bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Abstract B136: Hypertension, anti-hypertensive drug use, and breast cancer survival among Black women
Authors: Barnard Mollie E. , Xu Nuo N. , Jones Dennis , Palmer Julie R.
Published: December 2023

Introduction: In the United States (US), Black women are 59% more likely to have hypertension than White women. US Black women are also 40% more likely to die from breast cancer when compared to US White women, yet the associations between hypertension, use of anti-hypertensive medications, and breast cancer survival are not well-established in this population. Methods: The prospective Black Women’s Health Study includes 1,757 women with invasive breast cancer diagnosed at stages 1, 2 or 3. Data on physician-diagnosed hypertension and use of anti-hypertensive medications (i.e., angiotensin II receptor blockers [ARBs], angiotensin-converting enzyme [ACE] inhibitors, beta blockers, and diuretics) are collected every two years. We used Cox proportional hazards models adjusted for age and stage at breast cancer diagnosis to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals for associations of untreated and treated hypertension around the time of breast cancer diagnosis with breast cancer survival. Results: The HR for breast cancer mortality was 1.60 (1.10, 2.34) for women with untreated hypertension relative to women without hypertension. The association was especially strong among Stage 2/3 cases (HR=1.89 [1.25, 2.87]) and estrogen receptor negative cases (HR=1.96 [1.11, 3.48]). Women with treated hypertension did not have a higher risk of breast cancer-specific death relative to women without hypertension (HR=0.96 [0.73, 1.27]), although there was some evidence of variation by type of anti-hypertensive used. HRs were 0.86 (0.54, 1.37), 1.04 (0.68, 1.57), 1.26 (0.85, 1.87), and 1.25 (0.85, 1.86) for hypertensive women who used ARBs, ACE inhibitors, beta blockers, and diuretics, respectively. Conclusions: Among Black women with hypertension, breast cancer-specific survival is better if the hypertension is treated. Data from our study and others suggest that treatment with ARBs or ACE inhibitors may be especially beneficial when a key concern is breast cancer-specific survival.

Citation Format: Mollie E. Barnard, Nuo N. Xu, Dennis Jones, Julie R. Palmer. Hypertension, anti-hypertensive drug use, and breast cancer survival among Black women [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B136.
Abstract B146: Development of PRANA: Portal for Research, Analysis and traiNing of breAthing
Authors: Balasubramanian Sundaravadivel , Nixon Crystal , Sterba Katharine R. , Warren Graham W.
Published: December 2023

Cancer survivorship is a challenging path involving symptoms that afflict both the physical and emotional aspects of life. Cancer survivors are increasingly adopting to newer tools that could be potentially beneficial in symptom relief. One such approach is yogic breathing, a set of breathing practices from the yoga tradition and can be a powerful tool to address both the mind and the body. Breathing regulation is a common technique in several cultures and practices and known to improve wellbeing. While mind-body practices are common among cancer patients, African American cancer patients have low accessibility to these tools although they are open to adopt these lifestyle practices. Our previous studies have shown salivary biomarker changes, and emotional improvement such as reduced stress in response to breathing exercises. We use these breathing exercises in a lodging facility (Hope Lodge) for cancer patients and caregivers during the treatment period. To improve the treatment delivery for remote learning in a culturally acceptable manner we are creating a web portal (named PRANA, meaning vital energy; and an acronym for Portal for Research, Analysis, and traiNing of breAthing) that will house several breathing exercises that would allow participants to choose depending upon their current state of mind and body. The Prana portal will be useful in delivering breathing exercises to patients from remote areas and places where yogic breathing is not provided commonly. We have created the alpha version of the animation characters, exercise scripts, and voiceover. Their cultural suitability is analyzed within the research group and by working with the Participant Engagement Groups (PEGS) through the South Carolina Clinical and Translational Research Institute. These animations will be constructed into a web portal for beta testing and will be available to present at this AACR meeting. Owing to the tailored nature of the practice, this tool will be acceptable by a large proportion of African American cancer survivors. Additionally, the portal would be a resource for researchers that are interested in studying individual breathing exercises.   

