American Indian and Alaska Native (AI/AN) populations experience disproportionately high kidney cancer incidence and mortality compared to other groups in the United States. Literature was reviewed to explore the factors contributing to the unequally higher kidney cancer burden in AI/AN communities and to develop recommendations to reduce these disparities. The incidence of kidney cancer has been rising over the past few decades, and this increase has been especially steep among AI/AN populations. Death rates in AI/AN populations are roughly twice those of the non-Hispanic White population. The elevated kidney cancer burden in AI/AN populations may be driven by both clinical and behavioral risk factors (obesity, diabetes, hypertension, chronic kidney disease, smoking, and environmental factors) and structural drivers of health, which can critically shape these disparities. Systemic inequalities limit AI/AN patients and community members' access to chronic disease management, smoking cessation programs, primary and specialty care for early detection, and ultimately, treatment. AI/AN patients may have mistrust or other cultural barriers to engaging with the healthcare system and providers, while implicit bias in healthcare providers may lead to undertreatment. Therefore, key interventions and tailored programs aimed at reducing kidney cancer incidence and mortality are needed. Here we highlight some current interventions, including access to disease management and smoking cessation programs, facilitating healthcare access and quality, adopting patient navigation and culturally competent education, and developing strategies for early detection. In partnership with AI/AN communities, a combination of prevention, early detection, and healthcare system improvements is needed to close the kidney cancer gap.
Cancers. 2026 May 01*** epublish ***
Salvatore La Rosa, Pavlos Msaouel, Andrew J Sedgewick, Nathan Maulding, Alejandro Recio-Boiles, William O Carson, Rodney C Haring, Ken Batai
Kidney Cancer Association, Houston, TX 77019, USA., Department of Genitourinary Medical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 77230, USA., Tempus AI, Chicago, IL 60654, USA., The University of Arizona Cancer Center, Tucson, AZ 85724, USA., Department of Indigenous Cancer Health, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA., Department of Cancer Prevention & Control, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center, Buffalo, NY 14263, USA.