Development of the Meharry Medical College Prostate Cancer Research Program
Abstract
African Americans (AA) are disproportionately affected by prostate cancer (PCa) for reasons including, biologic tumor differences, genetic predisposition, differential exposures, lack of access to prostate specific antigen (PSA) testing, inadequate access to health care, paucity of minority PCa investigators, and low accrual of AAs in clinical trials. We propose a research team at an HBCU to study the molecular, genetic, dietary, and body fat patterns in the pathogenesis of PCa disparity among AA and African men. There is substantial urology, oncology, epidemiology, nutrition and other expertise in both institutions, now developing this program at MMC, by training new and junior minority investigators, maintaining lasting partnership with mentors, and establish viable community network ties. One project will investigate health care seeking behavior of AA, another will investigate the role of lycopene in PCa risk, a third will look at genetic risk factors, and two studies will study the growth inhibitory effect of Thalidomide and other agents on PCa cell lines. The program has attracted graduate students, has identified, and is currently in the process of hiring a second post-doctoral fellow.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 01, 2006
- Accession Number
- ADA463484
Entities
People
- Flora A. M. Ukoli
Organizations
- Meharry Medical College