Citation Format: Sundaravadivel Balasubramanian, Crystal Nixon, Katharine R. Sterba, Graham W. Warren. Development of PRANA: Portal for Research, Analysis and traiNing of breAthing [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr B146.
Abstract C012: Integration of social variables resolves subclasses of tumor microenvironment
Authors: Hamilton Alina M. , McCormack Kara , Emerson Marc A. , Troester Melissa A. , Hyslop Terry
Published: December 2023

Intro: Recent work has identified subclasses of the tumor microenvironment, with most work emphasizing a robust adaptive immune response associated with ER-negative and/or basal-like tumors. Since adaptive immune responses may influence response to chemotherapy and may be targetable by immunotherapy, understanding population-level heterogeneity in immune response is important.   Methods: We leveraged the Carolina Breast Cancer Study (CBCS), a large population-based study that oversampled young (≤50 years) and Black women with invasive breast cancer (BC). We performed NanoString gene expression profiling on tissue from 1,329 BC patients, including 704 (53%) Black and 625 (47%) non-Black women, and assayed genes representative of at least 10 individual immune cell types from both adaptive and innate arms of the immune system, homologous recombination deficiency signature and TP53 mutation status. Using a latent class approach that included variables for self-reported race, triple negative status, individual measures of socioeconomic status and community-level measures of advantage and disadvantage, we identified latent classes that integrated tumor microenvironment with tumor biology, individual and community level exposures under a Cells-to-Society conceptual model of breast cancer outcomes.   Results: Latent Class Analysis identified 6 integrated classes of the tumor microenvironment, further subdividing a previously identified and validated adaptive immune class into two subgroups. The two adaptive classes were distinguished by different expression levels of B-cells, CD8+ T cells, cytotoxic cells and PD-L1, and differing frequency of basal-like subtype (Adaptive Class 1 RFD [95% CI]: 19.0 [11.9, 26.2]; Adaptive Class 2 RFD [95% CI]: 32.8 [23.3,42.3])  and presence of genomic instability gene expression subtypes (Adaptive Class-1 RFD [95% CI]: 22.1 [14.0, 30.1]; Adaptive Class-2 RFD [95% CI]: 37.5 [28.1,46.2]) relative to the immune-quiet tumors.   Discussion: Social variables have complex effects on tumor biology and microenvironment, but latent class models and other model-based approaches may help to integrate biological data with other social factors to identify susceptible subgroups and to optimize precision medicine in diverse populations.  

Citation Format: Alina M. Hamilton, Kara McCormack, Marc A. Emerson, Melissa A. Troester, Terry Hyslop. Integration of social variables resolves subclasses of tumor microenvironment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C012.
Abstract C020: Racial differences in distress levels among Black and White hormone receptor–positive breast cancer survivors over a 3-year period
Authors: Tariq Fariha , Taylor Teletia , Perera Robert A. , Sheppard Vanessa B.
Published: December 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine longitudinal racial variations in distress levels among Black and White women with hormone receptor-positive (HR+) breast cancer. Methods: This is a secondary data analysis from the Women’s Hormonal Initiation and Persistence (WHIP) Study, an observational study of HR+ breast cancer survivors. Data regarding patient demographics (e.g., race, age, education, income) were collected via surveys. Clinicopathologic factors (e.g., stage, type of surgery, chemotherapy, and radiation) and medication type (tamoxifen vs. aromatase inhibitors) were extracted from medical records. The National Comprehensive Cancer Network’s Distress Thermometer was used to capture distress following AET initiation at 4 timepoints (baseline, year 1, year 2 and year 3). Mixed linear effects models were used to identify differences in distress by race over the 3-year period. An unadjusted model included race and time as covariates, whereas the adjusted model controlled for demographics, clinicopathologic factors and medication type. Results: The total sample was comprised of 572 women (410 White and 162 Black). For the unadjusted model, the race by time interaction was not statistically significant (F3, 1002.53= 2.2895, p = 0.077). However, the race by time interaction was statistically significant in the adjusted model (F3, 670.99 = 2.68, p = 0.04576), such that Black survivors experienced increased distress over time compared to White survivors. Age was the only statistically significant covariate as older women had lower distress compared to their younger counterparts (p= 0.01) Conclusion. Black and White HR+ breast cancer survivors had different distress levels over a 3-year period. Over time Black survivors’ distress remained high compared to their White counterparts. It is important to consider these differences, given that Black women have higher breast cancer related morbidity and mortality. Future work should focus on the development of culturally appropriate interventions for distress management in HR+ Black breast cancer survivors.

Citation Format: Fariha Tariq, Teletia Taylor, Robert A. Perera, Vanessa B. Sheppard. Racial differences in distress levels among Black and White hormone receptor–positive breast cancer survivors over a 3-year period [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C020.
Abstract C031: ABCD3 expression is upregulated Caucasian and Asian breast cancer patients and is associated with non-responsiveness to endocrine therapy in luminal breast cancers
Authors: Reams Romonia Renee , Heyliger Simone , Saulsbury Marilyn
Published: December 2023

