Study Projects Significant Increase in Uterine Cancer Rates, Particularly Among Black Women

According to a July 1 press release, a new study published in Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention found that uterine cancer incidence and mortality rates in the U.S. are projected to rise significantly over the next 25 years, with Black women facing a disproportionate burden.

Using a simulation model developed at Columbia University, researchers estimate that by 2050, incidence-based mortality among Black women will be nearly three times higher than that of white women. “Overall, uterine cancer is one of the few cancers where both incidence and mortality have been increasing,” said lead author Dr. Jason D. Wright. “Understanding future trends will help inform the development of robust strategies to reduce the burden and improve outcomes.”

The study projects that uterine cancer incidence will rise from 56.8 to 86.9 cases per 100,000 for Black women and from 57.7 to 74.2 for white women. Mortality is expected to increase even more steeply, particularly for Black women—from 14.1 to 27.9 per 100,000. The growing prevalence of aggressive non-endometrioid tumors among Black women is a key factor. Wright cited “delayed diagnosis, later-stage disease, and treatment delays” as contributing to racial disparities.

The researchers also explored the effects of obesity and declining hysterectomy rates—both of which may drive higher cancer rates. While there is no current screening method for uterine cancer, the model showed that introducing an effective screening test at age 55 could reduce incidence for over a decade. “If there was an effective screening test, we may be able to substantially reduce the burden of disease,” Wright noted.