bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Abstract C003: Analysis of genetic control of differential DNA methylation between breast cancer patients of African and European ancestry
Authors: Founta Kyriaki , Chambwe Nyasha 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Black women with significant African ancestry experience a disproportionately higher incidence of the most aggressive and invasive breast cancer subtypes, along with worse clinical outcomes across all population groups in the United States. These health disparities arise from complex interactions between genetic, sociocultural, and environmental factors. Although there is a critical need to understand how these non-genetic factors contribute to disease risk or etiology, they are difficult to measure reliably, and their long-term impacts are not well understood. Epigenetic mechanisms that regulate gene expression, such as DNA methylation (DNAm), have been proposed to capture the molecular impact of adverse environments on tumor biology. While DNAm levels can change in response to environmental cues, they are also regulated by individual genotypes at methylation quantitative trait loci (meQTLs), presenting a challenge for modeling environmental effects on cancer molecular phenotypes. We hypothesize that ancestry differential DNAm in breast cancer can be partially explained by ancestry differential genotype frequencies of SNPs at meQTL loci. We leveraged multi-omic data from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) breast cancer (BRCA) cohort to perform integrative analysis for patients of European and African ancestry (n=578), including ancestry-based differential methylation analysis, meQTL analysis and association testing of genotypes and ancestry. We identified 804 CpGs differentially methylated between European and African ancestry BRCA patients. meQTL analysis at these sites identified 130 cis-meQTLs and 1,019 trans-meQTLs. ~84% of the identified cis- and ~80% of the identified trans-meQTLs show evidence of differential genotype frequencies by ancestry. Gene set enrichment analysis of the meQTL target genes implicated genes involved in regulation of cell differentiation and developmental processes, phosphatase activity and phosphorylation processes. Our findings show that ancestry specific DNAm differences display strong genetic associations via ancestry associated meQTLs (a-meQTLs) affecting fundamental biological functions in breast cancer. This result points to the potential for confounding due to genetic ancestry in studies that use DNA methylation as a molecular readout of environmental exposures.
Citation Format: Kyriaki Founta, Nyasha Chambwe. Analysis of genetic control of differential DNA methylation between breast cancer patients of African and European 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 C003.
Abstract C069: Targeting the Bai1-driven signaling pathway as a therapeutic approach for breast cancer treatment
Authors: Odubanjo Oluwatoyin V. , Tchounwou Paul B. , Ogle Brenda M. , Noubissi Felicite K. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Breast cancer is the most prevalent cancer among women globally, and it remains the second leading cause of cancer-related mortality in this group. Notably, breast cancer exhibits a survival disparity between black and white women, with black women experiencing higher mortality rates. While the reasons for this disparity are multifaceted, differences in molecular mechanisms and signaling pathways driving disease progression may contribute to the observed survival gap. In this study, we investigate the role of cancer cell fusion-driven tumor heterogeneity and metastasis as a potential explanation for the survival disparity in breast cancer. We hypothesize that the mechanism of breast cancer fusion involves Bai1 activation-driven induction of the Elmo1/Dock 180/Rac 1 signaling pathway. Elmo1 and Dock 180 are overexpressed in breast cancer cell lines and Elmo1/Dock 180 activation is associated with breast cancer metastasis. Targeting this pathway could prevent cancer cell fusion-driven metastasis and death. To test our hypothesis, we used non-metastatic and metastatic breast cancer cells isolated from black (HCC 1806, MDA-MB-157) and white (T47D, MDA-MB-231) women, as well as mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) (hMSC4099, hMSC39334) as fusion partners. We used Elmo1 and Dock 180 shRNAs and a Rac1 inhibitor to analyze the role of Elmo1/Dock 180/Rac 1 signaling in breast cancer cell fusion. Fusion products were scored using the Cre/loxP system. We observed that breast cancer cells isolated from black women are more prone to fuse with MSCs than cells isolated from white women (P&lt;0.05). knocking down Bai1 significantly reduced the frequency of fusion across all cell lines (P&lt;0.05) and more significantly in the non-metastatic breast cancer cell line isolated from black women (P&lt;0.001). A notable reduction in the frequency of fusion between breast cancer cells and MSCs was observed when Elmo1, Dock180, or Rac1 was inhibited (P&lt;0.05). These results suggest that the Bai1/Elmo1/Dock180/Rac1 signaling plays an important role in cancer cell fusion. Targeting this mechanism could lead to new drug development tactics for cancer treatment.