The ABC transporters represent the largest family of transmembrane proteins. They also serve in protective roles whereby many transporters act as efflux pumps for xenobiotics. And subsequently, several members; most notably of the A, B and C subfamilies, have been implicated in cancer chemoresistance; however, D family members have not been extensively studies with regards to cancer biology and treatment. Here we report that ABCD3 transporter expression is upregulated in breast cancer (p<0.001). The gene was also upregulated across cancer stages (p<0.05). Analysis of histological subtypes revealed that ABCD3 was expressed infiltrating ductal carcinoma (IDC). Immunohistochemistry (IHC) analysis confirmed that ABCD3 protein is expressed IDC (p<0.001). Moreover, ABCD3 expression was elevated in White (p<0.001) and Asian (p<0.05) breast cancer patients but not in African-American patients. Analysis of molecular subtypes revealed that ABCD3 expression was significantly higher in the Luminal breast cancer subtype (p<0.001). Furthermore, ROC analysis of gene expression in relationship in response to treatment revealed that ABCD3 is a moderate predictor (AUC=0.644, p=0.003) of response to endocrine therapy (tamoxifen and aromatase inhibitors) and a strong predictor (AUC=08, p=0.026) to chemotherapy in luminal breast cancers. Taken collectively, ABCD3 represents a biomarker which may be important for determining therapeutic response.

Citation Format: Romonia Renee Reams, Simone Heyliger, Marilyn Saulsbury. ABCD3 expression is upregulated Caucasian and Asian breast cancer patients and is associated with non-responsiveness to endocrine therapy in luminal breast cancers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C031.
Abstract C037: Bile acid modulation of immune cell interactions in the colonic microenvironment
Authors: Dai Hanchu , Wolf Patricia , Mutlu Ece , Tussing-Humphreys Lisa , Ridlon Jason , Gaskins Rex
Published: December 2023

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most frequent cancer in both women and men, particularly among African Americans (AA). Factors such as ethnicity group, gut microbiota, and Western diet play a significant role in CRC development. However, the impact of ethnicity on the immunological mechanisms involved in CRC is poorly understood. In our study, we collected stool and serum samples from high-risk and low-risk AA and NHW subjects to analyze the fecal bile acid metabolome. We found that certain bile acid isoforms, particularly in allo-bile acids, were significantly reduced in the stool compared to Non-Hispanic White (NHW) females. Clinical mucosal RNA data we generated via the NanoString nCounter platform, revealed in both AA and NHW low-risk female groups, the expression of FoxP3, correlated with immune checkpoints including PDCD1, IDO1, CTLA4 and LAG3 were lowered. Recent findings suggest that allo-bile acids influence the balance between pro-inflammatory TH17 cells and anti-inflammatory Tregs through specific signaling pathways. Based on our data and existing literature, we propose that bacterial-derived allo-bile acids modulate interactions between other myeloid-lineage immune cells, thereby affecting the inflammatory environment of the colon and potentially influencing CRC development.

Citation Format: Hanchu Dai, Patricia Wolf, Ece Mutlu, Lisa Tussing-Humphreys, Jason Ridlon, Rex Gaskins. Bile acid modulation of immune cell interactions in the colonic microenvironment [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C037.
Abstract C040: Single cell analysis of circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells in African American men with prostate cancer and their association with lethal disease
Authors: Ahmed Md Shakir U. , Dorsey Tiffany , Ambs Stefan
Published: December 2023

Prostate cancer is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths among men in the United States and affects African American (AA) men more so than other men. We and others previously described a distinct tumor immunobiology in AA prostate cancer patients. Furthermore, we discovered a serum proteome-defined suppression of tumor immunity signature that is prevalent among these patients and associated with lethal prostate cancer. In the current study, we sought to investigate the composition of circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) in AA and European American (EA) prostate cancer patients and their association with patient group and lethal prostate cancer. We obtained high-quality RNA-sequencing data for 277642 single cells representing circulating PBMCs from 59 AA and EA men. In the analysis, being an AA patients associated with an increased abundance of exhausted CD8+T cells and higher numbers of macrophages that classified as tumor-associated macrophages, whereas metallothionine-expressing macrophages were decreased in these men. Gene signatures indicative of T cell exhaustion were generally elevated in AA PBMCs while T cell effector function features were decreased. Within the myeloid cell population, cytokine and NFKB signatures were more prevalent in AA than EA patients. This gene signature pattern that we observed in AA patients also associated with lethal prostate cancer, namely the T cell exhaustion and elevated cytokine gene signatures, pointing to potential clinical implications. Lastly, the interferon-induced transmembrane protein (IFITM3), interferon alpha inducible protein (IFI6), cysteine rich protein-1 (CRIP1), and the RAC family small GTPase2 (RAC2) were notably upregulated in AA patient-derived immune cells. In summary, we show that circulating immune cell populations and the associated gene signatures differ between men of African and European descent. Those elevated in AA patients correlated with lethal prostate cancer. 

