Learn more in our training program.
Join our membership network.
Attend our events and collaborate.
Add your voice to our policy matters.
Get involved in our genetic registry.
Donate to our cause.
The Latino Cancer Institute (TLCI) is a nationwide community and research network dedicated to solving the issues and burden of Latino cancer.
Cancer remains one of the leading causes of death among Hispanics/Latinos in the U.S., accounting for approximately 17% of deaths. At the same time, federal support for health equity and cancer disparities research is facing unprecedented cuts—making community-driven leadership more critical than ever.
Cancer affects Latino men and women differently, requiring targeted approaches. Among Latinas, breast cancer remains the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of cancer death, while cervical cancer continues to pose a serious and largely preventable threat.
For Latino men, the challenges are equally urgent. Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer death, and Latino men are more likely to be diagnosed with prostate, colorectal, liver, and testicular cancers—often at later stages.
Our mission. The Latino Cancer Institute works to reduce the burden of cancer in Latino communities by convening expertise, amplifying community-informed research, and advocating for equitable cancer care. As public funding becomes more uncertain, philanthropic support helps ensure Latino communities are not left out of cancer research, policy discussions, or solutions. Learn more about our work.
For over 20 years, Founder Ysabel Duron has played a vital role in bringing together those dedicated to making a difference in the Latino cancer landscape. From cancer community workers and caregivers to international medical researchers and policymakers, Ysabel has forged important alliances in a field crowded with many competing interests and agendas.
It takes a savvy insider who has traveled this terrain far and wide to help the Latino cancer community at-large continue changing the landscape. TLCI offers the definitive road map.
The Latino Cancer Institute acts as a network for agencies, linking members to share knowledge and best practices. Connecting colleagues, peers and institutions is critical to The Institute’s ongoing mission to amplify and disseminate outstanding work in the cancer arena, and to support one another.
The Latino Cancer Institute provides opportunities to network, learn and collaborate with stakeholders in the cancer landscape including Latino cancer researchers.
The Latino Cancer Institute convenes leading experts, advocates, and community voices to examine critical cancer issues affecting Latino communities and to surface actionable insights. Recordings from TLCI’s recent Forums are now available—free to watch—covering cancer risks, disparities, and lived experiences across Latino women, men, children, and families. Watch Forum videos.
The Latino Cancer Institute leverages our united voice at the national table to advance Latino cancer concerns including education, services, funding, and research. Our aim is to be heard, understood and included in any proposed policy.
As a nonprofit organization, we rely on philanthropy and grants in our mission to support other agencies. Your funding allows us to continue the development of new programs and tools we can share with those making a difference in the lives of Latino cancer patients, survivors, and their caregivers.
For decades, pancreatic cancer has been one of the most lethal cancers, with few effective treatment options. A new drug, daraxonrasib, targets the KRAS mutation that fuels most pancreatic tumors—something many scientists once thought couldn't be done. In a major clinical trial, the treatment nearly doubled survival for patients with advanced disease and reduced the risk of death by 60%.
Scientists have uncovered a surprising new way the immune system fights cancer, overturning a core belief that has guided immunology for decades. The research found that when cancer cells shut down a key immune-recognition molecule called MHC I—a common trick used to hide from “killer” T cells—they can actually become more vulnerable to attack by a different group of immune cells known as CD4+ “helper” T cells.
A newly identified protein may be one of the biggest obstacles holding CAR T-cell therapy back. Researchers found that NFIL3 causes these engineered immune cells to become exhausted and lose their cancer-fighting power over time. When NFIL3 was disabled, the cells remained stronger for longer and controlled tumors more effectively in animal models.
A surprising new study suggests that when it comes to pancreatic cancer, the kind of fat you eat may matter more than how much. Researchers found that oleic acid—the main fat in olive oil and several other common foods—sped up tumor growth in mice predisposed to pancreatic cancer, while omega-3-rich fats from fish oil dramatically slowed disease development.
Feeling constantly drained might not just be about poor sleep or working too hard. Researchers in Japan found that low levels of key vitamins — especially vitamin B12 and folate — may quietly contribute to fatigue and lack of motivation, even in otherwise healthy people.
Scientists at UC San Diego have unveiled a potentially game-changing treatment for MASH, a severe fatty liver disease affecting millions worldwide. The experimental drug, ION224, blocks a liver enzyme that drives fat buildup and inflammation, two key forces behind liver damage. In clinical trials, patients showed striking improvements in liver health, even without losing weight.
