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Meet Our Researchers Research Grant and Fellowship Awardees

2024 Awardees

Lisa Cannon-Albright, Ph.D.

Project Title

A High-Risk Pedigree Approach to Identification of Predisposition Variants

Named Award

Vic Fazio Memorial Fund

Position

Professor and Division Chief in the Division of Genetic Epidemiology

Institution

Huntsman Cancer Institute at the University of Utah., Salt Lake City, Utah

My "Why"

As a graduate student, I met Dr. Mark Skolnick who proposed studying high-risk pedigrees to understand the inherited contribution to cancer (in the late 1970s, when everyone thought all cancer was viral or environmental). I am a statistician and decided then to focus my tools on inherited cancer predisposition.

My Mission

So much of cancer research is focused on diagnosis and treatment. I believe that we should focus on cancer prevention. Identifying and understanding the contribution of inherited predisposition to cancer will help us accomplish that.

Research Overview

This study will identify possible melanoma predisposition genes and variants that may be responsible for higher rates of melanoma in some families by analyzing their pedigrees (familial lines of traits). Pedigree analysis traces the inheritance of an abnormal trait or disease. Analyzing the inheritance patterns seen in large families has been shown to be a powerful way to identify the predisposition genes that are responsible for this type of skin cancer.

We have used this approach in Utah to identify major cancer gene mutations—BRCA1 and BRCA2, as well as CDKN2A [the most common predisposition gene for cutaneous melanoma (CM)]. We aim to use this same approach for a large available resource of already sequenced, CM-related cases from high-risk Utah pedigrees.

This project will:

  • Apply a unique approach that includes identifying the rare genetic variants that are shared among these familial cases to identify a set of strong possible CM predisposition genes and variants.
  • Validate our gene set by testing for association with CM risk in independent sets of CM cases and controls.
  • Investigate the top 10 candidates in the set of additional previously sampled CM-affected relatives of the affected cousin carriers to confirm segregation of the variants with CM in pedigrees.

Identification of additional genes and variants responsible for CM will improve identification of those people most at risk, expand our understanding of the causes of CM and allow the application of powerful screening and prevention strategies for this deadly cancer. 

Why Funding Matters

Funding [from the Prevent Cancer Foundation] allows my team and I to efficiently analyze a powerful resource that already exists. We will be able to apply our method to analyze a set of sequenced melanoma cases to identify genetic changes that increase the risk of cancer in an effort to ultimately predict and prevent melanoma.

My Hope

This project will identify a strong set of very likely melanoma predisposition genes and variants responsible for increased melanoma in certain families. We will be able to further validate some genes and variants while others will be made public for independent efforts to further explore and understand. Identification of the variants that predispose to melanoma will allow much more powerful and effective screening and prevention of this deadly disease.


Brian Capell, M.D., Ph.D.

Project Title

Dietary Fatty Acid Modulation for the Prevention of Squamous Cell Carcinoma

Named Award

Awesome Games Done Quick

Position

Assistant Professor of Dermatology and Genetics

Institution

The University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.

My "Why"

Cancer is primarily a disease of aging. Virtually all individuals, if they live long enough, will be impacted by cancer. Squamous cell carcinomas (SCCs) are the most common of all cancers, and collectively, they create a profound public health and economic burden for society. Any advances we can make that can enhance cancer prevention and early detection will have a major societal impact.

My Mission

We know that prevention, early detection and treatment of cancers such as SCCs can have major implications for clinical outcomes. Despite this, the incidence of these cancers continues to rise worldwide. By focusing on cancer prevention and early detection, we can work to eliminate the significant morbidity and mortality associated with these cancers when they are in their most treatable state.

Research Overview

The ability of our cells to undergo programmed cellular death is fundamental to cancer prevention. Our lab has provided the first evidence that a recently discovered tumor suppressive form of programmed cell death known as “ferroptosis” may be critical for tumor suppression in SCCs.

Given the ability to increase ferroptosis through a diet rich in polyunsaturated fatty acids (as well as through targeted drugs), this project aims to test whether dietary modifications can substantially contribute to the prevention and treatment of these common and potentially deadly cancers.

Our research may lead to new knowledge regarding how lifestyle modification, such as dietary fatty acid modulation, can prevent common cancers like SCCs. If successful, these results may not only offer the possibility and opportunity to prevent future cancers, but also highlight potential treatments to test for patients currently afflicted by these cancers (e.g., ferroptosis-promoting drugs).

Why Funding Matters

[Funding from the Prevent Cancer Foundation] will supply critical resources to fill a major research gap and test a novel approach and hypothesis toward the prevention of SCCs. These preclinical studies will provide critical preliminary data for future grant proposals, and, most importantly, may offer proof of principle for prevention approaches that can be more formally tested in human patients in the near future.

My Hope

My hope is that our studies will be able to clearly demonstrate the ability to prevent or reduce SCC initiation and progression by modulating the types of fatty acids in the diet to increase ferroptosis.

This exciting result would offer proof of principle for a highly accessible and safe method of cancer prevention that could then be formally tested in humans. Ultimately, I hope we can make a significant impact upon the incidence and outcomes of these common cancers.


Perla Chebli, Ph.D.

Project Title

Promoting Vaccine Acceptance in Immigrant Youths and Adults

Named Award

Awesome Games Done Quick

Position

Assistant Professor

Institution

New York University Grossman School of Medicine, New York, N.Y.

My "Why"

My first exposure to cancer happened within my family when I was very young. Later, my first job as clinical dietitian at the largest safety net hospital in Lebanon exposed me to the unnecessary human suffering from avoidable cancers. These experiences ignited a desire to advance cancer prevention and early detection, especially among Arab and Arab American populations.

My Mission

The cancer burden is not equal across all populations. Immigrant and minority populations are disproportionately affected. I am interested in cancer prevention and early detection interventions for these populations to ensure they have access to evidence-based strategies to reduce their cancer risk. I conduct my research in concert with community partners to ensure the priorities, preferences and assets of the communities are represented and are guiding the development and implementation of the intervention.

Research Overview

Human papillomavirus (HPV) is the most common sexually transmitted infection in the U.S. It can lead to at least six types of cancers, including cervical and oral cancers.

 

HPV vaccination is an effective cancer prevention measure and is part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Healthy People 2030 initiative, a set of data-driven goals to improve health and well-being over the next decade. The 2030 goals include an HPV vaccination series target completion rate of 80% for adolescents ages 13-15. Yet, HPV vaccination is well below this objective—especially for immigrant and minority populations, which puts them at higher risk for HPV-related cancers.

The Pro-VAIYA (Promoting Vaccine Acceptance in Immigrant Youths and Adults) project is a collaboration with community partners from Arab and Mexican American communities. These two communities will produce and test a culturally and linguistically appropriate HPV vaccination campaign to increase vaccination rates. If successful, this campaign can be combined with provider-level interventions to maximize HPV vaccination in these communities and prevent HPV-related cancers.

This project aims to:

  • Co-create a culturally and linguistically relevant HPV vaccination communications campaign with community partners
  • Disseminate the campaign in community settings, schools and through social media
  • Increase knowledge and reduce negative attitudes on HPV vaccination
  • Train community members as HPV vaccine ambassadors
  • Evaluate the reach, acceptability and preliminary impact of the multi-component campaign

Why Funding Matters

The Prevent Cancer Foundation funding will allow me to conduct community-engaged research with Arab and Mexican American community partners and compensate them fairly for their expertise and indigenous knowledge. Through our partnership, we will co-develop, disseminate and evaluate linguistically and culturally tailored HPV vaccine communications campaigns.

My Hope

Preliminary data on the acceptability, reach and impact of the multi-component HPV vaccination campaign will serve as the foundation for future community-partnered research to scale up and replicate this approach with other immigrant communities.

My long-term goal is to implement and test a multi-level evidence-informed intervention combining the community and clinical settings to improve HPV vaccine uptake in immigrant communities across New York and prevent more HPV-related cancers.


Jennifer Hay, Ph.D.

Project Title

Addressing Low Awareness of the Cancer Harms of Alcohol in the Population

Named Award

Congressional Families Program

Position

Attending Psychologist

Institution

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, N.Y.

My "Why"

I was interested in cancer research from a young age. I lost my father to advanced melanoma when I was quite young, so cancer was a common topic of family discussion. In college, I studied immunology and became fascinated by the role of human behavior in the development of diseases including cancer and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). It was the importance of behavior to illness prevention that propelled me into my current work, which focuses on understanding risk perceptions that motivate cancer prevention behavior.

My Mission

As a psychologist and behavioral scientist, I am interested in cancer prevention because thoughts, emotions and behaviors play an important role in whether people follow through with their physician’s recommendations for preventing and screening for cancer. There is great promise in using behavioral science principles to improve cancer prevention efforts by encouraging patients to adopt actions to stay healthy over the long haul, and I value being a part of that effort.

Research Overview

There is well-established evidence that people who drink alcohol face some elevated cancer risk. Alcohol is responsible for 6% of cancer cases in the U.S. and is only outpaced by tobacco use and excess body weight as cancer risk factors. Alcohol is considered a Group 1 carcinogen, which is the highest level of risk. But 70% of the U.S. population is unaware that drinking causes cancer. Current standard public health messages regarding the cancer harms of alcohol use have not significantly increased population awareness.

This study will identify how best to increase drinkers’ awareness of the increased cancer risk from alcohol use. This project will identify population groups that require targeted messages, determine the content needed for effective messages and eventually develop the novel messages. Overcoming barriers to alcohol and cancer risk awareness will allow drinkers to make more fully informed choices about their alcohol consumption and will be vital for cancer prevention efforts.

This project has potential for high population impact, given the  low levels of population awareness of the cancer risk from alcohol use combined with the current high rates of alcohol use in the U.S.

Why Funding Matters

Funding [from the Prevent Cancer Foundation] matters because there are widespread gaps in awareness of the cancer risk from alcohol use in the U.S., even among health-conscious individuals. Currently, 70% of the U.S. population is unaware that drink alcohol leads to an elevated risk in developing cancer. Yet, there has been little research to identify and confront these communication challenges.

Funding is critical for the development of diverse strategies to best inform the public about the harms of alcohol use.

My Hope

My hope is that we will soon have the appropriate health knowledge and tools necessary for all members of the U.S. population to make fully informed choices about alcohol use for themselves and their families.

The project will allow us to lay the groundwork for a larger study to confirm which messages are most informative and effective before disseminating the best and most effective messages across the U.S.


Minh Tung Phung, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Project Title

Risk-Reducing Salpingectomy for Ovarian Cancer Precision Prevention

Named Award

Richard C. Devereaux Outstanding Young Investigator Award

Position

Research Investigator

Institution

The Regents of the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.

My "Why"

When I worked in the pharmaceutical industry in Vietnam, I saw cancer patients suffering from treatment toxicity and others who could not afford treatment. This experience motivated me to become a cancer epidemiologist to conduct research to help prevent cancer and enhance health equity in cancer care.

