Abstract A033: Community-Based Pilot Study of Colorectal Cancer Susceptibility and Cardiometabolic Risk in Young Hispanic Adults

Abstract Background: Early-onset colorectal cancer (EOCRC) is rising among adults aged 18–49, with disproportionately high mortality rates observed in Southeast. Hispanic adults frequently experience lifestyle-related and cardiometabolic health challenges, such as poor diet quality, obesity, and elevated rates of diabetes and hypertension, that could contribute to increased risk of developing CRC. Most CRC risk research has focused on White/ Black populations, often excluding other racial minorities or younger adults due to underrepresentation in datasets. Thus, we evaluated various contributing factors of CRC risk among Hispanic adults aged 18-49 years, both overall and stratified by sex and age. Methods: We used the National Cancer Institute’s Colorectal Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (CCRAT), supplemented with clinical indicators (blood pressure, glucose, and cholesterol), to enhance CRC risk assessment. While CCRAT isn’t validated for adults under 50 or Hispanic populations, its core variables combined with clinical data may offer useful insights for early CRC prevention strategies. Data were collected during a health fair held in Trenton, South Carolina in July 2025, specifically organized to serve Hispanic farm workers, with interpretation services provided. Variables included demographics (sex, age), body mass index, diet and physical activity, medical history (aspirin use, CRC screening, polyps), family history of CRC, and clinical indicators. Descriptive statistics were used. Results: Of the 34 young Hispanic adults, most were female (61.8%), overweight/obese (76.5%), physically active (70.6%), and regularly consumed vegetables (88.2%). Few used aspirin frequently, and none reported polyps or a family history of CRC. There were around 47.1% of participants who had elevated blood pressure (BP; Systolic BP ≥ 120 and/or Diastolic BP ≥ 80), 8.8% of those who had high glucose levels (≥126 mg/dL), and 11.8% of those who had high total cholesterol levels (≥200 mg/dL). All adults with elevated glucose levels were either females or aged 31-49, and among those with high cholesterol, 75% were female. Additionally, 65.4% of females aged 31-49 were classified as overweight or obese. Notably, two 47-year-old females, eligible for CRC screening under the updated age threshold of 45, had not been screened; however, both presenting with elevated BP. Descriptively, no clear patterns emerged by sex or age in relation to other factors. Conclusions: While this community-based pilot study uncovered unexpected patterns among racial minorities using self-reported CCRAT data, clinical findings indicated minor cardiometabolic risks in young Hispanic women. The observed discrepancies between data sources may be influenced by social desirability bias. Despite limitations, the identified factors could be linked to increased CRC susceptibility and warrant further investigation in these populations. This preliminary data may also support local efforts to promote healthy behaviors, monitor cardiometabolic health, and raise CRC screening awareness among young Hispanic women. Citation Format: Meng-Han Tsai, Dongyu Zhang, Bayu B. Bekele, Ying Huang, Pamela Cromer, Debbie Layman, Haidong Zhu, Yanbin Dong. Community-Based Pilot Study of Colorectal Cancer Susceptibility and Cardiometabolic Risk in Young Hispanic Adults [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the AACR Special Conference in Cancer Research: The Rise in Early-Onset Cancers—Knowledge Gaps and Research Opportunities; 2025 Dec 10-13; Montreal, QC, Canada. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Clin Cancer Res 2025;31(23_Suppl):Abstract nr A033.

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