S150 Racial Disparities in Men With Tail of Pancreas Cancer: A SEER Database Analysis

Introduction: Cancer in the tail and body of the pancreas account for less than 30% of all pancreatic cancers with higher rates of metastasis and poorer prognosis. High fatality may be due to minimal symptoms and locally advanced disease at time of discovery. Investigating racial disparities in pancreatic body cancers is essential for understanding differences in survival and developing targeted strategies to improve outcomes. Methods: The National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Database was used to identify non-Hispanic White, Black, Asian, Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander patients (AAPI), diagnosed with malignant, histologically confirmed pancreatic tail cancers between 1975 and 2021. A pair plot and scatter plot with a regression line were used to analyze racial disparities in survival outcomes. Results: Survival analysis in male patients with pancreatic tail cancer revealed significant racial disparities. Comparisons between White and Black men showed statistically significant differences at all time points (P-value < 0.05). Comparisons between White and AAPI groups revealed no significant survival differences at any time point post diagnosis (P > 0.05). Black patients consistently demonstrated significant survival outcomes compared to AAPI patients on months 12, 36, 48, and 60 (P-value < 0.05, z-score range 1.69-2.35). Conclusion: Possible disparities in survival rates between White and Black men could be due to delayed referrals, higher rates of uninsured status, and less access to high-volume cancer centers where outcomes are better. Among AAPI populations, barriers like limited access to specialized care and cultural mistrust of the healthcare system exist. White patients are more likely to benefit from early detection tools and enrollment in clinical trials, calling attention to systemic inequities in both diagnosis and treatment. To address systemic inequities in pancreatic tail cancer, we must make quality care accessible, eliminate insurance barriers, and invest in culturally competent, community-rooted healthcare strategies.