My Mission

Preventing cancer is more effective than treating it. Given the severity of ovarian cancer, prevention is critically important. The focus of my project is optimizing ovarian cancer prevention, which ultimately will reduce the number of ovarian cancer cases.

Research Overview

Preventing ovarian cancer is very important given that it is a deadly disease. In the general population (not those who carry high-risk genetic mutations), about 1.3 women out of 100 (1.3%) will develop ovarian cancer in their lifetime. However, there is a range of lifetime risk; some people have a lifetime risk as low as 0.1%, while others have a risk as high as 5% or more. Because most ovarian cancers start in the Fallopian tubes, tube removal is recommended if a woman is done having children and is having pelvic surgery for another reason (removal of the uterus, tubes tied, etc.). However, most people at risk of ovarian cancer do not have pelvic surgery and therefore do not have their tubes removed.

This project aims (1) determine an actionable risk threshold for risk-reducing surgery to prevent ovarian cancer, and (2) identify people with a high lifetime risk of ovarian cancer who should undergo risk-reducing surgery.   

Why Funding Matters

This funding from the [Prevent Cancer Foundation] will support my research exploring the perspectives of ovarian cancer survivors and those at risk to determine the level of risk that warrants undergoing surgery to prevent this disease.

This research will facilitate my future studies on exploring the perspectives of health care providers, health economists and insurers on this topic.

My Hope

I hypothesize that ovarian cancer survivors and people at risk of ovarian cancer will generate a consensus about what risk level warrants surgical intervention to prevent the disease. The findings from this study will contribute to the realization of a surgical approach to preventing ovarian cancer.


José Alejandro Rauh-Hain, M.D.

Project Title

IGNITE-TX (Identifying Individuals for Genetic Testing & Treatment)

Named Award

In honor of Bernard Levin, M.D., FACP, professor emeritus of the University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center

Position

Associate Professor

Institution

MD Anderson, Houston, Texas

My "Why"

My interest in cancer research stems from a combination of clinical experience and a passion for addressing health care disparities. As a gynecologic oncologist and researcher, I have a unique perspective on the quality of care for women with cancer. I am driven to examine and reduce disparities in gynecologic cancer care through real-world research studies. I aspire to lead a research program focused on reducing disparities in cancer care delivery, particularly in genetic testing and risk-reducing interventions for underserved populations, ultimately improving patient outcomes.

My Mission

I am passionate about cancer prevention and early detection because it aligns with my mission to make a meaningful impact on health care disparities. Throughout my career, I have witnessed the devastating consequences of late-stage cancer diagnoses, especially among medically underserved populations. Cancer prevention and early detection can be lifesaving and can significantly improve patient outcomes. I aim to develop strategies and interventions that address the unique challenges faced by medically underserved communities, ultimately reducing cancer mortality rates and improving the quality of life for those at increased risk.

Research Overview

The IGNITE-TX (Identifying Individuals for Genetic Testing & Treatment) project is focused on hereditary cancer syndromes, such as Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer (HBOC) Syndrome and Lynch Syndrome (LS). These inherited syndromes significantly elevate a person’s lifetime cancer risk, necessitating early and frequent cancer screening and sometimes risk-reducing surgeries like mastectomies. Cascade genetic testing is a powerful tool to identify those more likely to have inherited cancer syndromes and guide preventive measures.

The primary objective of this study is to engage and support a diverse population to increase the identification of people with known HBOC or LS and their at-risk relatives, while eliminating obstacles for them to access cascade genetic testing through the IGNITE-TX intervention.

IGNITE-TX aims to assist families dealing with HBOC and LS by effectively identifying and communicating with at-risk relatives, providing education about hereditary cancer syndromes and genetic testing as a pathway to cancer prevention, and offering patient navigation and creating personalized plans. Additionally, the project aims to implement systematic tracking of cascade genetic testing progress and to assess the effectiveness of IGNITE-TX through a randomized controlled trial comparing four interventions: usual care, free genetic counseling and testing, IGNITE-TX and IGNITE-TX combined with free genetic counseling and testing.

Why Funding Matters

Funding from the Prevent Cancer Foundation is integral to the success of IGNITE-TX, our initiative focused on hereditary cancer syndromes such as Hereditary Breast and Ovarian Cancer Syndrome and Lynch Syndrome.

Funding is pivotal in turning our vision into a reality, benefiting countless people trying to stay ahead of hereditary cancers. We anticipate the most profound outcome will be saving lives by identifying high-risk individuals and guiding them toward timely interventions, thus reducing cancer-related morbidity and mortality.

My Hope

Through IGNITE-TX, my hope is to achieve a series of significant outcomes, including a notable increase in cascade genetic testing adoption among at-risk relatives, empowering them to make informed decisions about cancer prevention.

By focusing on medically underserved populations, we hope to diminish disparities in cancer care delivery, bridging the gap in access to genetic testing and preventive measures. The success of IGNITE-TX can serve as a scalable model for similar initiatives nationwide, amplifying the impact of improving access to genetic testing and preventive interventions.


Mya Roberson, Ph.D., M.S.P.H.

Project Title

We Got Us: Promoting Cancer Family History Sharing Among Black Americans

Named Award

Awesome Games Done Quick

Position

Assistant Professor

Institution

University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, N.C.

My "Why"

My interest in cancer research stemmed from my time as an undergraduate public health major. During a course in my sophomore year, I encountered a chart that displayed the change in breast cancer death rates over time across racial groups in the U.S. I noticed, that despite advances made in breast cancer treatment and detection, Black women still had markedly higher mortality rates. I want to close gaps in cancer inequities, so that disparities in breast cancer death rates can one day become history.

My Mission

Black people across the U.S. are much more likely to be diagnosed in later stages across multiple cancer types, a known contributor to inequities in outcomes. My mission is to improve cancer outcomes for Black people in the U.S. and reducing the burden of late detection is a critical part of that mission.

Research Overview

The project objective is to develop and pilot culturally relevant educational content to increase cancer family history sharing among Black families in partnership with Touch4LifeTM a patient-led non-profit organization whose mission is to increase the breast health IQ of Black, Indigenous, and people of color as well as underserved communities to eliminate disparities in breast cancer outcomes by advocating for biomarker and genetic testing parity.

The specific aims are to:

  • Disseminate a survey among Black adults to assess perceived benefits and barriers of family history sharing.
  • Conduct focus groups among Black adults to inform educational modules on family history sharing.
  • Test a tool to increase family history sharing among Black adults.

A family history of cancer can impact the cancer screening recommendations for several different cancers. Despite its importance, many people, especially in the Black community, are either unaware or possess limited information of their family history of cancer.

By empowering Black families to gather and share cancer health history information, more people can receive a cancer screening they need, promoting earlier detection of cancer.

Why Funding Matters

Funding from the Prevent Cancer Foundation enables an academic community partnership meant to increase sharing of family health history among Black families. This funding will allow us to further the conversation regarding cancer’s disproportionate effect on Black Americans and meaningfully incorporate lived experience, voices and expertise in this work. Cross-sector partnerships are the solution to health inequities, and funding is an essential catalyst for those partnerships.

My Hope

My hope is for this study to yield tangible and culturally appropriate tools for Black families to engage in crucial conversations surrounding family history of cancer. Proper knowledge and documentation of this history is critical for identifying those at increased risk for multiple cancers. By empowering Black families to gather and share this information, we can hopefully increase the type and frequency of cancer screening that is most appropriate for their risk level.


Steve Skates, Ph.D. Co-PI: Amy Bregar, M.D.

Project Title

Early Detection of Ovarian Cancer via Biomarker Discovery in Uterine Lavage

Named Award

Awesome Games Done Quick

Position

Associate Professor of Medicine; Assistant Professor of Obstetrics, Gynecology & Reproductive, Biology

Institution

Massachusetts General Hospital, Boston, Mass.

My "Why"

Skates: Early in my career I worked on one of the first trials in early detection of ovarian cancer. Most ovarian cancers are diagnosed in late stages with poor prognosis. Early detection holds the promise of diagnosing most ovarian cancers in early stages and reducing ovarian cancer mortality.
Bregar: I was drawn to cancer research through my desire to take care of people. As a gynecologic oncologist, I want to make a difference by better understanding, detecting and treating cancers in earlier stages.

My Mission

Skates: My career is focused on finding the best approaches for detecting ovarian cancer and other cancers early. Finding new tests for early detection in apparently healthy people has been far less researched than developing novel therapies, but early detection provides an opportunity to have a major impact on reducing cancer mortality.
Bregar: Outcomes for women with early-stage ovarian cancer are dramatically different compared to women with late-stage disease. The more cases of ovarian cancer that we detect in early stages, the more women’s lives we will save.

Research Overview

In women undergoing surgery for possible ovarian cancer due to a mass in the abdomen, we will wash the womb (uterus) to collect any material shed from ovarian cancer through the fallopian tubes to the womb.

We aim to develop a test to detect any sign of cancer in the material from the wash while minimizing false “detection.” If the new test in uterine lavage is successful, our next study will determine whether the same test in cervical swabs also distinguishes patients with ovarian cancer from all other patients. If this study is positive, we will undertake a screening trial of the test using cervical swabs in apparently healthy women to see if it increases detection of early-stage ovarian cancer. This could lead to an annual screening program testing cervical swabs to detect ovarian cancer earlier.

Why Funding Matters

Skates: Funding from Prevent Cancer Foundation will enable our team to investigate whether a sample close to the disease site, such as a cervical swab, will provide a method for identifying ovarian cancer earlier than it could be detected through a blood test.
Bregar: The generous funding from the Prevent Cancer Foundation will support our ongoing work in early detection. Our goal is to be able to perform a routine screening test, similar to a Pap test, that could detect ovarian cancer early.

My Hope

[Our] hope is that we will be able to develop a test, which could be used alone or in combination with other early detection tests, to diagnose ovarian cancer before it spreads.


Matthew Stachler, M.D., Ph.D.

Project Title

Immune Determinants of Barrett's Esophagus Progression

Named Award

The Shure Family Charitable Foundation in memory of Max Shure

Position

Assistant Professor

Institution

University of California, San Francisco, Calif.

My "Why"

I have always had an interest in science and my interest in cancer research grew in tandem, as it seemed like more and more people, I knew, were being affected by it. Over time, it became apparent that I wanted to focus my career on cancer research.

My Mission

As pathologists, our focus is on making diagnoses. Throughout my training, the pre-cancerous samples were the most challenging ones. On top of the clinical relevance, I became fascinated by the process of cells “transforming” into cancer. It seemed to me that if we could do a better job of recognizing and diagnosing early lesions at high risk of becoming cancer, we would be in a better position to treat the patient early and potentially prevent them from getting cancer entirely.

