing multi-site cohort study with field centers in San Diego, CA; Bronx, NY; Miami, FL, and Chicago, IL. Incident cancers diagnosed from baseline in 2008-2011 through 2021 (n=701) were ascertained through linkages with four state cancer registries. A census tract-level index of gentrification was calculated as the sum of z-scores for changes (between 2000 and 2010) in the percentage of resident adults aged ≥25 with a college education, the number of residents living below the federal poverty level (FPL), and median household income; higher scores indicate greater gentrification. Income inequality was calculated using the Gini coefficient of income distribution (during 2005-2009) which reflects how similar household incomes are across households within census tracts; higher scores indicate greater income inequality. We used survey-weighted multivariable Cox regression to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between quartiles of gentrification and income inequality and cancer incidence. We also examined whether individual-level household income (>median versus ≤median FPL] modified these associations using stratified models and multiplicative interactions. Results: At baseline, the mean age of the target population was 41.06 (SE=0.25) years, 52.1% were female, and 77.4% were born outside of the US. Compared to those in the lowest quartile of the gentrification index, those in the highest quartile had a 42% (HR=1.42; 95%CI=1.01-1.99; P Trend=0.20) increase in the risk of cancer over a mean 10.4 (min=0.07, max=13.80) years of follow-up. Compared to those in the lowest quartile of the Gini coefficient, those in the highest quartile had a 52% (HR=1.52; 95%CI=1.03-2.26; P Trend=0.20) increase in the risk of cancer. Household income did not significantly modify the associations between gentrification or income inequality and cancer risk (P Interactions≥0.83). Conclusions: In this cohort study of Hispanic/Latino adults of diverse background, greater neighborhood gentrification and greater income inequality were associated with increases in the risk of cancer. Future studies should aim to elucidate the mediators of these associations to develop actionable interventions for cancer prevention. Citation Format: Yaiza Diaz-De-Durana, Catherine Pichardo, Corinne McDaniels-Davidson, Krista M. Perreira, En Cheng, Gregory A. Talavera, Linda C. Gallo, Humberto Parada Jr.. Neighborhood gentrification, income inequality, and cancer incidence among adults in the Hispanic Community Health Study/Study of Latinos [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 A106.