Racial Disparities In Prostate Cancer: The Role of Periprostatic Adipose Tissue
Abstract
Rationale: African American (AA) men have the highest prostate cancer (PC) incidence and mortality rates in the world, but the exact mechanisms underlying this association are not fully understood. Adipose tissue is considered a major contributor of inflammatory and pro-tumor factors and has been associated with different cancer types, including PC. In this study, differences in the composition of periprostatic adipose tissue of AA and Caucasian American (CA) men will be identified. In addition, the association between periprostatic adipose tissue composition with tumor aggressiveness and PC recurrence will be determined. We will focus on patients diagnosed and treated at the VA Medical Center in Durham, NC, a city with a high AA population. By utilizing human samples from an equal access setting, we will be able to demonstrate biological processes that may affect AA and CA men differently. Applicability: This study is designed to allow us to better understand how tumors from AA men respond to signals from the adipose tissue surrounding the prostate and to identify possible ways by which these signals could be contributing to tumor aggressiveness and a worse clinical outcome. Additionally, data will be generated using a bioinformatics-based approach on biospecimens from actual PC patients, which will allow us to analyze complex biological data and obtain enough information to facilitate the translation of this research to the clinic, something that our group has already done and has been successful at. A patient-related outcome might be achieved in more than 2 years, but we will establish the basis for future clinical application. The results of this study will lay the foundation for the future identification of possible ways to treat AA PC patients. Career Goals: The long-term goal of the Principal Investigator (PI) of the study is to learn more about health disparities and to get training and obtain the skills necessary to become a successful PC researcher that investigates health disparities with a translational approach. A training and research development plan was designed to identify specific opportunities for the scientific and professional development of the PI. The main skills to be developed in this training program include: 1. Learn about health disparities in cancer and clinical research methods. 2. Receive training in biostatistics and bioinformatics for data analysis. 3. Improve communication skills to effectively communicate scientific findings, both in a written and oral form. Some of the opportunities identified to successfully acquire these skills include direct training from the mentors, enrollment in courses and workshops to learn bioinformatics and scientific writing, and presenting research at local and national meetings, among others. In addition, a mentoring team, selected by the PI, will support her in achieving her goals. This team will include three accomplished PC researchers: one with a clinical perspective and a health disparities background, one with basic science expertise and an excellent training record, and one computational biologist who will provide guidance on the bioinformatics analysis proposed in the project. All three mentors will provide their particular expertise in distinct aspects of the projects and guidance in career development options. Contributions to the Field of PC Research: The proposed study is relevant to the Prostate Cancer Research Program (PCRP) overarching challenges of reducing lethal PC in African Americans, Veterans, and other high-risk populations and defining the biology of lethal PC to reduce death and addresses specific gaps in PC research. In addition, our vision aligns with the mission of the PCRP to promote groundbreaking research with clinical relevance. The results of this study could elucidate the differential role of periprostatic adipose tissue in promoting aggressive PC in AA men as a potential mechanism to expl
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Nov 19, 2019
- Source ID
- W81XWH1910395
Entities
People
- Gloria C Galvan
Organizations
- Cedars-Sinai Medical Center
- United States Army