Research Overview

Esophageal adenocarcinoma is a deadly cancer that is increasing in frequency. It arises out of a pre-cancerous condition called Barrett’s esophagus that can form in the lower esophagus due to chronic heart burn or gastroesophageal reflux disease. While Barrett’s esophagus is very common, only a small percentage of patients will progress to cancer. This makes it difficult to develop screening and surveillance strategies to determine the correct patients to treat early.

The goal of this project is to understand how inflammation and other normal cells near the pre-cancerous Barrett’s esophagus cells, either promote or fight against the progression to invasive cancer. With this knowledge, we want to develop effective ways to predict whether those with Barrett’s esophagus are at high or low risk of developing cancer.

We will develop a detailed understanding of what cells are present, how the different cell populations change over time and if there are differences between patients whose cells progress to cancer versus those who have Barrett’s esophagus but whose cells never progress to cancer.

Why Funding Matters

Funding from the Prevent Cancer Foundation will be extremely valuable to move our research forward. This project is a relatively new, yet essential, direction for my laboratory.

Having support from the Foundation will allow the project to truly take off and grow. Data and results generated from these studies will allow new ideas to be developed and will contribute to improvement in research studying how inflammation and the non-neoplastic cells influence pre-cancerous cells to turn into invasive cancer.

My Hope

[My hope] is to gain a better understanding of how inflammatory cells influence pre-cancerous progression (both positively and negatively). I believe that this study will be of significant value toward the prevention and early detection of esophageal cancer.


Sherrie Flynt Wallington, Ph.D.

Project Title

Breast Density and Me: A Pilot Educational Intervention

Named Award

Marcia and Frank Carlucci Charitable Foundation

Position

Associate Professor

Institution

The George Washington University, Washington, D.C.

My "Why"

Personal experiences have influenced my career goals, especially since learning of loved ones who were diagnosed with breast and prostate cancers. I firmly believe that cancer is not primarily an individual struggle, but rather a collective battle for entire families. Everyone’s time and effort becomes focused on addressing treatments and solutions to restore the health of those diagnosed. I chose to dedicate my primary research to educating individuals and families about cancer prevention and risk reduction, particularly in medically underserved communities, to help other families avoid this struggle.

My Mission

As a disparity and health equity researcher, I know early detection remains an urgent public health priority. When cancer prevention efforts are delayed or are inaccessible, there is a lower chance of survival, as well as potential treatment issues and higher costs of care. Every opportunity we take to inform and educate the public will help combat cancer, particularly among communities facing barriers to cancer care.

Research Overview

Breasts are made up of dense tissue (milk glands) and not dense tissue (fat deposits). Those with denser breasts have a higher risk of breast cancer, and visibility of masses (including cancer) can be difficult to see on mammograms. In addition, there are significant racial disparities with breast cancer: Black women are 41% more likely to die of breast cancer than white women.

Physicians often fail to explain the significance of breast density, and low-income women with less education are less likely to receive information on breast density. Breast density notification laws do not exist in every state, and messaging varies, as does the knowledge and understanding of the breast density information. But Black and Asian women who learn they have dense breasts are twice as likely to get a mammogram in the future.

We aim to understand how people perceive dense breast policy, breast cancer screening guidelines, and cancer risks. We will highlight the benefits of informing women of minority populations about their breast density and will hopefully increase the frequency of follow-up mammograms to detect more breast cancers early.

Why Funding Matters

With the support of the Prevent Cancer Foundation, our study will inform women, particularly women of color, in medically underserved wards in the District of Columbia, about their breast density, and will promote follow-up visits and mammograms to save lives by early intervention.

Women in medically underserved communities tend to prioritize necessities for their families over their own health and face many barriers to health care. Our project is critical to increasing breast health literacy, including education about breast density and breast cancer risks, and providing screening.

My Hope

My hope is that all women will become more knowledgeable about overall breast health and breast density, including potential risks for breast cancer. Specific anticipated outcomes are increased breast density knowledge, motivation for screening, early detection, and breast density literacy.


2023 Awardees

FRANCISCO CARTUJANO, M.D.

Francisco Cartujano, M.D.

Project Title

Advancing Lung Cancer Screening Among Latinos One Text at a Time

Named Award

Richard C. Devereaux Outstanding Young Investigator Award

Position

Assistant Professor

Institution

Wilmot Cancer Institute, University of Rochester Medical Center, Rochester, N.Y.

My "Why"

Cancer is the leading cause of death among Latinos—the largest minority group in the U.S.—accounting for 20% of deaths. Latinos experience cancer disparities such as limited access to cancer prevention and control resources, with specific barriers including language, literacy and a lack of cultural sensitivity.

My Mission

As a Latino immigrant and a medical doctor, I have an unwavering commitment to addressing cancer disparities among Latinos. I believe all people should have a fair and just opportunity to live a longer, healthier life free from cancer—regardless of how much money they make, the color of their skin, their sexual orientation, gender identity, disability status or where they live.

Research Overview

Lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related death among Latinos. Although lung cancer screening has been shown to reduce deaths, uptake remains low. The Latino community faces specific barriers to accessing lung cancer screening, including language, cost concerns, mistrust of the health care system and a lack of knowledge regarding when to have lung cancer screenings. This creates an urgent need to develop programs that address these issues.  In response, we aim to develop and pilot test ¡A todo pulmón! (At the top of one’s lungs!), a text messaging program to increase the uptake of lung cancer screening among Latinos.

This project will be divided in two phases:

  • Development. We will interview Latino adults ages 50 to 80 who have a 20 pack-year smoking history and currently smoke or have quit within the past 15 years. The interviews will allow us to understand specific needs for accessing lung cancer screening   to help develop and refine text messages that address the specific needs of Latinos. 
  • Pilot testing. We will conduct a study with 40 Latino adults.  All participants will receive the ¡A todo pulmón! text messages three months after enrollment. Participants will complete a follow-up assessment so we can assess how many participants completed lung cancer screening. We will also evaluate recruitment and follow-up rates, and satisfaction with the program.

This work is guided by community advisory boards that represent the Latino population and ensure that their perspectives are incorporated on all aspects of the study.

Why Funding Matters

Funding from the Prevent Cancer Foundation will help us develop and pilot test a culturally appropriate text messaging intervention to improve lung cancer screening among Latinos.

My Hope

This project will assess the feasibility, acceptability and preliminary impact of text messaging intervention to improve lung cancer screening rates among Latinos.


BRANDON GHELLER, PH.D.

Brandon Gheller, PH.D. (Fellow)

Project Title

Dietary Intervention for Clonal Hematopoiesis, Myelodysplasia and Leukemia

Named Award

Awesome Games Done Quick

Position

Research Fellow

Institution

Boston Children's Hospital, Boston, Mass.

My "Why"

My training in human nutrition has always made a point of focusing on prevention in addition to supporting treatment. The recent identification of clonal hematopoiesis as a condition that can assign cancer development risk in otherwise healthy people provided me a promising avenue to apply my nutritional science background to cancer prevention.

My Mission

The past successes of nutritional interventions in preventing disease such as the fortification of flour products with folic acid to prevent neural tube defects is remarkable and inspiring. As our understanding of how specific cancers initiate, it evolves the opportunity to develop prophylactic nutritional interventions and becomes excitingly more plausible.

Research Overview

Aging is a major risk factor for the development of blood cancer, such as leukemia, due to an increase in the dominance of ineffective blood stem cells. Blood stem cells are necessary for hematopoiesis. (The process of creating all the cells that constitute the blood system.)

Over 6% of all individuals 60 years of age and older who are otherwise free of blood disorders have clonal hematopoiesis. Clonal hematopoiesis is the dominance of ineffective blood stem cells that results in an increased propensity for blood cancer development and poor outcomes once cancer develops. This can be detected from a minimally invasive blood draw; therefore, it presents a truly pre-cancerous state that is easily detectable and in adequate time for intervention. Because the timeline from clonal hematopoiesis detection to disease is unknown, traditional therapies that have side effects, especially when taken for long periods— such as drugs—are not feasible.

I propose the use of dietary interventions as a sustainable and effective cancer preventative strategy to prophylactically treat people with clonal hematopoiesis. Using the zebrafish model—which shares many of the biological features that define the human blood system and allows for high throughput screening of treatments in a whole-body context—I will test dietary interventions to evaluate their influence on slowing clonal hematopoiesis.

I will also combine genome editing techniques to model clonal hematopoiesis along with cutting edge genetic and color cellular barcoding approaches to track the dynamics of individual blood stem cells in response to dietary interventions in real time.

Why Funding Matters

Funding gives me the financial freedom to focus on my cancer prevention research full time in a mentored setting. During this valuable time, I will develop into an independent cancer prevention scientist prepared to train the next generation.

My Hope

The goal of my work is to develop nutrition-based preventive treatments to be used after an individual is found to have a genetic predictor of cancer. The appeal of nutrition-based interventions is that they typically have less side-effects than traditional drugs and can be safely taken for long durations.


MAAYAN LEVY, PH.D.

Maayan Levy, PH.D.

Project Title

Designing Metabolite-Based Prevention in Lynch Syndrome

Named Award

Stohlman Family Grant in memory of Richard Stohlman and Margaret Weigand

Position

Researcher

Institution

Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pa.

My "Why"

Developing novel strategies for the prevention of colorectal cancer (CRC) is a pressing challenge. Screening by colonoscopy remains the most important and cost-effective strategy in reducing the incidence and mortality of CRC, as treatments have significant side effects. This is particularly the case in Lynch syndrome, an inherited disorder characterized by mutations in DNA repair genes. Patients with Lynch syndrome are predisposed to the development of cancer, including an increased risk for CRC.

My Mission

Even though there is a genetic predisposition to CRC, the age of onset and rate of progression is highly variable among patients, indicating that there is a strong environmental contribution to the development of CRC. This suggests that there is an urgent need to understand the critical role for modifiable environmental factors, including diet, in disease manifestation.

Research Overview

CRC is one of the most diagnosed and deadliest forms of cancer worldwide. Only a minority of CRC cases are related to a known genetic predisposition, and it is known to have a strong environmental component contributing to its molecular etiology, highlighting a critical role for adjustable behavioral practices that could be modified to support CRC prevention.

CRC incidence is associated with specific dietary patterns, but little is known about diets that promote the prevention or treatment CRC. Therefore, optimizing nutrition for the prevention and therapy of CRC is an urgent goal. This is particularly apparent in Lynch syndrome, where genetic predisposition and lifestyle jointly determine the rate of cancer initiation and progression in the intestine. While the genetic component awaits the development of effective gene therapy approaches, lifestyle interventions that prevent or delay the onset of tumor development are highly attractive for their low cost, non-invasiveness, low toxicity and their ability to combine with existing treatment strategies.

We have recently discovered a new dietary approach for the prevention and treatment of CRC (Dmitrieva-Posocco et al., Nature, 2022). We propose to apply this new knowledge to achieve a better basic understanding of the factors regulating the molecular etiology of CRC in Lynch Syndrome patients. This study may pave the way for a new metabolite-based adjunctive therapy for CRC.

