With Every Generation that Passes, Mexican Americans’ Chances of Developing Liver Cancer Rise

According to a recent study, there seems to be an increase in the incidence of liver cancer among Mexican-Americans, particularly among men, with each passing generation.

“It is crucial to understand the factors causing this trend, as liver cancer is becoming a growing concern among Latinos,” according to research main author V. Wendy Setiawan of the University of Southern California.

The American Cancer Society projects that in 2023, more than 41,000 Americans will receive a liver cancer diagnosis, and more than 29,000 will pass away from the illness. Men are more likely than women to get liver cancer, and risk factors for the disease include long-term hepatitis infection, cirrhosis (liver tissue scarring), excessive drinking, smoking, obesity, and type 2 diabetes.

The results were released in the journal Cancer on November 20. Setiawan and associates monitored the health of more than 31,000 Mexican-Americans for over two decades. There were 213 new reports of liver cancer over that period.

The study discovered that second-generation Mexican-Americans had a 37% greater risk of liver cancer compared to first-generation Mexican-Americans (born in Mexico), and third-generation Mexican-Americans had a 66% higher risk.

The majority of this generational rise in risk was seen in men, the study noted.

They point out that compared to Latinos born abroad, Americans-born Latinos often have a greater risk of liver cancer.

A Cancer press release stated that “a potential contributor may relate to the adoption of different lifestyle behaviors, cultural norms and values in the United States.”

However, the press release said that “these factors alone do not entirely account for the increased risk of liver cancer as generations progress,” even while some risk factors—heavier drinking, smoking, and rising obesity rates—may contribute to Mexican-Americans’ chance of developing liver cancer.

“We have highlighted the importance of prioritizing research on these populations, even though we do not yet fully understand why second- and third-generation Mexican Americans are at a heightened risk of liver cancer,” Setiawan stated.