The Translational Research Program in Cancer Differences across Populations

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Molecular Epidemiology
• Genomics

Background:

• Cancer incidence and mortality rates exhibit significant population-level variations.
• The Translational Research Program in Cancer Differences across Populations (TRPCDP) was established in 2020 to investigate these disparities.
• Colorectal cancer is a key focus for understanding cancer differences across populations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish a centralized, well-annotated biorepository of colorectal cancer tumors.
• To facilitate molecular epidemiology studies investigating cancer disparities.
• To collect comprehensive data including demographics, clinical information, and multiomic profiles.

Main Methods:

• Centralized data acquisition and harmonization across three US sites.
• Case-control framework matching lethal colorectal cancer cases with nonlethal controls.
• Collection and processing of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tumor and normal tissues for pathology review, DNA/RNA extraction, and tissue microarray construction.
• Multiomic and spatial profiling, including transcriptomic, proteomic, and microbiome analyses.
• Geospatial linkage for additional health-related factors.

Main Results:

• A virtual biorepository of 7,181 patients from diverse populations (African American, Alaska Native, Hispanic, non-Hispanic White).
• Tissue blocks from 938 patients processed for DNA/RNA extraction and tissue microarray construction.
• Availability of transcriptomic, spatial tumor profiling, and microbiome data for selected samples.

Conclusions:

• Development of a clinically annotated biorepository to support future molecular epidemiology studies.
• The TRPCDP fosters collaborative research, community engagement, and scientific training.