Why Funding Matters

The Prevent Cancer Foundation funding will allow me to conduct research on developing novel strategies for the prevention of colorectal cancer. This study will serve as the stepping-stone for larger follow-up trial in individuals with Lynch syndrome and beyond. If effective, this study will establish a new a low-cost and widely accessible prevention for colorectal cancer.

My Hope

My hope is that by exploring the concept of using a single metabolite for the prevention of CRC, we will find a new intervention to prevent or delay the growth of colorectal tumors in individuals with a strong cancer predisposition, such as Lynch syndrome patients, and significantly improve their lives.


VERONICA ROTEMBERG, M.D., PH.D.

Veronica Rotemberg, M.D., PH.D.

Project Title

Quantifying the Impact of Skin Tone on Diagnostic Prediction

Named Award

Vic Fazio Memorial Fund

Position

Director of the Tow Foundation Informatics Program in the Dermatology Service

Institution

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, N.Y.

My "Why"

I spent my first year as a physician at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center. During this time, I witnessed firsthand how impactful cancer research is on the lives of patients and their families impacted from cancer. This led to my pursual of a career in cancer research, right back where I started, but this time as a physician scientist in dermatology research.

My Mission

As a dermatologist, our clinical mission is to detect cancer as early as possible, without causing undue harm. Research in early detection, including how to improve early detection of skin cancer and reduce potential harms of screening or biases in screening tools, will directly impact our dermatology patients and our profession.

Research Overview

Over the course of this project, we will research how to objectively measure skin tone in a reproducible way, how to label skin tone at scale and how skin tone affects artificial intelligence performance for skin cancer detection. We hope that this will help us better understand when and how to use automated tools for skin cancer detection, and what types of information will make those tools work better in a generalizable way.

Why Funding Matters

As a junior faculty physician scientist, funding from the Prevent Cancer Foundation will be critical toward building collaborations for long-term scientific endeavors and laying the groundwork for a fulfilling and impactful research career.

My Hope

I hope that we will be better able to understand potential bias in artificial intelligence algorithms for skin cancer detection after this project is completed.


CANER SAYGIN, M.D.

Caner Saygin, M.D. (Fellow)

Project Title

Dissecting the Evolution of Clonal Hematopoiesis to Prevent Acute Leukemias

Named Award

Awesome Games Done Quick

Position

Fellow

Institution

University of Chicago, Chicago, Ill.

My "Why"

As a physician scientist, I conduct research to understand how leukemias develop from pre-leukemic precursor conditions to develop better preventive interventions. My interest in cancer research stems from my experience in medical school, closely working with blood cancer patients and my mother’s breast cancer diagnosis. I moved to the U.S. to receive training in a cancer research lab and developed myself as a physician scientist. I feel fulfilled when I develop new therapies in the lab and work hard to translate them into clinical studies in the hopes of improving the care of our future patients.

My Mission

Acute leukemia is an aggressive cancer with significant morbidity and mortality rates. Most patients are transfusion dependent, requiring visits to hospital at least once a week. While our current therapies can cure a fraction of these patients, most patients have high-risk leukemias that can be fatal. In the past 10 years, we have learned a great deal about the pre-leukemic precursor conditions in the blood system which can be detected years before leukemia arises. The goal of my laboratory is to understand the mechanisms driving the progression of precursor lesions into leukemia and develop new approaches to halt this progression.

Research Overview

Acute myeloid leukemia (AML) and acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are aggressive blood cancers that are among the top ten causes of cancer deaths in the U.S. Clonal hematopoiesis (CH) is a well-known precursor lesion to AML and is defined by the presence of genetic abnormalities (i.e., mutations) in the blood cells of an individual, years before they get a clinical diagnosis of blood cancer. Individuals with CH are at 11-times higher risk to develop AML.

Our research has shown that a third of adult patients with ALL also harbor CH-type mutations in their leukemias. We were also able to demonstrate that mutations can exist in blood cells of ALL patients many years before they are diagnosed with leukemia. Since CH can predict the risk of leukemia for both AML and ALL patients, we may have a window of opportunity to implement risk-reduction strategies in high-risk individuals to halt the progression of CH to fatal acute leukemias.

The aim of this project is to have a detailed genetic characterization of CH evolution to help understand the critical pathways driving leukemias, which can then be targeted to prevent leukemia before it happens.

We will explore:

  • Mechanisms by which CH causes ALL by using a sophisticated single cell sequencing technology.
  • Patterns of evolution of CH in solid tumor patients who are receiving chemotherapy or immunotherapy for their cancer, which can help us predict the risk for therapy-related leukemias.
  • Expansion of our CH clinic`s efforts to enroll more high-risk patients in prevention clinical trials.

These studies will help us discover the pathways driving leukemias in adults. This will allow us to use risk reduction strategies to prevent leukemia in high-risk patients.   

Why Funding Matters

Mechanisms responsible for development of leukemias from precursor lesions, characterized by blood count abnormalities, are currently unknown. Funding from the Prevent Cancer Foundation will allow us to discover the unknown as we perform a large-scale genomic analysis of samples to identify drivers of leukemia progression.

My Hope

Our goal is to identify new biomarkers and mechanisms responsible for leukemic transformation so that we can develop better models of risk assessment and discover new therapies that focus on prevention through precision medicine. We hope to bring new insights into leukemia prevention and inform physicians taking care of patients who are at high risk for leukemias.


ESTER VILLALONGA OLIVES, PH.D.

Srividya Swaminathan, PH.D.

Project Title

Targeting the Long Isoform of the Prolactin Receptor to Prevent B-Lymphomas

Named Award

Congressional Families Program: Tribute to The Honorable Vic Fazio

Position

Assistant Professor, Systems Biology

Institution

Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, Calif.

My "Why"

Each year, many children and adults are diagnosed with deadly forms of blood cancer of a type of immune cell known as the B cell. These cancers are particularly difficult and expensive to treat. There is an unmet clinical need in prevention and early diagnosis of B-cell malignancies, especially in people vulnerable to developing these dreadful cancers.

My Mission

B-cell blood cancers (lymphoma and leukemia) are currently being treated with harsh chemotherapies and/or expensive immunotherapies. Despite being effective, such therapies diminish the quality of life of the patient. Prevention of B-cell malignancies using affordable strategies is key. Patients with B-cell autoimmune diseases and less aggressive forms of lymphoma are at high risk of developing aggressive, hard-to-treat, diffuse large B-cell lymphomas. We will develop an affordable and safe approach that prevents the development of this devastating type of cancer.

Research Overview

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) is an aggressive form of blood cancer of a type of immune cell known as the B cell. Unfortunately, around 40% of people with DLBCL do not survive five years and beyond after their initial diagnosis. Safe preventative interventions for DLBCL remain an urgent clinical need. Development of such interventions requires an understanding of how DLBCLs are initiated and established at a molecular level.

During the initiation phase of DLBCL, normal B cells become pre-malignant B cells. These pre-malignant B cells then establish full-blown DLBCL. At this stage, the clinical symptoms of DLBCL become apparent. Our recent studies find that the sex hormone prolactin (PRL), which is elevated during acute and chronic stress in both males and females, initiates and establishes DLBCL. We find that PRL increases the risk of B cells transforming into deadly DLBCL in vulnerable people with autoimmune diseases and in those with milder forms of lymphoma. PRL achieves this by binding to a specific form of its receptor on B cells called the ‘long form prolactin receptor (LFPRLR)’.

Our proposed study will solidify the mechanisms by which PRL, through the LFPRLR, turns B cells malignant and ultimately establishes full-blown DLBCL.

Our findings will inform:

  • Development of strategies to measure the elevation in the lymphoma-promoting LFPRLR in people at increased risk of DLBCL.
  • Clinical application of safe agents that block the production of the LFPRLR, such as those used in this project, to prevent DLBCL in vulnerable populations with B cell-mediated autoimmune diseases and slow-growing B-cell lymphomas.

Why Funding Matters

Because most resources are currently concentrated in treating blood cancers rather than preventing them, funds from the Prevent Cancer Foundation will allow us to advance research in blood cancer prevention. Specifically, this support will enable us to conduct essential preclinical studies that strengthen the safety and effectiveness of our proposed approach in preventing diffuse large B-cell lymphomas.

My Hope

We anticipate that progress made in our study will lead to clinical trials that measure the effectiveness of our candidate agent in preventing diffuse large B-cell lymphomas in people who are at increased risk of developing this cancer.
In the long term, I hope that our affordable prophylactic approach can be used to simultaneously treat the existing B-cell disease in vulnerable people and shield them from developing diffuse large B cell lymphomas.


ESTER VILLALONGA OLIVES, PH.D.

Ester Villalonga Olives, PH.D.

Project Title

Adaptation of Project HEAL for Hispanic/Latino Immigrants

Named Award

Awesome Games Done Quick

Position

Assistant Professor

Institution

University of Maryland, Baltimore, Md.

My "Why"

Hispanics/Latinos are disproportionately burdened by cancer. Cancer is among the top two leading causes of death in the U.S. Latino population, accounting for about 2 out of 5 deaths. This population has lower cancer screening rates than any other race or ethnicity. This disparity is exacerbated with a lower overall health care utilization among Hispanics/Latinos. There is an urgent need to address this modifiable factor of low screening rates among this population and reduce cancer-related mortality.

My Mission

My immediate goal is to identify strategies that will help this target population increase cancer knowledge and screenings. My long-term goal is to make an impact in this community by reducing early mortality rates from cancer. I have conducted several qualitative studies and observed that a large part of this community is disconnected from the U.S. health care system; therefore, they do not use many of the resources available to them.

Research Overview

Hispanics/Latinos are disproportionately burdened by cancer and experience structural racism (macro-level conditions that restrict opportunities and resources) as a barrier to cancer prevention and screening.

We want to adapt the successful Project HEAL (Health through Early Awareness and Learning) program for the immigrant Hispanic/Latino community. Project HEAL is an evidence-based intervention in African American faith-based organizations that we developed with support from the National Cancer Institute and the American Cancer Society. The program trained African American leaders as lay Community Health Advisors (CHAs) to conduct group educational workshops in churches to increase knowledge and screening for breast, prostate and colorectal cancers. It was effective in increasing cancer knowledge overall, as well as colonoscopy, fecal occult blood test and digital rectal exams over 24 months in Black communities.

This project will measure the effectiveness of Project HEAL to increase cancer knowledge and screenings with Hispanic/Latino immigrants. There is a critical need to adapt and determine the effects of Project HEAL on cancer knowledge and screening outcomes among this population.

Why Funding Matters

With the Prevent Cancer Foundation’s funding, we will culturally adapt and implement Project HEAL with Hispanic/Latino immigrants with the goal to address low screening rates among this population and reduce cancer-related mortality. This project will pilot test the effectiveness among this population and will be followed by a larger trial with a larger number of participants.

