A critical evaluation of existing research unveils a significant oversight in addressing the intricate nexus of ageing, health disparities, and cancer outcomes among older adults. This revelation emerges from a recent publication in the esteemed Journal of the American Geriatrics Society, spearheaded by Dr. Nikesha Gilmore, a distinguished member of the Wilmot Cancer Institute at the University of Rochester.
With projections indicating a potential doubling in the population of cancer survivors aged 65 and above over the next two decades, the review underscores the pressing necessity for studies aimed at mitigating biases influencing cancer prognosis in this demographic. The absence of research dedicated to disparities, coupled with the lack of policies and targeted interventions to enhance health equity, perpetuates cancer inequities and renders the healthcare system ill-equipped to cater to the distinctive needs of the burgeoning and increasingly diverse older adult cancer populace, as posited by the research team.
This imperative resonates particularly strongly at Wilmot, where the catchment area spans 27 counties in the Rochester region. Notably, this area exhibits a higher proportion (18%) of individuals aged 65 and older than state and national averages. Moreover, the region grapples with an elevated cancer incidence rate surpassing that of New York state and the nation at large.
Dr. Gilmore, an esteemed Assistant Professor of Surgery at the University of Rochester Medical Center and a pivotal figure within Wilmot’s Cancer Prevention and Control (CPC) research program, assumes lead co-authorship of the paper alongside Dr. Shakira J. Grant MBBS, from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Their collaboration includes Dr. Supriya Mohile, a renowned mentor and senior co-author of the study, and esteemed National Cancer and Aging Research Group members. Undertaking a scoping review encompassing articles published between 2016 and 2023, the team’s rigorous analysis garnered commendation from Nancy Lundebjerg, CEO of the American Geriatrics Society.
Dr. Gilmore’s commitment to fostering diversity and nurturing the next generation of researchers is palpable within the University of Rochester Medical Center (URMC) community. Notably, she spearheads various initiatives to identify key avenues for future investigation and dismantle barriers for underrepresented undergraduate students keen on pursuing careers in science and medicine. One such initiative is the immersive student enrichment program, EmREACh, which was developed in collaboration with peers at Wilmot and the CPC. EmREACh endeavours to provide mentorship, manuscript writing guidance, and exposure to clinical research and professional development opportunities, thereby nurturing a cadre of diverse, talented individuals poised to drive innovation in cancer research and beyond.
More information: Nikesha Gilmore et al, A scoping review of racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic disparities in the outcomes of older adults with cancer, Journal of the American Geriatrics Society. DOI: 10.1111/jgs.18881
Journal information: Journal of the American Geriatrics Society Provided by University of Rochester Medical Center