Citation Format: Md Shakir U. Ahmed, Tiffany Dorsey, Stefan Ambs. Single cell analysis of circulating peripheral blood mononuclear cells in African American men with prostate cancer and their association with lethal disease [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C040.
Abstract C041: Transcriptomic analysis of prostate cancer patients living with HIV
Authors: Song Hanbing , Li Michelle , Akutagawa Jon , Huang Franklin
Published: December 2023

Background: Higher incidence and mortality rates of liver, lung, anal, and head and neck cancers are typically seen in patients living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). However, some previous studies have a decreased risk of prostate cancer in HIV+ patients, particularly in men from sexual minorities, with no clear biological or epidemiological explanation. Methods: To identify the specific transcriptomic changes and genetic pathways associated with HIV infection and prostate cancer emergence, we performed bulk RNA-Seq analysis on 18 prostate cancer samples (9 HIV+ and 9 HIV-). We first used kallisto to measure gene-level expression. We then performed principal component analysis (PCA) to determine if HIV status clearly clustered patients based on their gene expression levels. We subsequently used DESeq2 to perform differentially expressed transcriptomic analysis to identify genes that are associated with HIV and prostate cancer phenotypes. Samples were clustered based on expression levels of the top differentially expressed genes across the HIV+ and HIV- phenotypes. Gene set enrichment analysis was performed on the gene signatures from the two phenotypes. Using an existing single cell RNA-Seq prostate cancer dataset, we deconvoluted the 18 samples with CIBERSORT to approximate the cell type composition. Results: PCA highlighted no major separation between samples based on HIV status. We identified 450 significantly upregulated genes in HIV+ patients, including YAP1, MAT2A, KLF4, and ERF. We identified 409 upregulated genes in HIV- patients, including MICA, AQP2, and KRT6C. Upregulated genes found in HIV+ patients were significantly enriched in multiple immune response pathways, which is consistent with previous sequencing studies focused on HIV status. After cell type composition estimation, we found the samples to be similar in their cell type distributions - stromal and tumor cells were the largest populations, while immune cells were not well represented. Conclusions: We identified transcriptomic differences that need future studies that directly interrogate the biological pathways that affect the incidence of prostate cancer in patients living with HIV.

Citation Format: Hanbing Song, Michelle Li, Jon Akutagawa, Franklin Huang. Transcriptomic analysis of prostate cancer patients living with HIV [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C041.
Abstract C048: Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis in prostate cancer patients from African ancestry
Authors: Song Hanbing , Chen Yih-An , Yue William , Weinstein Hannah N.W. , Allegakoen Paul , Yang Heiko , Kim Emory , Pham Julia , Hui Keliana , Cooperberg Matthew R. , Huang Franklin W.
Published: December 2023

Prostate cancer is the second most common malignancy in men worldwide. Men of African ancestry (AA) have a higher incidence rate and increased prostate cancer mortality, present with more advanced disease at earlier ages, than men of European ancestry (EA). Aside from socioeconomic factors driving this disparity, genomic factors also greatly contribute to the differences in the incidence and mortality rates. Despite recent advancements in comparisons of genomic alterations, a comprehensive transcriptomic and epigenomic landscape of tumors from AA prostate cancer patients has yet to be developed. Droplet-based single-cell technologies have evolved and now enabled the profiling of transcriptome, epigenome, and chromatin organization from complex tissues at single-cell resolution. To identify cell populations with distinctive molecular features and cell-type specific transcriptional programs and cell states from AA prostate cancer patients, we performed single-cell RNA sequencing for 11 EA and 6 AA prostate cancer patients. By investigating the differentially expressed genes in a cell-type-specific manner between AA and EA patients, we found that endothelial and myeloid cell populations showed significant enrichment of inflammatory pathways in AA patients. In the analysis, we also identified a group of heat shock protein family genes that were upregulated in AA patients in multiple cell types. Then, ligand-receptor interactions between tumor cells and immune microenvironments from AA and EA prostate cancer patients identified significant interactions involving frizzled receptors (FZD) that were enriched in AA patients. Overall, the transcriptomic differences may reveal oncogenic mechanisms in AA prostate cancer patients compared to EA patients.

