MD Anderson announces Texas Lone Star Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan

Texas currently has a cervical cancer incidence rate of 9.5 per 100,000 women, sitting well above the national rate of 7.5 per 100,000. To close this gap, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center announced the Texas Lone Star Cervical Cancer Elimination Plan 2027-2032, establishing a five-year roadmap to drive new diagnoses below four per 100,000 women each year.

The Roadmap Unveiled at the CPRIT 2026 Conference

Coalition leaders unveiled the strategic framework during the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas (CPRIT) 2026 Innovations Conference. The Cancer Alliance of Texas Cervical Cancer Elimination Priority Area Workgroup developed the initiative, incorporating insights from a stakeholder survey and a virtual summit that drew more than 250 participants. More than 40 coalition members signed a joint declaration outlining specific commitments to support the plan, which aligns with multiple priorities from the 2024 Texas Cancer Plan.

Texas Targets Cervical Cancer Disparities Through Three Pillars

While the state ranks eighth in the nation for cervical cancer incidence and sixth for mortality, certain Texas counties report incidence rates climbing between 15 and 21 per 100,000. This heavy disease burden falls disproportionately on uninsured, rural, border, and minority communities. To counter these disparities, the Lone Star plan focuses on three core pillars with distinct targets for 2032:

• HPV vaccination: Increase the percentage of Texas boys and girls up to date on human papillomavirus vaccination by age 15 from 50.5% to 80%.
• Cervical cancer screening: Expand the proportion of women in Texas who are current on cervical cancer screenings from 64% to 80% by integrating self-collection for HPV along with primary HPV testing as viable choices.
• Timely follow-up, diagnosis and treatment: Guarantee that 80% of women obtain necessary diagnostic follow-up and care via survivorship support, provider training, patient coordination, and community outreach.

Texas has the tools to prevent nearly every case of cervical cancer, but tools can save lives only when people can utilize them.

Ernest Hawk, M.D., UT MD Anderson

Patient coordination and access remain central across all three pillars, specifically targeting rural regions, border communities, and residents lacking health insurance.

Behind every cervical cancer statistic is a woman who didn’t get a screening, a family that didn’t have a trusted person to guide them or a community that was overlooked.

Sharyn Malatok, chair of the Cancer Alliance of Texas

The complete elimination plan is available to the public at TexasCancerPlan.org/CCEP.