Orodigestive tract (ODT) cancers, which account for 32% of cancer deaths in the US, exhibit striking racial disparities in incidence and mortality burdens. Our central hypothesis is that the human microbiome contributes to ODT cancer disparities through biologic interaction of the microbiome with the host in ODT oncogenesis. The overall objective of the NYU Cancer Health Disparity (CHD) SPORE is to develop a comprehensive translational research program to identify, understand and control the microbiota that account for orodigestive track (ODT) cancer disparities. Project 1 will focus on the relationship of the oral microbiome to racial and socioeconomic disparities in the incidence of head and neck cancer, by means of a prospective case-control study nested within 3 large highly diverse US cohorts. Project 2 will focus on the gut microbiome and Black and White racial disparities in tumor recurrence in colon cancer patients who received adjuvant chemotherapy. Our research will be strongly supported through shared Cores: (A) Administrative, (B) Biospecimen Procurement & Utilization, and (C) Biostatistics and Bioinformatics. The proposal brings together a highly transdisciplinary team of investigators that work collaboratively through every stage of the proposed research to accomplish the translational goal of this P20 application. The NYU CHD SPORE will provide new knowledge on specific human microbiota that contribute to ODT cancer disparities and will advance our understanding of the functional consequences of these microbiota in ODT oncogenesis. The knowledge gained from the proposed research in the P20 SPORE will transform current clinical practice by identifying high risk groups for ODT cancer in minority populations, that will provide the scientific basis for developing microbially-based personalized prevention, clinical decision tools, and prophylactic interventions to address ODT cancer disparities. Achievement of the P20 SPORE will lay a solid groundwork for a P50 SPORE to translate these evidence-based findings of microbial factors contributing to ODT cancer disparity into actionable practice-based interventions at the clinic and community level.
Orodigestive tract (ODT) cancers, which account for 32% of cancer deaths in the US, exhibit striking racial disparities in incidence and mortality burden. The NYU Cancer Health Disparity (CHD) SPORE will provide new knowledge on specific human microbiota that contribute to ODT cancer disparities and will advance our understanding of the functional consequences of these microbiota in ODT oncogenesis. This knowledge can transform current clinical practice, forming the basis for microbially-based personalized prevention, clinical decision tools, and prophylactic interventions to address ODT cancer disparities.