Citation Format: Hanbing Song, Yih-An Chen, William Yue, Hannah N.W. Weinstein, Paul Allegakoen, Heiko Yang, Emory Kim, Julia Pham, Keliana Hui, Matthew R. Cooperberg, Franklin W. Huang. Single-cell RNA sequencing analysis in prostate cancer patients from African ancestry [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C048.
Abstract C050: Allele-specific expression analysis identifies novel dysregulated genes in high-risk prostate tumors from African-American men
Authors: Tsui Margaret , Hu Kevin , Song Hanbing , Huang Franklin W.
Published: December 2023

African-American (AA) patients are twice as likely to die from prostate cancer (PCa) compared to European American (EA) patients. Racism, socioeconomic status, access to healthcare, and tumor biology have been attributed to this mortality gap. Tumor biology has not been fully characterized in AA patients, particularly the landscape of gene-regulatory alterations and how they may contribute to tumor aggressiveness. We use allele specific expression (ASE) analysis, which detects genes showing imbalanced expression of alleles often due to altered gene regulation on one allele, to comprehensively identify dysregulated genes in high-risk PCa tumors from AA patients. We develop a framework for identifying candidate cancer genes by integrating ASE data, clinical data, and epigenetics. Our approach identifies genes that recurrently undergo ASE across AA patient tumors. Further, we describe genes that more frequently undergo ASE in AA patient tumors compared to EA patient tumors, some of which are implicated in hormone therapy resistance, aggressive disease, and worse disease-free survival. Our work demonstrates the potential for ASE to uncover dysregulated genes that may not have been identified through RNAseq alone. Ultimately, this work increases our understanding of the effects of regulatory alterations in tumors and how they may contribute to disparities in PCa.

Citation Format: Margaret Tsui, Kevin Hu, Hanbing Song, Franklin W. Huang. Allele-specific expression analysis identifies novel dysregulated genes in high-risk prostate tumors from African-American men [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C050.
Abstract C059: Optimization of DNA extraction methods from FFPE prostate tumor tissues of Black men to identify DNA methylation biomarkers
Authors: Stensrud Colton , Stevens Claire , Gonzalez-Smith Leonardo , Cao Huan , Buxbaum Sarah , Falzarano Sara , Rhie Suhn
Published: December 2023

Prostate cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths among men in the United States, and health disparities in those diagnosed with prostate cancer are observed between those of African and European ancestry. Our approach to understand the mechanisms underlying these differences is to compare DNA methylation profiles between samples using formalin-fixed parafin-embedded (FFPE) prostate tumor tissues. To profile DNA methylation from FFPE prostate tumor tissues, we tested magnetic bead and column based DNA extraction methods, and evaluated them on their total DNA yield. Additionally, we assessed the relationship between DNA yield and clinical features. Prostate specimens for this study were obtained from the University of Florida in the form of FFPE tissue slides. Both tumor and normal tissue regions were outlined on an H&E reference slide and the respective regions were macro-dissected from unstained slides of the same block. The areas of macro-dissected regions were measured using ImageJ, and the number of slides were taken to further normalize DNA yield. Magnetic bead and column based FFPE DNA extraction kits were used to isolate DNA, and the relative amounts of the isolated DNA per tissue size were evaluated. In addition, various clinical features of the samples were compared to determine if their presence influences DNA yield. Preliminary data suggests that total DNA extracted from both bead and column based methods are relatively comparable, but bead based methods yielded better quality of DNA. We observed minimal correlation between DNA yield and grade group. We detected a potential association between cribriform pattern and DNA yield. We are in the process of profiling DNA methylation using the isolated DNA. Successful completion of this study will identify DNA methylation biomarkers and further develop diagnostic and therapeutic tools for prostate cancer patients from African ancestry.

Citation Format: Colton Stensrud, Claire Stevens, Leonardo Gonzalez-Smith, Huan Cao, Sarah Buxbaum, Sara Falzarano, Suhn Rhie. Optimization of DNA extraction methods from FFPE prostate tumor tissues of Black men to identify DNA methylation biomarkers [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C059.
Abstract C074: Somatic mutations in the PIK3CA gene and its prognostic implications among Ethiopian breast cancer patients
Authors: Woldesonbet Zelalem Desalegn , Yohannes Meron , Addissie Adamu , Abebe Tamrat , Kantelhardt Eva Johanna , Vetter Martina
Published: December 2023

Purpose: The phosphatidylinositol-4, 5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PIK3CA), catalytic subunit alpha (c) is frequently mutated in breast cancer (BC). Although the biological impact of PIK3CA mutations in BC has been studied in various parts of the world, limited data is available from sub-Saharan Africa. In this study, the frequency and the prognostic role of PIK3CA mutations were investigated among BC patients from Ethiopia. Methods: Formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded blocks and fresh frozen BC tissue samples were collected from patients newly diagnosed with BC. Histopathological evaluation was carried out using immunohistochemistry (IHC). PIK3CA mutation profiling was carried out using TaqMan® Mutation detection assay. The association between PIK3CA mutation status and clinical and histopathological features was evaluated. A survival regression (Cox’s model) was employed to assess the effect of PIK3CA mutation and other variables on survival. Results: The prevalence of the PIK3CA mutations was 20.4%.  Mutation of the PIK3CA gene was mainly observed among younger (24%), early pT stage (19.4%), and G1/G2 tumors (22.3%). The proportion of mutation was 24.4%, 27.3% and 20% in ER+, PR+ and HER2- tumors, respectively. A marked difference was observed in the PIK3CA mutation frequency across the four major tumor subgroups. However, most of the mutated tumors were found among HR+/HER2− (24.1%) followed by HR+/HER2+ tumors (27.8%). In his study, only TNBC was negatively associated with the proportion of mutation in the PIK3CA gene (p-value= 0.02) in comparison to HR+/HER2- tumors. In multivariate Cox’s regression analysis, the advanced pT stage and HR−/HER2- IHC group independently predicted worse overall survival. However, PIK3CA mutation status was not associated with survival. Conclusions: The PIK3CA mutation was relatively high in HR+ tumors. Such relatively higher molecular aberrations among HR+ tumors can provide a benefit in choosing the best therapeutic option for breast cancer.