My Hope

My hope is that we will observe an increase in cancer knowledge and use of cancer screenings during the pilot test. I hope our evaluation indicates that the intervention is feasible and has efficacy, utility and impact. I hope results from this project will allow for the proposal of a larger trial to achieve a higher impact in a larger population of immigrant Hispanics/Latinos.


MICHELLE WILLIAMS, PH.D., M.S.P.H, M.P.H., MCHES

Michelle Williams, PH.D., M.S.P.H, M.P.H., MCHES

Project Title

A Multicomponent Lung Cancer Screening Awareness mHealth Intervention

Named Award

The Shure Family Charitable Foundation

Position

Assistant Professor

Institution

George Mason University, Fairfax, Va.

My "Why"

I have a great passion for addressing preventable cancers. My family history of colorectal cancer is one of the driving forces behind my interest in cancer research.

My Mission

There are primary and secondary means for preventing several types of cancer. Getting cancer screenings, eating a healthy diet, and not smoking are some of the key preventive behaviors. I want EVERYONE to be aware of the importance of incorporating cancer prevention behaviors into their lifestyles, especially historically underserved populations who experience excessively high cancer incidence and mortality rates.

Research Overview

Lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer death in the U.S. Some populations have extremely high lung cancer death rates. For example, African American men in Mississippi have the highest lung cancer death rate in the nation. A screening test can be used to identify lung cancer at an early stage when treatment is most likely to be successful. When lung cancer is detected in its earliest stages, people have a much higher chance of surviving than when it is detected in later stages. However, the number of people who get yearly lung cancer screenings is very low. For example, only 6.5% of eligible people in the U.S. were screened for lung cancer in 2020.

There is an immediate need to increase routine lung cancer screening among high-risk populations. Currently, there is a lack of effective lung cancer screening awareness programs. Our project aims to increase knowledge about risk factors for lung cancer and promote lung cancer screening among high-risk populations in communities with high lung cancer death rates.

Our program will:

  • Include information about lung cancer, lung cancer screening and tools to help people quit smoking. 
  • Train community health workers (CHWs) to deliver the lung cancer screening awareness program and to help people make appointments for lung cancer screening.

The program participants will also receive personalized text messages to remind them about the importance of getting yearly lung cancer screenings, quitting smoking and staying away from cigarettes and tobacco. We will use a combination of research methods, such as surveys and interviews, to determine the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of the program.

The results of this project will be used to help us develop a more rigorous assessment of the effectiveness of the CHW training program and the lung cancer screening awareness program. 

Why Funding Matters

Funding from the Prevent Cancer Foundation will enable me to identify the most effective ways of educating high-risk populations about lung cancer risk factors and lung cancer screening.
The funding will be a catalyst for future lung cancer education interventions that I aim to disseminate in communities with elevated lung cancer mortality rates.

My Hope

I hope that lung cancer screening rates will increase among high-risk individuals. The funding from the Prevent Cancer Foundation will enable me to design, implement and evaluate a lung cancer screening awareness intervention that can be scaled up and disseminated widely.
I hope that this intervention will disseminate though evidence-based intervention databases that provides access to effective public health interventions.


2022 Awardees

Sarah Bernhardt, Ph.D.

Sarah Bernhardt, Ph.D. (Fellow)

Project Title

Vitamin D as a Preventative Agent for Young Women's Breast Cancer

Named Award

Stohlman Family Grant in memory of Richard Stohlman and Margaret Weigand

Position

Postdoctoral Fellow

Institution

Oregon Health and Science University, Portland, OR

My "Why"

While a breast cancer diagnosis can be devastating for women of any age, the prognosis is far worse for pregnant women and young mothers. Current strategies still rely on invasive procedures (e.g., surgery) and treatments that have undesirable side effects. Young women face unique challenges that arise from treatment, which can impact their fertility and young family life. I am particularly interested in cancer prevention, as I believe it has the greatest potential for reducing these cancer-associated morbidities and improving the lives of young women.

My Mission

My research aims to develop a vitamin D-based ‘post-natal pill’ that can be taken in the three-month window of breast involution that follows weaning to prevent breast cancer in young mothers. The establishment of vitamin D as a breast cancer prevention agent could significantly reduce the incidence of young women’s breast cancer and improve the lives of young women worldwide.

Research Overview

Breast cancer diagnosed within 10 years of pregnancy is defined as postpartum breast cancer and is an aggressive disease with poor survival rates. Significantly, 50% of all breast cancers in young women are diagnosed during this postpartum period, making it a major health problem for young women worldwide. Our research shows that mammary gland involution—the process through which the breast returns to its original, resting state after pregnancy and lactation—contributes to these worse outcomes.

We found that mammary gland involution can be targeted with therapies for breast cancer prevention. Anti-inflammatory drugs given to mice during involution slows breast cancer growth by promoting an anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer immune response.

This research project aims to capitalize on this discovery to develop a new approach for preventing young women’s breast cancers.

Our study will:

  • Investigate the potential of vitamin D, an agent with well-known anti-inflammatory, anti-cancer actions, for breast cancer prevention.
  • Research how vitamin D deficiency affects the immune system during mammary gland involution, and how this altered immune response contributes to breast cancer development.
  • Explore whether treatment with vitamin D during involution can promote an immune response that prevents breast cancer growth during the postpartum period. A major advantage to targeting the window of involution is the potential to increase prevention efficiency, while decreasing the negative side effects associated with long-term treatments.

Why Funding Matters

Funding from the Prevent Cancer Foundation will allow me to conduct my research on the effectiveness of vitamin D for the prevention of a particularly aggressive type of young women’s breast cancer, in a laboratory that is recognized internationally in the field of breast cancer prevention.

My Hope

My long-term research goals are to establish myself as an independent researcher, with a focus on translating pre-clinical findings into clinical practice. My research investigates the effectiveness of vitamin D, or “the sunshine vitamin,” for the prevention of young women’s breast cancer. The findings from this research will form the groundwork for future clinical trials to assess vitamin D in the prevention of young women’s breast cancer.


Francesca Gany, M.D.

Francesca Gany, M.D.

Project Title

FITx3

Named Award

Awesome Games Done Quick

Position

Chief, Immigrant Health and Cancer Disparities Service

Institution

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

My "Why"

My interest in cancer disparities stems from witnessing enormous inequities in access to cancer and cardiovascular disease risk reduction strategies and cancer screening, treatment, palliative care and survivorship services, as well as from documenting the role of social determinants on cancer outcomes. I knew that I had to bring these disparities to the forefront and to develop, study and translate successful community, clinical and policy interventions to overcome them.

My Mission

My research is devoted to eliminating health disparities by creating bridges between immigrants and other underrepresented and underserved community members and the health care system. This involves improving health care access with culturally and linguistically responsive approaches that are developed in concert with the community. The FITx3 approach may help prevent the unnecessary pain and potential loss that are caused when someone receives a late-stage diagnosis of colorectal cancer (CRC) with poor odds of survival.

Research Overview

CRC is a leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S. Black Americans are 20% more likely to get CRC and 40% more likely to die of it than other racial and ethnic groups, and African immigrants may be particularly vulnerable. CRC screening can lead to early detection and improve disease survival.

The FITx3 research project aims to increase access to CRC screening in Black communities with low screening rates. Fecal immunochemical testing (FIT) is a highly effective and potentially more acceptable screening method than colonoscopy. Individuals can mail a FIT sample from home, with follow-up colonoscopy if indicated by test results.

This project will:

  • Adapt empowering methods that have been successfully used to increase voter turnout in Black communities (called “Votex3”) to promote CRC screening in Black communities by leveraging social networks.
  • Educate community members about CRC screening and recruit and train three people in their social network (friends/family) for FIT. These three new people will then receive similar training to recruit an additional three people for FIT.
  • Develop and tailor training materials to the culture and languages of U.S.-born-immigrant Blacks living in Harlem, New York, where FITx3 will be piloted.

If this research is successful, we can use the findings to develop a larger-scale research program for the early detection of CRC in Black communities throughout New York City and then across the U.S.

Why Funding Matters

Funding [from the Prevent Cancer Foundation] will allow me to develop a novel intervention aimed at increasing CRC screening in at-risk Black communities in New York City by empowering community members to promote FIT testing with their friends, families, neighbors and co-workers. It is vital that the use of FIT tests is expanded, according to guidelines, and that communities are empowered to learn about and access FIT testing to reduce the disparity in CRC outcomes between Black and white residents in New York City and throughout the United States.

My Hope

[My hope with] this research is that this approach to increasing CRC screening in the Black community in Harlem is effective. To determine this, we will look at how many people, beyond the original recruits, complete FIT screening, compared to a control group. If successful, the FITx3 approach may reduce deaths from CRC in medically underserved Black communities.


Headshot of Michael Karin, Ph.D.

Michael Karin, Ph.D.

Project Title

To Investigate the Roles of PIDDosome in NASH and HCC Development

Named Award

Congressional Families Cancer Prevention Program

Position

Distinguished Professor of Pharmacology

Institution

The Regents of the University of California, San Diego, Calif.

My "Why"

I am personally motivated to continue my research on the links between environmental stress, hormones, inflammation, obesity and cancer, including new targets for cancer prevention and therapy.

My Mission

I am highly interested in cancer prevention because I believe it is the best approach to reduce mortality from gastrointestinal, liver and pancreatic cancers.

Research Overview

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and metabolic syndrome (MS)-associated Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) threaten more than one third of the U.S. population, and MS-HCC ranks globally as the fourth-leading cause of cancer-related death. Due to the absence of symptoms, patients with NAFLD are typically diagnosed at the advanced stage, in which partial liver removal or liver transplantation lead to low cure rates due to the frequent recurrence ratio after surgical intervention.

Early detection and therapeutic approaches to prevent non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) and HCC development are considered the best option, along with the discovery of druggable molecules applicable to patients with HCC.
This research will explore the role of PIDDosome, a large molecular platform in which Casp2 is activated, in NASH and HCC development, and will address PIDDosome’s effect on S1P activation and liver fat accumulation.

Why Funding Matters

Funding from Prevent Cancer Foundation will be a great support of elucidating a new role of Casp2PIDDosome, a multiprotein complex in obesity related NAFLD and NASH progression. People with NASH are at increased risk of developing liver cancer.

My Hope

[My hope] is that my research in Casp2PIDDosome will provide a new insight into the molecular mechanism underlying liver steatosis, the earliest abnormality found in NAFLD patients. In addition, I anticipate that blocking Casp2PIDDosome activation will prevent liver steatosis, thereby providing therapeutic advantages to the patients with obesity and NAFLD who are at great risk of developing NASH and HCC in future years.


Suzanne Miller, Ph.D.

Suzanne Miller, Ph.D.