Citation Format: Oluwatoyin V. Odubanjo, Paul B. Tchounwou, Brenda M. Ogle, Felicite K. Noubissi. Targeting the Bai1-driven signaling pathway as a therapeutic approach for breast cancer treatment [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 C069.
Abstract C088: circWSB1 promotes tumor progression in ccRCC via circWSB1/miR-182-5p/WSB1 axis
Authors: Tang Guyu , Liu Jing , Gao Xiaomei , Tang Wei , Chen Jiaxian , Wu Menghai , Zhang Ye , Cai Yi , Qi Lin 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background: Clear cell renal cell carcinoma (ccRCC) is one of the most prevalent urological carcinomas with a low overall 5-year survival rate, and its prognosis remains dismal. circular RNA (circRNA) has been discovered to be important regulators in ccRCC. However, the specific regulatory mechanisms of circRNA and its impact on phenotypes require further in-depth research. Methods: circRNA microarray sequencing analysis was used in this study to explore the expression pattern of circRNA in ccRCC. circWSB1 was discovered, and we evaluated its derivation, potential diagnostic efficacy, and prognostic significance in ccRCC tissues using reverse transcription quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) and sanger sequencing. Fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis (FISH), RNA immunoprecipitation, and dual-luciferase reporter gene assays were used to investigate the subcellular localization and regulation mechanism of circWSB1. In vivo and in vitro loss-of-function and gain-of-function experiments were used to determine the biological functions of circWSB1. Results: Through RNA sequencing of five pairs of tumor and adjacent tissues, we discovered that circWSB1 is highly expressed in ccRCC. We identified that circWSB1 interacts with miR-182-5p and upregulates the expression of its host gene, WSB1. Through models in vivo and in vitro, we found circWSB1 increases WSB1 expression via the circWSB1/miR-182-5p/WSB1 axis, which promotes ccRCC cell proliferation and migration. The high expression of circWSB1 and WSB1 is correlated with poorer clinical prognosis and pathological grading. Conclusions: circWSB1 diminishes the inhibitory impact of miR-182-5p on WSB1, and increases WSB1 expression, thereafter promotes ccRCC development. Our findings provide a promising predictive biomarker and therapeutic target for ccRCC.
Citation Format: Guyu Tang, Jing Liu, Xiaomei Gao, Wei Tang, Jiaxian Chen, Menghai Wu, Ye Zhang, Yi Cai, Lin Qi. circWSB1 promotes tumor progression in ccRCC via circWSB1/miR-182-5p/WSB1 axis [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 C088.
Abstract IA005: Persistent poverty and cancer disparities
Authors: Srinivasan Shobha 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
This session will highlight the challenges that persistent poverty poses for achieving health equity. In working with the US Department of Agriculture’s Economic Research Service, the NCI defines persistent poverty areas, wherein 20% or more of the population at the census tract level is below the federal poverty line based on the 1990, and 2000 decennial censuses and 2007-11 and 2015-2019 American Community Survey 5-year estimates. Most of our research and interventions are not focused in these areas and thus do not consider these contextual factors associated with persistent poverty in addressing cancer disparities. The three speakers will highlight the challenges and opportunities to promote research and training with communities in focusing their research on persistent poverty areas. The speakers and titles of the talks are: NCI’s persistent poverty research agenda Amy Kennedy, National Cancer Institute, Gaithersburg, Maryland HCV screening in border areas of persistent poverty Bertha E. Flores, UT Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas Relationship between measures of social determinants of health at the census tract level and cancer incidence and survival: An analysis of persistent poverty, socioeconomic index, and measures of rurality Kathy Cronin, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, Maryland
Citation Format: Shobha Srinivasan. Persistent poverty and cancer disparities [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 IA005.