Citation Format: Zelalem Desalegn Woldesonbet, Meron Yohannes, Adamu Addissie, Tamrat Abebe, Eva Johanna Kantelhardt, Martina Vetter. Somatic mutations in the PIK3CA gene and its prognostic implications among Ethiopian breast cancer patients [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C074.
Abstract C077: Effects of treatment delays on colorectal cancer survival
Authors: Montero Percy Guzman
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. Understanding the influence of patient characteristics and treatment modalities on delays in care and related outcomes is crucial for optimizing treatment strategies and improving patient survival. Methods: A retrospective analysis of 2,359 CRC patients from the PLCO trial was conducted to assess the relationships between treatment initiation delays and survival outcomes. Descriptive statistics, Spearman's correlation coefficients, and Cox proportional hazards regression analyses were employed to analyze the data. Results: Among other factors, patients with disabilities and those using ibuprofen exhibited a higher hazard ratio and a lower hazard ratio, respectively, indicating the influence of these factors on patient outcomes. Despite examining multiple waiting time predictors, no significant associations were found between these predictors and mortality risk. The model's non-significant likelihood ratio chi-square and log-likelihood value suggested that it did not provide an adequate fit to the data. Discussion: This study highlights the importance of understanding the relationships between patient characteristics, treatment modalities, and their impact on patient outcomes in CRC patients. While curative resection was significantly associated with improved survival, neoadjuvant chemotherapy did not demonstrate a significant effect on mortality. The lack of association between waiting time predictors and mortality risk suggests the need to explore additional factors influencing patient outcomes. Conclusion: In conclusion, the study provides valuable insights into the relationships between patient characteristics, treatment modalities, and their impact on patient outcomes in CRC patients. Further research is needed to identify additional factors that may influence mortality risk and to optimize treatment strategies for this patient population.

Citation Format: Percy Guzman Montero. Effects of treatment delays on colorectal cancer survival [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C077.
Abstract C105: Addressing stomach cancer disparities in low-income New York City Chinese American immigrants: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Kwon Simona , Tan Yi-Ling , Vang Suzanne , Mui Angel , Pan Janet , Chong Stella , Wyatt Laura , Zhao Qiuqu , Williams Renee , Xiao Patrick , Malieckal Anju , Gamagaris Zoi , Trinh-Shevrin Chau
Published: December 2023

Background Stomach cancer is the most common infection-related cancer worldwide. In the United States, Chinese Americans, especially recent immigrants, experience a disproportionate burden of stomach cancer incidence and mortality. Infection with the bacterium Helicobacter pylori (H. Pylori) is the strongest risk factor for stomach cancer. However, adherence to the complex H. pylori treatment regimen is challenging for Chinese New Yorkers with limited English proficiency (LEP) and low health literacy. By linking bilingual/bicultural community health workers (CHWs) to Chinese-speaking patients in clinical settings – the first intervention of its kind that targets this at-risk population – we aim to help participants facilitate H. pylori eradication and stomach cancer prevention. Objective We seek to implement and assess the efficacy of a patient-centered, culturally-adapted and in-language intervention to reduce stomach cancer risk factors for at-risk Chinese American immigrants in NYC. Methods We conducted a multiyear, 2-arm RCT (n=135). Participants randomized to the intervention group were paired with a bilingual/bicultural CHW for 6 months and received a standardized protocol consisting of culturally and linguistically-adapted educational sessions, goal-setting and action planning. Data collection methods include: 1) Baseline, 2-month and 6-month surveys; 2) interviews with intervention group participants; and 3) encounter reports. Clinical outcomes were confirmed through chart review. Results Participants in the RCT were predominantly LEP, low-income Chinese immigrants with low health literacy and limited knowledge of H. pylori and stomach cancer risk factors. We will share the primary and secondary study outcomes of H. pylori eradication, medication adherence, self-efficacy, and health literacy. Our results will be supplemented with qualitative findings from the encounter reports detailing participant barriers and facilitators to medication adherence, goal-setting and behavior change.