Project Title

Feasibility of Text Messaging to Reduce Urban Cervical Cancer Disparities

Named Award

Marcia and Frank Carlucci Charitable Foundation

Position

Professor

Institution

The Research Institute of Fox Chase Cancer Center

My "Why"

I have always been interested in how people deal with unexpected threats to their health and quality of life. As a clinical health psychologist, my attention was drawn to the dramatic achievements being made by my oncology colleagues in their treatment of cancer. However, it seemed to me that how people cope with these emerging technologies and make challenging decisions about preventing and controlling their personal risk for the disease was just as important as the increasing explosion of medical advances.

My Mission

My mission has been to bridge the gap between the availability of the often-confusing array of choices available to people and their ability to make informed decisions in the face of stressful and complex information. I have focused my career on improving how messages about cancer risk, diagnosis and survivorship are provided to people to enhance their understanding, improve decision making and facilitate healthy behaviors and quality of life.

Research Overview

Cervical cancer can be prevented and controlled if it is detected before it progresses. Unfortunately, underserved inner city women are less likely to get follow-up care after an abnormal Pap smear test result.

I have developed and tested a telephone counseling intervention that improves the rates of follow-up after an abnormal Pap smear result among urban, medically underserved women.  While telephone counseling improves diagnostic behaviors and outcomes, it is difficult to integrate this type of outreach to patients into the clinical setting. My research shows, however, that sending text messages should reach more patients, and not burden healthcare providers.

This project aims to adapt our evidence-based telephone counseling intervention to a new program, the Health Enhancement Resource System (HERS), a text message-based tailored counseling intervention. For those patients who receive the counseling texts but still miss their scheduled follow-up appointment, I will explore whether a health coaching call improves attendance at the clinic.

Study findings will show how feasible, acceptable, and patient-friendly the text message-based tailored counseling intervention is in increasing attendance at the initial screening follow-up appointment. It will also show us how effective additional health coaching calls are for those who still miss their initial appointments.

Why Funding Matters

This grant will fill a gap in the scientific literature by informing us about how to tailor patient follow-up after an abnormal cervical result. The study findings will also improve patient outcomes, in terms of preventing cervical cancer. The results have the potential to change clinical practice, shift research paradigms and impact policy. This research could not be done without grant funding.

My Hope

My hope is to harness behavioral science to improve the delivery of cancer care, particularly with a view to increasing the delivery of cancer prevention discoveries. The goal is to understand and improve individuals’ understanding of their options and maximize how they make use of that information to carry out prevention and detection behaviors.


Gary Schwartz, Ph.D., M.P.H., Ph.D.

Gary Schwartz, Ph.D., M.P.H., Ph.D.

Project Title

Testing Radon Communication Methods: Clinical Trial of a Smartphone App

Named Award

Richard C. Devereaux Outstanding Young Investigator Award

Position

Professor and Founding Chair, Department of Population Health

Institution

University of North Dakota, Grand Forks, ND

My "Why"

Many cancers, like lung cancer, are difficult to treat, but can often be prevented. Similarly, other cancers, like pancreatic or ovarian cancer, respond very poorly to treatment at late stages, when they are most often detected. The principal hope in saving lives from these cancers lies in detecting them early when treatment is most effective.

My Mission

We developed a 21st century approach to radon education—a smartphone app. Our research compares information delivered via the radon app versus printed brochures. If radon education via our app proves to be superior to traditional means, we will employ our radon app in state and national programs.

Research Overview

Exposure to radon gas at home is the second largest cause of lung cancer, after smoking, and accounts for more than 21,000 deaths per year. Despite this, it has proven difficult to motivate individuals to act against threats like radon that are invisible, colorless and odorless and cause cancer only after a long latent period.

Traditional methods of radon education (brochures) have had little impact on increasing radon testing of homes. This research compares the effectiveness of radon information delivered via the radon smartphone app versus the usual method (printed brochures).

We will compare these two methods for their effectiveness based on how individuals fare on their responses to these different interventions, including measures of:

  • Radon knowledge
  • Attitudes toward radon testing
  • Ordering and using a test kit
  • Returning the kit to the lab for analysis

This research is strategically placed, as North Dakota has the highest residential radon levels in the U.S. and Grand Forks County has the highest radon levels within North Dakota.

Why Funding Matters

Funding from the Prevent Cancer Foundation will permit us to bring the pilot work we have developed into a “real world setting.” Our current work is focused on helping motivate people to test their homes for radon. Because 1 in 15 homes in the U.S. has high radon levels, and most Americans have a smartphone, our research has large implications for lung cancer prevention in the entire U.S.

My Hope

Approximately 10% of lung cancer deaths are due to radon exposure. Sadly, many people learn about radon only after they have been diagnosed with lung cancer. We are hopeful that this research could have an important role in reducing the rates of lung cancer, which is still the most significant cause of cancer deaths among Americans.


Tomotaka Ugai, Ph.D.

Tomotaka Ugai, Ph.D. (Fellow)

Project Title

Immune Characteristics of Early-Onset and Later-Onset Colorectal Cancers

Named Award

The Shure Family Charitable Foundation

Position

Postdoctoral Fellow

Institution

Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, MA

My "Why"

My clinical experience led to my strong interest in cancer research. During my clinical practice, I treated many patients with cancers diagnosed at advanced stages. Unfortunately, some of them died of their cancers despite treatment. I realized that we needed more research.

My Mission

The proposed study will provide the scientific foundation to further explore possible influences of anti-tumor immunity on early-onset colorectal cancer and ultimately generate strategies to harness the immune system for prevention and early detection, with significant impact on clinical practice. My final goal is to reduce colorectal cancer incidence and mortality in young adults by developing immune-based cancer prevention and early detection strategies based on my studies.

Research Overview

Early-onset colorectal cancer, generally defined as colorectal cancer diagnosed in individuals younger than 50 years of age, has increased worldwide for unknown reasons. While the mortality of later-onset colorectal cancer (diagnosed at age >50) has significantly improved by colonoscopy screening and treatment advances, early-onset colorectal cancer is difficult to prevent, and little is known about whether or how it differs from later-onset colorectal cancer.

Two components of the immune system, T cells and macrophages, play critical roles in the body’s response to colorectal cancer. However, it remains uncertain how these immune cells affect the development of early-onset colorectal cancer.

I will examine differences in immune cells in colorectal cancer between early-onset and later-onset colorectal cancers. I will also look at the effects of immunomodulatory lifestyle factors, such as obesity, physical activity, and marine omega-3 fatty acid intake, on the development of early-onset and later-onset colorectal cancers.

This research will provide scientific evidence on how the immune system is involved in the development of early-onset colorectal cancer.

Why Funding Matters

Funding from the Prevent Cancer Foundation will not only support my research, but will also help me gain more skills and knowledge in cancer epidemiology, molecular epidemiology, image analyses, and machine learning algorithms that are needed to further my research.

The results of my study will provide the scientific foundation to further explore possible influences of anti-tumor immunity on early-onset colorectal cancer and ultimately generate strategies to harness the immune system for prevention of early-onset colorectal cancer.

My Hope

[My hope] is for my project to impact cancer prevention in the following ways:

• Inform lifestyle and dietary guidelines for cancer prevention, especially among young adults.
• Serve as a model for integrative immuno-epidemiological studies to elucidate the role of lifestyle and diet in anti-tumor immunity for early-onset and later-onset colorectal cancers.
• Aid in the development of novel hypotheses and new strategies of immunomodulation for colorectal cancer prevention.


Lisa Yee, M.D.

Lisa Yee, M.D.

Project Title

White Button Mushrooms and Breast Cancer Prevention

Named Award

Awesome Games Done Quick

Position

Professor, Vice Chair of Research, Department of Surgery

Institution

Beckman Research Institute of the City of Hope, Duarte, CA

My "Why"

As a breast surgical oncologist, my interest in cancer research is fueled by the ever-present need for advances and innovation in clinical cancer care, from cancer screening and diagnosis to treatment and prevention. My research focuses on how diet and nutrition affect the development of breast cancer and how changes to diet could be used to prevent cancer.

My Mission

Taking care of women with breast cancer as well as those at high risk of developing breast cancer has motivated my research efforts to understand how diet and diet quality modulate breast cancer risk. The proposed research will investigate the effects of the common white button mushroom on cellular changes that can lead to cancer.

Research Overview

White button mushrooms (WBM) are the most highly consumed mushroom in the U.S. and worldwide. Health benefits of mushrooms, such as WBM, may include decreased risk of breast cancer based on comparisons of dietary intake of mushrooms in women who have breast cancer relative to those without breast cancer.

Studies also indicate the possibility that WBM may reduce obesity and metabolic problems associated with obesity, such as fatty liver changes. The preventive effects of WBM may be due to improved responses of immune cells (white blood cells) and reduced chronic inflammation, that is, low-grade inflammation associated with obesity and obesity-related conditions, such as heart disease, diabetes, and cancer.

We are investigating WBM as a novel, effective dietary approach to prevent breast cancer in postmenopausal women with obesity and increased risk of breast cancer. In a WBM trial with obese women at high risk of breast cancer, we will test blood and breast fat before and after WBM for effects on immune cell and inflammation biomarkers. If successful, the study will support the design of large–scale, multi-institutional clinical trials of WBM for prevention of obesity-associated breast cancer.

Why Funding Matters

Funding [from the Prevent Cancer Foundation] will support our research on WBM as a dietary strategy to decrease the risk of developing obesity-associated breast cancer. The study will evaluate treatment effects on inflammation, which is linked to precancerous changes.

My Hope

This research will contribute to our understanding of how white button mushrooms might reduce breast cancer risk in obese postmenopausal women who are at high risk of breast cancer. It is our hope that this study will lead to large-scale clinical trials evaluating WBM as a safe and effective dietary intervention for cancer prevention.


2021 Awardees

Limor Appelbaum, M.D.

Limor Appelbaum, M.D.

Project Title

Use of medical records and microbiome for predicting pancreatic cancer

Named Award

Awesome Games Done Quick

Position

Staff Scientist

Institution

Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, MA

My "Why"

My interest in cancer research comes from treating pancreatic cancer patients as a Radiation Oncologist. Since most patients are diagnosed with advanced disease, when chances of cure are extremely low despite current treatments, I often felt frustration and helplessness when treating patients with this disease.

My Mission

I thought that the best approach to pancreatic cancer is early detection, when cure is most likely, as opposed to attempting to improve therapeutic options for advanced stage disease. My research proposes a model which can identify people at high-risk of pancreatic cancer for whom to recommend screening, which can potentially save lives.

Research Overview

There is a critical need for an effective pancreatic cancer screening tool.

  • Only 10% of patients survive 5 years after diagnosis.
  • Most are diagnosed when the cancer has already spread, and a cure is no longer possible.
  • There are no obvious warning signs for the disease, and no screening tool available for the general population.

Successful screening programs exist for people with a family history of the disease or inherited genetic mutations only. Screening the general population is not feasible because it is a relatively rare disease and the process is invasive and expensive.

Studies have shown that people who eventually develop pancreatic cancer experience early signs and symptoms such as stomach pain, weight loss, diabetes, depression, and many others. Individually, each of these is relatively common or vague, or just not specific enough to alarm of pancreatic cancer development.