Abstract IA009: Curios case of cancer among American Indians and Alaska Natives
Authors: Henderson Jeffrey A. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Cancer incidence data published in 2008, and cancer mortality data published in 2014, both paint a picture of profound geographic variation in these rates among American Indians/Alaska Natives. Non-Hispanic whites (NHWs) living across six large geographic regions upon which both datasets were analyzed rarely exhibited geographic variation greater than 25%, with an upper limit approaching 30%. This is in distinct contrast to the AIAN population living in the same regions, who routinely exhibited geographic variation in cancer incidence rates ranging over 100% and from some cancer types in excess of 500%. These data will be shown, and subsequent consequences future priorities discussed. By the conclusion of this presentation, attendees will Gain more valuable insight about the federal Indian Health Service Be delighted to see that they can understand raw cancer data including multiple lessons regarding the profound geographic variation in AIAN cancer incidence rates Identify how they may get involved with those of us who are focused on these AIAN cancer disparities.
Citation Format: Jeffrey A. Henderson. Curios case of cancer among American Indians and Alaska Natives [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 IA009.
Abstract IA019: Implementation science as an opportunity to address cancer equity
Authors: Adsul Prajakta 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
The past decade of research has continued to identify and understand health disparities for cancer prevention and control. Although emerging, progress in addressing these disparities continues to fall short achieving equity. Specifically, for cancer prevention and control, Khan and colleagues in 2021 showed a 15-year lag in implementation of evidence-based interventions (i.e., HPV vaccinations, cancer screenings, etc.). This gap highlights the lack of attention towards the implementation of scientific evidence, the complexity and fragmentation of health systems, and lays bare the structural causes of inequities that continue to persist from a population perspective. Integrating implementation science in cancer prevention and control research can provide a pathway to reduce the time to translation while addressing and advancing cancer equity. Implementation science is defined as the study of methods to promote the adoption and integration of evidence-based practices, interventions, and policies into routine health care and public health settings to improve the impact on population health. Implementation science has pushed the cancer prevention and control field to pay close attention to how we dissemination scientific information towards the adoption of interventions (i.e., dissemination research) and how we systematically study strategies (i.e., the building blocks) that aid in the implementation, scale-up, and sustainability of interventions (i.e., implementation science). With implementation research, there has been a push towards hybrid designs that considers intervention effectiveness and its implementation within the same study. Given the dearth of literature around the implementation of interventions, the science of implementation continues to build on a foundational theoretical base that further provide important opportunities for the promoting equitable outcomes for cancer prevention and control research. In this educational session, we will discuss why and how applying a health equity lens to implementation science is crucial to achieve equity in cancer prevention and control. Using ongoing and completed research studies as examples, this session will help attendees learn about core elements of implementation science including theories, models, and frameworks; implementation strategies; and focal areas of adaptations and de-implementation.
Citation Format: Prajakta Adsul. Implementation science as an opportunity to address cancer equity [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 IA019.
Abstract IA030: Ensuring diversity in clinical trials
Authors: Adams-Campbell Lucile 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
It is well known that minorities, particularly Blacks, are underrepresented in cancer prevention, early detection, and treatment trials. However the mortality rates for Blacks are significantly higher than other race/ethnic groups. Research suggests that community involvement is integral to solving public health problems, including involvement in clinical trials-a gold standard. Significant racial/ethnic disparities exist in the accrual of participants for clinical trials. Location and cultural aspects of clinical trials influence recruitment and accrual to clinical trials. Being able to identify and resolve social determinants of health is essential for clinical trial participation. It is increasingly necessary to be aware of defining characteristics, such as location and culture of the populations from which research participants are enrolled. Utilizing embedded community academic sites to adapt clinical trial research in order to increase minority participation in nontherapeutic cancer clinical trials is warranted. Considerable attention has focused on the need to increase underserved racial and ethnic populations in clinical research, especially in light of the cancer health disparities that disproportionately plague these groups. Clinical trial design and implementation are time-consuming and require a multistep process that is complicated by other factors, including eligibility criteria for clinical trials for underserved racial and ethnic populations, recruitment processes, and patients’ misconceptions or lack of information about clinical trials. Georgetown-Lombardi National Capital Area Minority/Underserved NCORP (NCI Community Oncology Research Program) coupled with the Ralph Lauren Center for Cancer Prevention will reveal strategies and approaches instrumental to our success. These efforts resulted in the development of a strong community capacity–building and clinical research cancer recruitment strategy, and improved engagement of the community in clinical research, thus ensuring diversity in clinical trials.
