The goal of this research proposal is to address the biological underpinnings of breast cancer mortality disparities in Chicago. African American (AA) women in the city have a 4-5 fold greater risk of death from hormone-dependent breast cancer compared to white women, even after controlling for stage at diagnosis, treatment, and other known prognostic factors. This strongly suggests that biologic mechanisms are activated in estrogen receptor-positive (ER+) breast cancers arising in AA women that result in a higher rate of distant metastases and/or resistance to endocrine therapies. We propose a metabolomic analysis of serum from AA and white women with newly diagnosed breast cancer, as well as a racially diverse, healthy control population, to identify potential oncometabolites that promote aggressive phenotypes in ER+ breast cancer cells. We will also explore the association between candidate oncometabolites and established demographic variables related to poor outcomes in AA women with breast cancer, including neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation and individual patient and tumor characteristics. This project involves clinical/translational scientists, a cancer epidemiologist, an economist and cancer biologists from Chicago CHEC institutions as well as Mercy Medical Center as our community partner. This unique team will address a critical health equity problem affecting AA women in Chicago while providing a strong training environment in disparity research for early stage investigators and under-represented minority students.
Related Pages
Mi Guia (My Guide) pilot study »
An e-Health Intervention to Improve Symptom Burden and Health-Related Quality of Life among Hispanic Women Completing Active Treatment for Breast Cancer
Citizen Scientists »
Despite overall declines in rates of aggressive prostate cancer (PCa) in the U.S., racial disparity persists, with African American (AA) […]
Choose to Change Research Project »
Reducing Tobacco Use Disparities Among Adults in Safety Net Community Health Centers (The Choose to Change Study)
Latino Obesity Project »
Community-engaged obesity intervention development for Puerto Rican and Mexican men
Microbiome Pilot Project »
Social Correlates of Variation in Intestinal and Oral Microbiome Among Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Patients: A Geographic Exploration in the City of Chicago
Prostate Cancer Disparity Project »
Prostate cancer disparity in Chicago-area African American men: patient-derived models and biomarkers of cancer risk
Reducing Colorectal Cancer Disparities »
Reducing colorectal cancer disparities on the South Side of Chicago through cross-Institutional collaborations
SHARED Full Project »
Supporting High Risk African American Men in Research & Engagement in Decision Making for Lung Cancer Screening: The SHARED Project
WeCanConnect Pilot Project »
WeCanConnect: Using mHealth to Connect Physically Disabled Cancer Patients with Matched Disabled Survivors
WeCanManage Full Project »
WeCanManage: An mHealth self-management tool to empower survivors with disabilities due to the long-term effects of cancer and its treatment