We found that when we programmed a computer to learn the unique combination of multiple symptoms of cancer patients (“Machine Learning”), it was able to apply it to a new population and identify some of those at risk of developing cancer, a year before they eventually do.  

We aim to improve risk prediction in two ways:

  • Develop a sophisticated model based on data that considers the patient’s blood work, medications, symptoms and more
  • Use novel technology to correlate the specific microorganism composition of an individual with their risk of developing pancreatic cancer.

Why Funding Matters

Funding will improve our prediction model and allow us to use a much larger database to incorporate additional information. We can establish a study to test our model in real-time and add additional testing to decrease the number of people incorrectly identified as high-risk to avoid stress and unnecessary imaging.

My Hope

It is my goal to better understand our model’s ability to accurately identify high-risk individuals. This could lead to increased rates of early detection of pancreatic cancer, enable surgical treatment and significantly increase the cure rates from this disease.


Julie A. Barta, M.D., A.T.S.F.

Julie A. Barta, M.D., A.T.S.F.

Project Title

Improving lung cancer screening barriers for vulnerable populations

Named Award

Richard C. Devereaux Outstanding Young Investigator Award

Position

Assistant Professor of Medicine

Institution

Sidney Kimmel Medical College at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia, PA

My "Why"

As a pulmonologist, I am uniquely poised to identify patients at high risk for lung cancer and promote screening, early detection and tobacco treatment counseling for eligible individuals. My clinical experience guiding patients through lung nodule management and lung cancer diagnosis, which are often emotionally charged events, has led to my committed research focus on early detection of lung cancer. I hope that by facilitating lung cancer screening among high-risk individuals, we can save more lives from lung cancer.

My Mission

Despite the advent of lung screening to identify cancers at early, curable stages, many disparities exist in screening uptake and adherence. This project will identify and develop strategies to overcome financial, technological, and other barriers for vulnerable populations to ultimately increase early detection of lung cancer.

Research Overview

Lung cancer is responsible for nearly 25% of cancer deaths in the U.S. each year. Lung cancer screening with annual low-dose CT (LDCT) scan, however, has transformed the landscape of lung cancer survival by identifying cancers at an earlier, potentially curable stage. Although large clinical trials have demonstrated a reduction in lung cancer mortality with LDCT, many studies report that less than 10% of eligible individuals have been screened.

Our project aims to improve lung cancer screening adherence among Black/African American patients by identifying specific cost-and convenience-related barriers and designing approaches to overcome these hurdles.

  • In Aim 1, we will examine whether insurance status and neighborhood-level economic factors are associated with lung cancer screening adherence among all races, and we will identify additional factors that increase financial burdens among patients eligible for screening.
  • In Aim 2, we will test whether telemedicine has improved screening adherence and identify additional convenience-related factors to facilitate screening.

Why Funding Matters

Funding from the Prevent Cancer Foundation will allow our group to improve equity in lung cancer screening efforts among vulnerable populations. More specifically, we can develop a research program to investigate early detection and intervention strategies for patients at high risk for developing lung cancer.

My Hope

This research will identify cost-and convenience-related barriers to lung cancer screening among vulnerable populations, develop strategies to overcome them and implement approaches to help high-risk patients return year after year for low-dose CT scans.


Neil Box, Ph.D

Neil Box, Ph.D.

Project Title

Integrating sun damage indicators in melanoma risk modeling

Position

Associate Professor

Institution

University of Colorado Denver, Anschutz Medical Campus and Denver Campus

My "Why"

I am particularly interested in cancer prevention and early detection since advances in this area can directly translate to simple yet lifesaving behavioral changes for our community. It is exciting to realize that with simple outreach to our public with information about the steps they can take to adopt good practices for cancer prevention and screening, we can help reduce cancer rates. 

My Mission

This proposal is relevant to melanoma prevention and early detection as it studies how skin damaged by UVR can predict melanoma risk in children of different genetic makeup. Our work will identify high risk groups and prove the value of our tools in personalized melanoma prediction and prevention.

Research Overview

Melanoma is a deadly cancer.

  • Studies estimated more than 100,000 new cases occurred in in the United States in 2020, with more than 6,800 deaths.
  • The main cause for the disease is exposure to excessive ultraviolet radiation (UVR) in sunlight, which often results in a sunburn.
  • Repeat sunburns during childhood are particularly dangerous, often increasing melanoma risk in later life.

Fortunately, melanoma is highly preventable and treatable if detected early. We will investigate new ways of measuring UVR damage in the skin and we will study how sunburns and UVR exposure causes this damage depending on the genetic makeup of an individual. Here, we will study how skin damage by UVR can be used in groups of people of different complexions to promote more mole formation, as moles are considered signals for melanoma risk. Our work will identify high-risk groups and inform us on how to prevent melanoma in those who are most likely to get it. 

Why Funding Matters

Funding [from the Prevent Cancer Foundation] will advance our research on the physical outcomes of sun damage. Without the award we would not be able to conduct this new aspect of our long-standing skin cancer and melanoma risk program.

My Hope

We will be able to include these sun damage measures in studies of melanoma patients to see if we can learn something about melanoma age of onset, clinical subtype or other clinical features to better monitor or manage melanoma risk.


Sigrid Carlsson, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.

Sigrid Carlsson, M.D., Ph.D., M.P.H.

Project Title

Improving prostate cancer screening using innovative technology

Named Award

Awesome Games Done Quick

Position

Assistant Attending Epidemiologist

Institution

Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY

My "Why"

As a young medical student, I was asked to write a thesis on the subject “Evidence-Based Medicine” and was given a list of 100 related topics to choose from. When I saw the topic “Should PSA-testing become men’s mammography?” I knew immediately that this is what I wanted to learn more about. I was curious about the evidence behind PSA screening for prostate cancer, as I knew there were well-established population-based screening programs for, for example, breast cancer and cervical cancer, but none for prostate cancer at the time.

My Mission

My long-term goal is to make a difference by discovering new knowledge and disseminating the knowledge we already have into clinical practice, [in hopes] of reducing the harms of screening for our patients.

Research Overview

Despite prostate cancer being the most common male cancer, screening for prostate cancer using the prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test remains controversial because screening has both benefits and harms:

  • Screening can prevent men from developing metastatic prostate cancer and dying from the disease.
  • “Smart” screening strategies now exist, which focuses screening on men who have the highest risk of aggressive prostate cancer.
  • Screening remains underutilized in younger, healthy men and overused in older, less healthy men.
  • While beneficial, there is also a risk with screening of overdiagnosis and overtreatment of slow-growing tumors.

We developed a decision support software for PSA screening and programmed it into the physicians’ electronic health record.

The tool had 3 parts:

  1. a screening guideline (who, when and how often to screen),
  2. a conversation guide for shared decision making and
  3. a health maintenance module to schedule automated reminders for repeat screening

We found strong support for this tool from the physicians who were very satisfied with it. The current application is a continuation of this work where we now wish to do a larger study within the primary care network, to test the usefulness of this innovative technology as compared to no tool. We want to study if the tool helps physicians improve screening for men who are most likely to benefit. 

Why Funding Matters

The goal of PSA screening is to find and treat fast-growing prostate cancer before it spreads and becomes life-threatening.

My Hope

[My hope with] this research is to help doctors conduct PSA screening in accordance with the most authoritative evidence-based guidelines. This research is significant because adherence to PSA testing guidelines that are based on levels of cancer risk has the potential to fundamentally shift the balance between benefits and harms of screening, thereby substantially impacting early detection of prostate cancer.


Margie Clapper, Ph.D.

Margie Clapper, Ph.D.

Project Title

Impact of atorvastatin ± aspirin on colorectal biomarkers in patients with Lynch Syndrome: a pilot study

Position

Deputy Scientific Director/Professor/Co-Leader, Cancer Prevention and Control Program

Institution

The Research Institute of Fox Chase Cancer Center, Philadelphia, PA

My "Why"

After receiving a Ph.D. in Cell Biology, my career goal was to contribute to research in a manner that would have a direct impact on decreasing human disease…. When my mother was diagnosed with ovarian cancer, I became motivated to work even harder to prevent this devastating disease.

My Mission

Lynch Syndrome is the most common genetic cause of colon cancer in people under age 50, [and]… we do not currently have a way to stop the disease… If successful, this clinical study will also be the first to select an optimal cancer preventive agent for a patient based on their prior history of colon polyps/cancer. [Note: Lynch Syndrome is also associated with ovarian and endometrial cancers.]

Research Overview

  • It is estimated that 1 in every 279 people has inherited a mutation in a Lynch Syndrome gene from one of their parents.
  • Lynch Syndrome causes approximately 3% of colon cancers in the U.S. each year and mutation carriers have a high lifetime risk of developing colon cancer (up to 80%) and other cancers.
  • Chronic use of aspirin lowers the risk of developing Lynch Syndrome-related cancers by 30%, but high-dose aspirin can cause side effects.

Findings indicate that the cholesterol-lowering agent atorvastatin (Lipitor) dramatically decreases the formation of early colon lesions in mice when given before any evidence of polyps or cancer. Atorvastatin decreases colon tumor development in mice with existing tumors only when given in combination with low dose aspirin, as determined by colonoscopy. The goal of the present study is to determine if atorvastatin (Lipitor), like aspirin, can reduce the risk of colon cancer in humans with Lynch Syndrome.

  • Patients with Lynch Syndrome will be asked to take atorvastatin, with or without aspirin, for 6 weeks.
  • At the end of that time, cells will be obtained from the lining of the colon and examined for markers associated with early transition to cancer, such as increased cell division and resistance to cell death.

A second study goal is to determine if subjects found the study procedures (e.g., taking medication) acceptable and were able to complete all drug doses.

Why Funding Matters

Funding will allow me to finish the proposed clinical trial in subjects with Lynch Syndrome who are known to be at very high risk for cancer. I can determine if the drugs are providing protection to the colons of these high-risk subjects and examine tissues and blood samples for potential adverse effects associated with the intervention.

My Hope

This research will provide new insight into the impact of Lipitor (with/without aspirin) on the biological events that contribute to colon cancer development in patients with Lynch Syndrome and help develop new and better options for cancer prevention in high-risk patients.


William Grady, M.D.

William Grady, M.D.

Project Title

Dysbiotic esophageal microbiomes and esophageal cancer risk

Named Award

The Shure Family Charitable Foundation

Position

Professor

Institution

Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Seattle, WA

My "Why"

As a practicing clinician in gastroenterology, the need to more effectively prevent and treat cancer was immediately evident and palpable to me…. I am especially interested in cancer prevention because this is the best strategy to alleviate the suffering and burden that results from cancer.

My Mission

Our studies have the potential to identify cancer-causing esophageal bacteria, which could lead to novel and improved ways to prevent cancer through more accurate cancer risk prediction. Our studies could also lead to novel antibiotic or probiotic cancer prevention treatments for esophageal cancer.