Citation Format: Lucile Adams-Campbell. Ensuring diversity in clinical trials [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 IA030.
Abstract IA043: The HOUSES Platform for precision cancer care and research: A cloud-based nationwide measure for next generation patient-level social determinants of health
Authors: Juhn Young 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
While the Joint Commission requires health care organizations (HCOs) to have plans for addressing health disparities effective in July, 2023, many HCOs were frustrated by their inability to consistently and accurately capture and apply social determinants of health (SDH) data to clinical care and research in the health ecosystem. Dr. Young Juhn, Director of the Mayo Clinic Precision Population Science Lab (PPSL) and his team, developed and applied a standardized individual-level SDH measure derived from publically available individual housing features known as HOUSES Index. This validated individual-level SDH measure is now available across all 50 states through the HOUSES Cloud Platform that is patient-contact free, automated, and HIPAA compliant. The Houses Index can be made available in real time through electronic health records (EHR’s) enabling clinicians and their patients to make a shared decision for treatment options with SDH taken under consideration. In addition, HOUSES Index is a valuable research tool for risk stratification for cancer outcomes, improving (and auditing) artificial intelligence (AI) model performance, assessing longitudinal change of SDH and geospatial patterns of outcomes, and monitoring proper representation of underserved populations in cancer research. In this presentation, Dr. Young Juhn will discuss the current challenges for capturing SDH data in health care, the HOUSES Index and Platform as the solutions and its implications on cancer care and research.
Citation Format: Young Juhn. The HOUSES Platform for precision cancer care and research: A cloud-based nationwide measure for next generation patient-level social determinants of health [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 IA043.
Abstract PR005: Preferences of older cancer survivors for integration of remote activity monitoring using wearable devices
Authors: Morelli Whitney A. , Clohesey Kelly , Liu Jessica 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Purpose: To describe the preferences for integration of wearable devices into their healthcare to remotely monitor physical activity among older adult cancer survivors. Methods: 89 cancer survivors, aged 65 and older, completed our preferences for wearable devices in healthcare questionnaire. Participants were asked to self-report demographic information, current physical activity participation, and preferences for inclusion of wearable devices as part of their care plan through a current provider (i.e. physician, physical therapist, etc.). Data are summarized and reported as mean ± standard deviation or percent. Results: Participants were on average 71±5 years old, 59% female, and mostly White, non-Hispanic (93%). 76.2% of participants reporting engaging in 0 days of vigorous intensity physical activity, with 31% reporting no moderate intensity physical activity. 59% of older cancer survivors report they already own a wearable device, with the most common device being a wrist-worn device (93%). For those that do not currently own a device, 94% report they would be interested in owning a wearable device. 94% of older cancer survivors state they would be interested in using a wearable device as part of their usual care plan for their provider to remotely monitor their health. 88% report having no privacy concerns with sharing their wearable data with their healthcare provider. Participants report they would be willing to purchase their own monitor if it meant future out of pocket healthcare costs (81%) or reduced time investment to travel to the clinic (63%). Conclusions: Results indicate older cancer survivors are interested in their care team remotely monitoring their activity levels. Further, the majority of older cancer survivors report they are willing to purchase their own device. Future research is warranted to determine an implementation plan to integrate these devices into current clinic workflows and determine optimal interaction among patients and providers.
Citation Format: Whitney A. Morelli, Kelly Clohesey, Jessica Liu. Preferences of older cancer survivors for integration of remote activity monitoring using wearable devices [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 PR005.