Georgia Legislative Black Caucus Health Care Symposium

July 8, 2013Georgia Regents University

Augusta, GA

Samir N. Khleif, MDDirector, GRU Cancer CenterDirector, Cancer Service Line

Professor of Medicine, Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, and Graduate Studies

Partnerships: Key to Reducing Cancer Disparities

Snap Shot: Georgia Cancer Incidence & Death Rates

• 8th highest breast cancer death rate in U.S.

• 3rd highest prostate cancer incidence rate (new cases) among Black men in the U.S.

• Prostate cancer death rate in GA is 17% above the U.S.

• 10th highest lung cancer incidence rate in the U.S. among white men

All Cancer Death Rates by Georgia County (2005-2009)

222.2 – 316.1208.5 – 222.1199.4 – 208.4186.3 – 199.3174.1 – 186.2143.7 – 174.0

US Average

• 42,000 new cases/year • ~15,000 Georgians die each year

from cancer

All Cancer Death Rates by Georgia County (2005-2009)

Source: SEER State Cancer Profiles

Cancer death rates RISING or stable

N= 119 Counties

Projected cancer-related medical cost= $7.3B in 2020Source: Am J Manage Care. 2012; 18(9) 525-532

Cancer Disparity in Georgia

Breast Cancer• 8th highest death rate in US• 21% more black women die from

breast cancer than white women• Black women in Georgia have the

9th highest incidence among US blacks

• White women in Georgia have the 28th highest incidence of breast cancer among US whites

Source: Centers for Disease Control and PreventionMMWR 11-16-12 61(45);0922-926 www.cdc.gov/cancer/mmwr

Cancer Disparity in Georgia

Prostate Cancer• 5th highest incidence in the country• Black men have the 3rd highest

incidence in the US• 2X more black men are diagnosed • 3X more black men die of their

disease compared to white men

Cancer Disparity in Georgia

Colorectal Cancer• Blacks in Georgia have a Colorectal

Cancer Death Rate that is 43% higher than Whites

Obesity-related Cancer Risks (2007)

Cancer Type Relative Risk

Adenocarcinoma of esophagus 2.8Pancreas 1.2Colon and rectum 1.3Breast (post menopausal) 1.3Endometrium 3Kidney 2Thyroid 1.3Gallbladder 1.7

75.0% of Black Georgia Adults are overweight or

obese vs. 63.6% of White Georgia Adults

Mission

“To reduce the burden of cancer in the State of Georgia and across the globe through superior care, innovation, andeducation”

VisionTo become an NCI-designated cancer center, internationally recognized for the integration of:

Outstanding clinical care• Multidisciplinary• Patient- and

Family-Centered

World class translational research• Basic• Clinical• Population

Professional Education and Public Awareness

Benefits of NCI Designation for Georgia

• Enhance health care outcomes

• Provide state-of-the-art therapy and access to personalized medicine

• Enhance understanding of cancer biology/behavior in minority populations

• Increase population awareness and cancer prevention

• Recruitment of top tier professionals

• Promote economic development

• Promote collaborations across academic institutions

GRU Cancer Center Path Toward Diversity Program

• Completed Report on Regional Disparities• Diversity Research Committee • Diversity Science Directed Recruitment• Development of Community Advisory Board• Development of Minority Driven Awareness

Program• Development of Basic Science Research Program– Tumor BioBank

• Minority-Based CCOP

Clinical Trials Statewide Network

(MB-CCOP) in Georgia- GRU Cancer Center is home to the only NCI Minority-Based Community Cancer Oncology Program

What Does it Take?• State-of-the-art comprehensive facility

• “40-50” additional research faculty

• Robust clinical trial program creating the GRU Cancer Center Clinical Trial Network

•Strong Georgia Tumor BioBankexpanding organizations statewide

• Public outreach and minority-based programs