New Study Aims to Uncover Cancer Trends in Asian Americans, with Focus on Southern California

Researchers at UC Irvine are launching the ASPIRE Cohort, the largest health study ever focused on Asian Americans, to investigate puzzling cancer trends. The study will recruit 1,800 participants from Orange and Los Angeles counties, part of a national pool of 20,000.

Key findings so far include: Asian American women who never smoked are twice as likely as other nonsmoking women to be diagnosed with lung cancer. Breast cancer rates are rising faster for Asian American women than any other racial or ethnic group.

Cancer is the leading cause of death for Chinese, Filipino, Korean, and Vietnamese Americans, reversing the national trend where heart disease is No. 1.

The data, collected via surveys and saliva samples, will help test theories linking diet, lifestyle, and stress to cancer disparities. Researchers hope the study will benefit future generations.