Healthcare Disparities in Screening, Detection and Treatment of Cancer

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 August 2025 | Viewed by 997

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology (DISCOG), University of Padova, 35124 Padova, Italy
Interests: diversity, equity, and inclusion; cancer genetics; biobanking; quality management; chronobiology; meta-analysis; epidemiology; migrants’ health

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Guest Editor
Department of Surgery, Oncology and Gastroenterology (DiSCOG), University of Padua, Via Giustiniani 2, 35128 Padua, Italy
Interests: gender medicine; precision medicine; oncologic surgery; hereditary gastrointestinal disease; colorectal cancer; lynch syndrome; molecular profiling

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Guest Editor
Department of Surgery—ULSS1 Dolomiti, Ospedale San Martino, 32100 Belluno, Italy
Interests: colorectal cancer; tumor microenvironment; oncologic surgery; gender medicine; gender inequality in surgery

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Guest Editor
Department of Surgery, ASST Bergamo Est, 24068 Seriate, Italy
Interests: oncologic outcomes; surgical oncology; gastric cancer; colorectal cancer; gender medicine; gender gap and equity in surgery; artificial intelligence surgery

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Healthcare disparities are differences in health outcomes and access to healthcare services among different population groups. Disparities in cancer care lead to unequal health repercussions and exacerbate existing social inequalities in modern society. These disparities can occur across various dimensions, including race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status, gender, geography, and education, and have profound consequences for individuals and communities.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to a Special Issue titled “Healthcare Disparities in Screening, Detection and Treatment of Cancer”.

This Special Issue aims to explore the critical challenges and inequities faced by diverse populations in cancer care, from early screening to treatment outcomes.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

  • Disparities in access to cancer screening and early detection and health consequences;
  • Socioeconomic, racial, and geographic barriers to cancer care and implications for healthcare delivery;
  • Innovative interventions and policy solutions to reduce cancer disparities and improve healthcare services;
  • Gender disparities in cancer therapy benefits.

We look forward to receiving your contributions. 

Dr. Clara Benna
Dr. Silvia Negro
Dr. Giulia Becherucci
Dr. Giulia Capelli
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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Keywords

  • health inequities
  • access to care
  • cancer prevention
  • early detection
  • socioeconomic barriers

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

14 pages, 1157 KiB  
Article
Sex-Specific Associations of Total Bilirubin, ALBI, and PALBI with Lung Cancer Risk: Interactions with Smoking and Alcohol
by Jong Won Shin, Nguyen Thien Minh and Sun Ha Jee
Healthcare 2025, 13(11), 1321; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13111321 - 2 Jun 2025
Viewed by 608
Abstract
Background: Bilirubin is a potent endogenous antioxidant that plays a key role in regulating oxidative stress and inflammation, both closely linked to lung carcinogenesis. This study reinterprets the ALBI (Albumin–Bilirubin) and PALBI (Platelet–Albumin–Bilirubin) indices as composite markers of antioxidant and inflammatory status and [...] Read more.
Background: Bilirubin is a potent endogenous antioxidant that plays a key role in regulating oxidative stress and inflammation, both closely linked to lung carcinogenesis. This study reinterprets the ALBI (Albumin–Bilirubin) and PALBI (Platelet–Albumin–Bilirubin) indices as composite markers of antioxidant and inflammatory status and evaluates their associations with lung cancer risk by sex, including stratified analyses by major lifestyle factors such as smoking and alcohol use. Methods: This study utilized data from the Korean Cancer Prevention Study-II (KCPS-II) cohort, which included 133,630 participants. During a mean follow-up of 13.5 years, 721 incident lung cancer cases were identified. Serum bilirubin and the ALBI and PALBI indices were analyzed by sex, and quartile-based and trend analyses were conducted. Stratified analyses by smoking and alcohol status (never, former, current, ever) and intensity were performed to assess potential effect modification. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate HRs and 95% CIs. Results: A 1SD increase in total bilirubin and ALBI was inversely associated with lung cancer risk in men (HR: 0.83, 95% CI: 0.75–0.91; HR: 0.86, 95% CI: 0.79–0.94, respectively), whereas PALBI showed a positive association (HR: 1.17, 95% CI: 1.07–1.28). In contrast, in women, total bilirubin and ALBI showed positive associations (HR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.00–1.40; HR: 1.19, 95% CI: 1.02–1.40, respectively), while PALBI was inversely associated (HR: 0.82, 95% CI: 0.69–0.97). These associations were significant among men who were smokers (former, current, ever) and men who drank alcohol (current, ever), whereas in women, significance was observed only among never drinkers. Stronger interactions were observed in men who were heavy smokers and low-to-moderate drinkers. Conclusions: Bilirubin and the ALBI and PALBI indices exhibit sex-specific and contrasting associations with lung cancer risk, highlighting the need to consider sex-based physiological differences in cancer risk assessment. Full article
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