Hereditary Diseases Disproportionately Affecting the Latino Population

In 2015, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention released extensive research on the health risks facing Latino and Hispanic populations in the United States. For people in those groups, the research had mixed implications; while Latinos are less likely to die from heart disease, cancer, or high blood pressure than non-Hispanic whites, they are more likely to develop other conditions, especially diabetes and chronic liver disease.

And while Latinos are less likely to die from cardiovascular issues than whites, research published in Trends in Cardiovascular Medicine shows that Hispanic people have a less favorable cardiovascular risk factor profile. Indeed, heart disease is one of the leading causes of death among Hispanics, behind only cancer.

The CDC recommends lifestyle changes as the most effective means of addressing these concerns, but recent advances in medicine may also help. New advances in antibody discovery and development could limit the risks posed by certain hereditary issues such as diabetes and certain types of cancers.

Understanding Cancer Risks Among Latino Populations

The incidence of different types of cancer varies greatly among Hispanic subgroups. Puerto Rican men, for example, have relatively higher prostate and colorectal cancer risks, and prostate cancer accounts for about one out of every six cancer deaths in Puerto Rico. Lung, liver, colorectal, and breast cancers are expected to cause the most cancer deaths among all Hispanic subgroups, according to the American Cancer Society.

With that said, the rates of cancer among Hispanics in the United States are 25 to 30 percent lower than in whites. Researchers expect the risks of those diseases to grow as the country's Latino population grows, as some of the elevated risk can be attributed to lifestyle choices since immigration no longer accounts for the majority of growth in Latino populations.

Diabetes Risk Factors Among Latinos

Latinos have a significantly higher risk of developing diabetes than whites, and a portion of their undesirable risk profile can be attributed to hereditary issues. In fact, nearly half of all Latino children born in the year 2000 are likely to develop diabetes, per the Illinois Department of Health.

According to a paper published in the American Diabetes Association's journal Diabetes Care, Hispanic youth may have a higher risk of developing serious complications from diabetes due to elevated lipids, a high prevalence of obesity, and poor glycemic control, among other hereditary factors.

How Advances in Therapeutic Antibodies Could Help

Antibody drug discovery is a promising field of research that could limit some of the aforementioned hereditary risks. Therapeutic antibodies can change the way that the body responds to specific molecules.

To treat diabetes in Hispanics, therapeutic monoclonal antibodies could improve glycemic control and limit lipids, reducing the risks of morbidity. Some research suggests that antibodies could also target certain cancer cells, allowing for innovative cancer treatments. Clinical trials are currently exploring whether monoclonal antibodies like ABX-EGF can deliver tumor-killing substances to prostate cancer cells without damaging normal cells, potentially reducing one of the major cancer risks for Latino populations.

Of course, lifestyle changes are currently the most effective method of prevention, and Latinos should understand their risk factors. Diet modification, exercise, and regular cancer screenings can be especially helpful for Hispanics, given their higher risks of Type II diabetes and certain cancers. Even so, the current research into monoclonal antibodies is highly encouraging, and could greatly limit deaths from hereditary conditions in the near future.