Handling ethnic and racial heterogeneity in cancer risk prediction models: a scoping review of modeling strategies, cross-ethnic performance, and fairness

Preregistered protocol for a scoping review: "Handling ethnic and racial heterogeneity in cancer risk prediction models: a scoping review of modeling strategies, cross-ethnic performance, and fairness."The review will (1) map how cancer risk prediction models — absolute risk models, risk stratification tools, screening referral rules, and polygenic risk scores — handle ethnic and racial heterogeneity; (2) synthesize documented cross-ethnic discrimination and calibration performance gaps for each strategy; and (3) summarize the application of fairness frameworks to cancer risk models, identifying methodological gaps.Databases: PubMed, OpenAlex, CNKI (plus Wanfang/VIP), and forward/backward citation chasing of 24 anchor models. Reporting follows the PRISMA-ScR guideline. This protocol was registered before database searches commenced.