Citation Format: Simona Kwon, Yi-Ling Tan, Suzanne Vang, Angel Mui, Janet Pan, Stella Chong, Laura Wyatt, Qiuqu Zhao, Renee Williams, Patrick Xiao, Anju Malieckal, Zoi Gamagaris, Chau Trinh-Shevrin. Addressing stomach cancer disparities in low-income New York City Chinese American immigrants: A randomized controlled trial [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C105.
Abstract C113: Geographic variation in low-dose computed tomography scanning for lung cancer screening in the United States
Authors: Gudina Abdi T. , Kehoe Lee A. , Hardy Sara , Kamen Charles S. , Cupertino Paula
Published: December 2023

Background: Early detection using low-dose computed tomography scanning reduces lung cancer specific mortality by 20%. Despite its efficacy and its recommendation by the United States Preventive Services Task Force, the uptake of lung cancer screening (LCS) among high-risk individuals (aged 55–80 years with a >30-pack-year smoking history and who currently smoke or have quit within the previous 15 years) remains low. The purpose of this study was to assess whether LCS uptake varies by geographic location.   Methods: Data for this study were obtained from the 2019 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System. After excluding ineligible subjects, 10,242 subjects were included in the final analysis. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to model the associations between the predictor and the outcome variable, adjusting for potential confounders.      Results: In metropolitan statistical areas, individuals who reside outside the center city are less likely to receive LCS than those who reside in the center city (OR: 0.65; 95% CI: 0.43 – 0.98). Stratifying the data by race/ethnicity, we found a non-significant difference between Whites who reside in the center city and those outside the center city in LCS uptake (OR: 0.69; 95% CI: 0.45 – 1.06). Among Blacks (OR:0.10; 95% CI: 0.02 – 0.59) and other minorities (OR:0.10; 95% CI: 0.02 – 0.63), individuals who reside outside the center city are less likely to receive LCS than their respective counterparts residing in the center city. Nevertheless, we found a non-significant difference in LCS uptake between urban and rural counties (OR: 1.06; 95% CI: 0.76-1.48).Conclusions: LCS uptake is related to metropolitan statistical area (residents in the center city vs. outside the center city), but it is modified by race/ethnicity. This finding has important implications for policy makers and program planners in helping them design more effective interventions to promote LCS targeting racial/ethnic minorities residing outside the center city.

Citation Format: Abdi T. Gudina, Lee A. Kehoe, Sara Hardy, Charles S. Kamen, Paula Cupertino. Geographic variation in low-dose computed tomography scanning for lung cancer screening in the United States [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C113.
Abstract C134: Efficacy of mobile mammography and state-funded cancer services in reducing disparities in follow-up adherence: A retrospective analysis
Authors: Dineen Patrick J. , Williams Mollie M.
Published: December 2023

Objective: Mobile mammography programs, such as the one at Stony Brook Cancer Center (SBCC), play an important role in providing breast cancer screening services to underserved communities. Follow-up to abnormal mammogram screenings is critical for early cancer detection, but patients often encounter barriers that prevent timely diagnostic procedures. We aim to evaluate the role of New York State’s Cancer Services Program (CSP) in facilitating follow-up care among underserved patients who participated in SBCC’s mobile mammography initiative. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of 817 mobile mammography patients who required additional testing following an abnormal mammogram over a five-year period. Of these, 68% were beneficiaries of the CSP, while 32% were insured. Results: Our findings revealed that among CSP beneficiaries, only 3.5% were lost to follow-up, compared to a significant 16.5% of insured patients who did not adhere to recommended follow-up care. This suggests that the CSP’s supportive role is critical in ensuring follow-up care among underserved communities. Conclusions: The CSP’s substantial impact on follow-up care adherence highlights the program's effectiveness in reducing healthcare disparities. However, more work is needed to enhance follow-up care adherence among insured patients. Solutions may include identifying and addressing barriers to care and implementing targeted interventions to improve patient outcomes. Implications for Policy or Practice: Mobile mammography programs, such as SBCC’s initiative, demonstrate a potential strategy for reducing health disparities in breast cancer screening and detection. Securing access to follow-up care is crucial for improving patient outcomes. Addressing barriers to care, strengthening patient education, and enhancing outreach efforts can increase participation in screening initiatives, thus advancing health equity and reducing disparities in breast cancer outcomes.