Research Overview

For our research, we will:

  • Use state-of-the-art methods to identify and characterize the bacterial communities that live in the esophagus and potential tumor-causing bacterial members of these communities.
  • Study whether they affect the risk of esophageal cancer.
  • Determine if there are abnormal esophageal microbiomes that associate with a precancerous condition called Barrett’s Esophagus (BE), or with esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC).

We will identify potential cancer-causing bacterial species in three groups of patients:

  1. Healthy people
  2. People with stable Barrett’s esophagus
  3. People with Barrett’s esophagus who progressed to esophageal adenocarcinoma.

We will characterize the esophageal microbiomes and potential cancer-causing bacteria… [and] then use these results in a second set of studies in the group of Barrett’s esophagus patients who progressed or did not progress to esophageal adenocarcinoma to validate and further extend our initial results.

We will then use the only known prospective natural history cohort study of Barrett’s esophagus– a tremendous strength of our proposal – to determine what types of bacterial communities and specific bacterial species in the esophagus are associated with BE and indicate a high risk for esophageal adenocarcinoma.

This research could lead to low-risk therapies that would prevent many of the 20,000 deaths that occur each year from esophageal cancer. 

Why Funding Matters

This research helps to uncover novel ways to prevent esophageal, stomach and colon cancers and facilitates our understanding of how the microbiome of the gut affects cancer risk in the esophagus.

My Hope

I am hopeful that the results from our studies will lead to the following: 1) novel risk markers for esophageal cancer that can be used to personalize esophageal cancer prevention programs, and 2) potential novel therapeutic strategies aimed at the microbiome, such as antibiotics or probiotics, for preventing esophageal cancer.


Natalia Heredia, Ph.D., M.P.H.

Natalia Heredia, Ph.D., M.P.H. (Fellow)

Project Title

Culturally tailored lifestyle intervention for Hispanic patients with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD)

Named Award

Marcia and Frank Carlucci Charitable Foundation

Position

Assistant Professor

Institution

The University of Texas Health Science Center, School of Public Health, Houston, TX 

My "Why"

I am a behavioral scientist and I am interested in how lifestyle behaviors such as diet and physical activity impact health outcomes. Cancer is one of these health outcomes that is at least partially impacted by the daily behaviors of individuals throughout the course of their lives. I’m focused on helping people acquire the tools they need to make the healthy choice an easier choice.

My Mission

New cases of liver cancer continue to increase in Hispanics, partially due to a condition called non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). Treatment for NAFLD includes weight loss, so by helping Hispanic NAFLD patients lose weight, we can prevent future cases of NAFLD-related liver cancer.

Research Overview

Treatment for NAFLD involves lifestyle behavior change. However, changing these behaviors and losing weight is difficult and typically requires additional help from health care or other professionals. The goal of this project is to develop an engaging and culturally-appropriate intervention for Hispanic NAFLD patients that will help them lose weight. This process begins by having discussions with Hispanic NAFLD patients to identify an appropriate intervention format and delivery, and address Hispanic culture and concerns about NAFLD specifically.

Upon finalizing the behavioral lifestyle intervention, I will:

  • Test it with 15 Hispanic NAFLD patients to see if they were satisfied with it or recommend any additional changes.
  • Compare the results with 15 Hispanic NAFLD patients who did not receive the intervention to see if the adapted intervention was successful in changing physical activity, diet, alcohol use, weight and liver function.
  • Have an adapted intervention that will be available to test in a larger sample of Hispanic NAFLD patients to determine if it helps them lose weight and improve their liver function more than the usual care from their health professionals.

Why Funding Matters

I am looking to expand my current research on lifestyle behavior change in Hispanics to develop a better understanding of NAFLD-specific interventions in this community. Funding from the Prevent Cancer Foundation will allow me to have in-depth conversations with Hispanic adults with NAFLD to better understand their experiences living with the condition and how they can be best supported.

My Hope

My research will develop a targeted, culturally-sensitive lifestyle intervention that is acceptable to and helpful for Hispanic adults with NAFLD. I want to show how managing NAFLD early and effectively can help prevent negative liver-related outcomes and liver cancer.


Maro Ohanian, D.O. 

Project Title

Detoxification of environmental metals to prevent acute myeloid leukemia 

Named Award

Triad Foundation, LLC 

Position

Assistant Professor

Institution

University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX 

My "Why"

When I think about my patients, knowing that there might be a way to prevent them from having to undergo treatments drives my desire to find out how. Identifying and acting upon modifiable risk factors to reduce the incidence of cancer would keep medical costs down and allow people to enjoy their lives without having to go through cancer treatment.

My Mission

We aim to reverse carcinogenic effects of environmental/occupational metal exposures that can lead to acute myeloid leukemia (AML) by detoxifying metals in patients with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS), or “pre-leukemia,” as a novel cancer prevention method. 

Research Overview

Toxic metal contamination of our food and water causes multiple cancers and is worsening around the globe, yet it receives very little attention from the medical community. For example, children living within two miles of the Houston Ship Channel, a metal-polluted region, had a 56% higher rate of acute leukemia than those living ten miles away.  

  • Toxic metals are associated with increased risk of MDS, AML, and other cancers. 
  • MDS can progress to AML and represents an important pre-cancerous state for studying cancer prevention. 

Toxic metals can be removed from the blood and bone marrow by a process called “chelation,” using FDA-approved medications that are inexpensive and have a long history of safety.  

We will optimize metal detoxification during standard MDS therapy. We will establish optimal dosing and determine whether removing toxic metals from patients with the pre-leukemia MDS can prevent progression to AML.  

Why Funding Matters

This funding will allow me to continue to expand our ongoing clinical trial to reverse and inhibit the cancer-causing effects of metal exposures that can lead to AML.

This research may have significant implications for the prevention of AML. 

My Hope

This study will help us understand the impact of reducing toxic metals on the development of AML and possibly on cancer prevention in general.

By monitoring toxic metals, general practitioners may be able detect increased cancer risk and possibly reduce that risk before a patient ever develops cancer. 


Brian Rood, M.D.

Brian Rood, M.D.

Project Title

Germline and somatic microsatellite genotypes in pediatric brain tumors

Named Award

2021 Special Award: Sarah Howard Childhood Cancer Fund for Our Children's Health Grant

Position

Medical Director of Neuro-Oncology Program (Children’s Hospital) and Associate Professor of Pediatrics (GWU School of Medicine)

Institution

Children's National Medical Center and The George Washington University School of Medicine, Washington, D.C.

My "Why"

My interest in cancer research sprung directly from working in the clinic with children with brain tumors. Unfortunately, current survival rates and therapy-induced long-term side effects cause significant suffering for these children and their families. I am striving to improve these realities in the future.

My Mission

While it is important to try to discover new, more effective and less toxic therapies, the ultimate achievement of that goal would be to prevent the need for treatment in the first place. Thus, cancer prevention, while a difficult ambition, represents the ultimate accomplishment in cancer research.

Research Overview

Brain cancer is the leading cause of disease-related death in children. We hypothesize that brain cancer formation is correlated with microsatellite variations at specific regions in the DNA close to genes.

A previous analysis of medulloblastoma patient germline DNA (from the body, not from the tumor), identified variations in 139 microsatellites regions that are significantly associated with the presence of the tumor, compared to DNA from healthy individuals. Therefore, these cancer-associated microsatellites existed before the tumor was formed and suggest a role in cancer predisposition. A signature group of 43 of these microsatellites was capable of distinguishing children with medulloblastoma from healthy controls with a high degree of accuracy. 

Our study aims to:

  • Expand this work to other brain cancer types.
  • Investigate the mechanisms of the predisposition to improve our understanding of how and why these tumors form in certain individuals and point the way toward preventive strategies.

Why Funding Matters

For children whose cancer develops too quickly for environmental factors to play a role, it’s important to study genetics. Funding from the Prevent Cancer Foundation will allow us to genotype children with brain tumors to further understand this landscape.

My Hope

This research will identify a signature set of DNA elements whose sequences determine those at risk for developing the most common malignant brain tumors. We will also explore the cellular effect of those DNA elements that underpin the mechanisms of tumor formation. In that way, we will be able to identify those children at risk and begin to gain an understanding of how we might prevent their tumors from forming. If successful, this proposal will the provide the means to determine which children are at increased risk and would thus be eligible for screening.


Aayushi Uberoi

Aayushi Uberoi, Ph.D. (Fellow)

Project Title

Modulating skin microbiota-host interactions to prevent UV-induced skin cancer

Named Award

Awesome Games Done Quick

Position

Postdoctoral Scholar

Institution

The Trustees of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA

My "Why"

I won an undergraduate fellowship to conduct research at the Advanced Center for Treatment and Research in Cancer (ACTREC) in Mumbai. I was exposed to cancer biology for the first time and was able to see how researchers working with clinicians could truly make an impact on human lives. Subsequently, I joined McArdle Laboratory for Cancer Research at University of Wisconsin-Madison to pursue a Ph.D. in tumor virology.

My Mission

While the skin microbiome encounters the same UVB exposure as the skin, the effects of UVB on skin microbiome is unexplored. By exploring host-microbiome interactions during UVB-associated skin cancers, we can uncover a novel class of biomarkers and therapeutics for prevention of skin cancer.

Research Overview

Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs), specifically squamous cell carcinomas (SCC), represent the most commonly diagnosed skin cancers. The UVB spectra of ultraviolet radiation (UVR) from sun exposure is a well-established skin stressor and causative agent of skin SCCs. The skin is colonized by a lot of microbes that help maintain epithelial homeostasis and encounter the same UVB exposure as the skin. However, skin microbiome remains an untapped resource to develop new preventive strategies.

My research will:

  • Define host and microbial biomarkers using next-generation approaches that provide prevention and diagnostic targets for UVB-associated SCCs that can potentially be for other forms of skin cancer.
  • Develop cancer prevention therapeutics that leverage host-microbiota interactions to alter host responses to prevent UVB-induced SCCs.
  • Use cross-disciplinary approaches to investigate effects of UVB on host-microbiota interactions.
  • Identify microbial biomarkers to screen patients susceptible to UVB-induced skin carcinomas.
  • Provide a low-cost, noninvasive strategy to manage skin cancers.

Why Funding Matters

This work allows me to develop an independent area of research where I can study the impact of microbiome in the context of UVB-associated cancers and create a framework guided by transcriptomic approaches that can help prevent skin cancer by modulating host-microbiota interactions.

My Hope

The cancer burden continues to grow globally, exerting tremendous physical, emotional and financial strain on individuals, families, communities and health systems. Many health systems in low- and middle-income countries are unprepared to manage this burden... As I grew [up] in India, which is a developing economy, I was continuously motivated to develop strategies to prevent cancer.

This research will use innovative approaches to identify host and microbial biomarkers to provide prevention and diagnostic targets for UVB-associated skin cancers and develop low-cost cancer prevention therapeutics that leverage host-microbiota interactions.