Elizabeth Blackman1,2,3, Kimlin Ashing4, Denise Gibbs1,3, Yin-Ming Kuo5, Andrew Andrews5, Meganathan Ramakodi1,3,6, Karthik Devarajan7, Jackie Bucci8,9, Gilda Jean-Louis10, Oni Richards-Waritay11, Barbara Wilson12, Carlene Bowen13, Eric Edi14, Vera Tolbert14, Raphiatou Noumbissi15, Daramola N Cabral3,16, JoAnn Oliver3,17, Robin Roberts3,18,19, Marshall Tulloch-Reid3,20, Camille Ragin1,2,3,8,21. 1. Cancer Prevention and Control Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center-Temple Health, Philadelphia, USA. 2. Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, College of Public Health, Temple University, Philadelphia, USA. 3. African-Caribbean Cancer Consortium, Philadelphia, PA, USA. 4. Center of Community Alliance for Research & Education, Division of Health Equity, City of Hope Medical Center, Duarte, CA, USA. 5. Cancer Epigenetics Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center-Temple Health, Philadelphia, PA, USA. 6. Department of Biology, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA, USA. 7. Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Facility, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA. 8. Nutrition Program, City University of New York at Hunter College, New York, NY, USA. 9. Temple University and Hunter College Cancer Health Disparity Research Institute Cancer Research Training Program, Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA, USA. 10. Elise Joseph Foundation, Philadelphia, PA, USA. 11. African Family Health Organization (AFAHO), Philadelphia, PA, USA. 12. Caribbean Festival & Cultural Organization of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA. 13. Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA, USA. 14. The Coalition of African Communities (AFRICOM), Philadelphia, PA, USA. 15. Sharing Health and Hope in Cameroon Africa (SHAHICA), Philadelphia, PA, USA. 16. Department of Science, Math, and Technology, SUNY Empire State College, Brooklyn, NY, USA. 17. Capstone College of Nursing, Tuscaloosa, AL, USA. 18. School of Clinical Medicine & Research, University of the West Indies, Nassau, Bahamas. 19. Princess Margaret Hospital, Nassau, Bahamas. 20. Caribbean Institute for Health Research, University of the West Indies, Kingston, Jamaica. 21. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Lewis Katz School of Medicine, Temple University School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA.
Abstract
Objective: Cancer mortality inequity among persons of African Ancestry is remarkable. Yet, Black inclusion in cancer biology research is sorely lacking and warrants urgent attention. Epidemiologic research linking African Ancestry and the African Diaspora to disease susceptibility and outcomes is critical for understanding the significant and troubling health disparities among Blacks. Therefore, in a cohort of diverse Blacks, this study examined differences in genetic ancestry informative markers (AIMs) in the DNA repair pathway and the cancer related biomarker 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL). Methods: Participants completed a questionnaire and provided bio-specimens. AIMs in or around DNA repair pathway genes were analyzed to assess differences in minor allele frequency (MAF) across the 3 ethnic subgroups. NNAL concentration in urine was measured among current smokers. Results: To date the cohort includes 852 participants, 88.3% being Black. Of the 752 Blacks, 51.3% were US-born, 27.8% were Caribbean-born, and 19.6% were Africa-born. Current and former smokers represented 14.9% and 10.0%, respectively. US-born Blacks were more likely to be smokers and poor metabolizers of NNAL. Two-way hierarchical clustering revealed MAF of AIMs differed across the 3 ethnic subgroups. Conclusion: Our findings are consistent with the emerging literature demonstrating Black heterogeneity underscoring African Ancestry genetic subgroup differences - specifically relevant to cancer. Further investigations, with data harmonization and sharing, are urgently needed to begin to map African Ancestry cancer biomarkers as well as race, and race by place\region comparative biomarkers to inform cancer prevention and treatment in the era of precision medicine.
Objective: Cancer mortality inequity among persons of African Ancestry is remarkable. Yet, Black inclusion in cancer biology research is sorely lacking and warrants urgent attention. Epidemiologic research linking African Ancestry and the African Diaspora to disease susceptibility and outcomes is critical for understanding the significant and troubling health disparities among Blacks. Therefore, in a cohort of diverse Blacks, this study examined differences in genetic ancestry informative markers (AIMs) in the DNA repair pathway and the cancer related biomarker 4-(Methylnitrosamino)-1-(3-pyridyl)-1-butanol (NNAL). Methods: Participants completed a questionnaire and provided bio-specimens. AIMs in or around DNA repair pathway genes were analyzed to assess differences in minor allele frequency (MAF) across the 3 ethnic subgroups. NNAL concentration in urine was measured among current smokers. Results: To date the cohort includes 852 participants, 88.3% being Black. Of the 752 Blacks, 51.3% were US-born, 27.8% were Caribbean-born, and 19.6% were Africa-born. Current and former smokers represented 14.9% and 10.0%, respectively. US-born Blacks were more likely to be smokers and poor metabolizers of NNAL. Two-way hierarchical clustering revealed MAF of AIMs differed across the 3 ethnic subgroups. Conclusion: Our findings are consistent with the emerging literature demonstrating Black heterogeneity underscoring African Ancestry genetic subgroup differences - specifically relevant to cancer. Further investigations, with data harmonization and sharing, are urgently needed to begin to map African Ancestry cancer biomarkers as well as race, and race by place\region comparative biomarkers to inform cancer prevention and treatment in the era of precision medicine.
Entities:
Keywords:
African; African-American; Afro-Caribbean; Disparities; cancer screening; diversity; genetics; health behaviors; health care; immigrant health; prevention; race/ethnicity
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