The Northwestern University Cancer Health Equity Research SPORE (NU-CHERS)

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ABSTRACT Centered in Chicago, one of the most diverse yet segregated cities with some of the most striking health disparities in the US, this P20 feasibility and planning proposal to develop the Northwestern University Cancer Health Equity Research SPORE (NU-CHERS) will generate scientific findings and establish sustainable, collaborative, academic and community infrastructure that will serve as the foundation for a comprehensive translational cancer research program focused on gynecologic cancer health disparities. In this proposal, we set our initial translational research focus on endometrial and ovarian cancer disparities as experienced by Black women. This NU-CHERS P20 program leverages outstanding translational research capacity at Northwestern University and its NCI-designated Robert H. Lurie Comprehensive Cancer Center. Research Project 1 investigates racial disparities in endometrial cancer through tumor genomics. Findings will generate critical information that not only deepens our understanding of the biological racial differences in endometrial tumors but can be used as a predictive measure for racial differences in response to treatments. Research Project 2 focuses on racial differences in DNA methylation events in ovarian cancer which may impact response to platinum-based ovarian cancer treatment and explain the striking disparity in survival experienced by Black women. The study will define the methylomes of high-grade serous ovarian cancer in Black and White women as well as develop high-grade serous ovarian cancer-derived patient derived xenografts (PDX) and organoids from which response of these models to platinum will be assessed in vitro and in vivo. Findings will define pathways and genes regulated epigenetically, which could account for disparity in clinical outcomes and may become relevant targets for intervention. To support these projects and build a solid infrastructure for a future funded gynecologic cancer health disparities P50 SPORE, we propose two Cores. The Administrative Core (AC) is the focal point for scientific, fiscal and administrative oversight and integration. The Gynecologic Biospecimen Pathology Core (GBPC) will maintain tissue/blood repositories for current and future NU-CHERS projects, in partnership with the John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County to enhance the availability of minority gynecologic biospecimens available to NU-CHERS researchers. In addition, we propose a Developmental Research Program (DRP) to support NU-CHERS infrastructure development goals and pipeline of translational research excellence. The NU-CHERS P20 team is comprised of basic, translational, and clinical investigators with synergistic strengths poised to forge a lasting translational research program focused on understanding and reducing gynecologic cancer disparities.