Citation Format: Patrick J. Dineen, Mollie M. Williams. Efficacy of mobile mammography and state-funded cancer services in reducing disparities in follow-up adherence: A retrospective analysis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr C134.
Abstract IA034: Incorporating intersectionality in quantitative cancer disparities research
Authors: Bandi Priti , Ashad-Bishop Kilan C.
Published: December 2023

Intersectionality is a framework that posits individuals have multiple interacting social identities, both at the individual and structural level, that mediate both privilege and oppression. In the past decade, researchers have increasingly adopted intersectionality as a conceptual framework to study whether and how social identities influence health disparities. While individual and socio-contextual cancer disparities have been widely demonstrated across the cancer continuum (from prevention to survivorship), it is unknown the extent to which intersectionality as a framework, including its core assumptions and components, have been applied to this field of study.  In this study, using PRISMA guidelines, we conducted a systematic review of quantitative cancer disparity studies that explicitly cited intersectionality as a guiding approach to their study. Results presented will narratively synthesize the identified literature to identify challenges, gaps, and recommendations for incorporating intersectionality theory into quantitative cancer disparity research.

Citation Format: Priti Bandi, Kilan C. Ashad-Bishop. Incorporating intersectionality in quantitative cancer disparities research [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr IA034.
Abstract IA040: Promoting engagement of evidence-based interventions for Latinos: Cultural adaptation of an online intervention for Latina breast cancer survivors and their partners
Authors: Tyson Dinorah (Dina) Martinez , Chavez Melody , Sanabria Gabriela , Barden Sejal , Velez Marangelie , Ruiz Erik , Doss Brian
Published: December 2023

Although public health emphasizes the use of evidence-based interventions (EBIs), often they are not developed with diverse populations in mind, limiting engagement and cultural relevance. This presentation discusses the cultural adaptation of EBIs for Latinos using the adaptation of the online OurRelationship couple's intervention for Latina breast cancer survivors and their partners as a case example. The study used systematic, iterative, and community-engaged approaches, including formative research and patient-centered verification techniques, with ongoing feedback from the community advisory board. Adaptations went beyond translation, aiming for conceptual equivalence. The adapted program – Juntos Despues Del Cancer (JDC) - incorporated cancer-related stressors, coping techniques, social, cultural, and gender norms influencing couples' communication within the context of cancer survivorship. JDC maintained the integrity of OurRelationship while acknowledging the lived experience of Latino couples affected by breast cancer. Lessons learned include navigating fidelity versus fit tensions, focusing on conceptual translations, and recognizing Latino heterogeneity. The online nature of JDC allows for accessibility and nationwide availability.  This cultural adaptation approach has broad applications, advancing public health practice and making EBIs more accessible to a diverse audience.

Citation Format: Dinorah (Dina) Martinez Tyson, Melody Chavez, Gabriela Sanabria, Sejal Barden, Marangelie Velez, Erik Ruiz, Brian Doss. Promoting engagement of evidence-based interventions for Latinos: Cultural adaptation of an online intervention for Latina breast cancer survivors and their partners [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr IA040.
Abstract IA044: NCI’s persistent poverty research agenda
Authors: Kennedy Amy E.
Published: December 2023

Poverty and its associated factors such as education, housing, employment, etc., have tremendous effects on the health of communities and their populations. An extreme form of poverty is the concept of place-based poverty, which is measured through persistent poverty areas where more than 20% of the population has lived in poverty for over 30 years. Persistent poverty areas represent an important subgroup of U.S. counties with higher disease burden and greater cancer mortality where the health consequences of elevated and continuous levels of poverty over time have not been fully investigated. The intersectionality of structural and institutional level factors along with persistent poverty results in increased cancer incidence, delayed cancer diagnosis and treatment, increased morbidity, treatment-related toxicity, and subsequently lower rates of survival. It is important to understand the interrelated effects of persistent poverty and other social, economic, and health factors, including race and ethnicity at the structural and institutional levels to implement interventions to reduce cancer disparities. The NCI seeks to eliminate cancer-related disparities in persistent poverty areas by promoting and conducting health equity research that identifies and addresses the mechanisms contributing to disparities across the cancer control continuum. There are various initiatives are underway focusing on this important research agenda.

Citation Format: Amy E. Kennedy. NCI’s persistent poverty research agenda [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr IA044.
Supplementary Figure S6 from Effective Antitumor Immunity Can Be Triggered by Targeting VISTA in Combination with a TLR3-Specific Adjuvant
Authors: Wang Bo , Ou Ziwei , Zhong Wenlong , Huang Lin , Liao Wenjian , Sheng Yiyu , Guo Zhixing , Chen Junyu , Yang Wenjuan , Chen Ke , Huang Xiaodong , Yang Tenghao , Lin Tianxin , Huang Jian
Published: December 2023

Combination (combo) of VISTA mAb 13F3 with sODN-dsRNA potentiated the proinflammatory effect of mouse derived macrophage in vitro