Registry study describes cancer incidence and survival among American Indian and Alaska Native youth

An observational study published in Pediatrics examined cancer incidence and survival among American Indian and Alaska Native (AIAN) children aged 0–14 years and adolescents aged 15–19 years. Researchers used Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) data from 2000–2022, stratifying analyses by Indian Health Service (IHS) region and residence in an IHS purchased/referred care delivery area (PRCDA).

The registry recorded 1,050 cancers: 729 among children and 321 among adolescents. Incidence was 161.1 per million population (95% CI, 151.5–171.1), ranging from 81.9 per million in the East to 219.4 per million in Alaska. Overall five-year survival was 80.0% (95% CI, 77%–82%), ranging from 75% in Alaska to 87% in the Southern Plains.

Among AIAN youth residing in PRCDAs, five-year survival was 83% (95% CI, 81%–85%), significantly higher than among non-Hispanic Black youth (79%) and lower than among non-Hispanic white youth (87%). Incidence rate ratios relative to non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic Asian Pacific Islander, and Hispanic youth were 1.12, 0.80, 0.92, and 1.04, respectively.

The findings document geographic and racial differences in pediatric cancer burden and survival but do not establish their causes. Only the abstract was available, limiting assessment of detailed methods, cancer-specific outcomes, and potential explanations for the observed differences.