Our goal is to reduce the death and suffering related to liver cancer in Texas, especially among minority populations. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common (>90%) of liver cancers. HCC has the fastest increasing cancer-related mortality rate among all solid tumors in the U.S., and is particularly important for Texas residents. Texas has the highest incidence rate for HCC in the nation. Hispanics are disproportionately affected by HCC, surpassing Asians and Pacific Islanders as the racial/ethnic group at highest risk for HCC. The disparity is even more pronounced among Hispanics living in South Texas and U.S./Mexico border regions. Most cases of HCC (>90%) arise in the back...

Read More

Our goal is to reduce the death and suffering related to liver cancer in Texas, especially among minority populations. Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common (>90%) of liver cancers. HCC has the fastest increasing cancer-related mortality rate among all solid tumors in the U.S., and is particularly important for Texas residents. Texas has the highest incidence rate for HCC in the nation. Hispanics are disproportionately affected by HCC, surpassing Asians and Pacific Islanders as the racial/ethnic group at highest risk for HCC. The disparity is even more pronounced among Hispanics living in South Texas and U.S./Mexico border regions. Most cases of HCC (>90%) arise in the background of cirrhosis, which is considered to be the main predisposing condition for HCC. However, the risk of HCC development is not uniform among patients with cirrhosis. Furthermore, a growing proportion of HCC cases do not have underlying cirrhosis. Thus, a comprehensive examination of HCC in both cirrhosis and non-cirrhosis controls needs to be considered. The striking and long-standing racial disparity in HCC incidence seems unlikely to be explained by differing prevalence of exposure to known HCC risk factors (i.e., chronic viral infection with hepatitis B and/or hepatitis C, alcohol abuse, and obesity). In this application, we propose a genome-wide association study of HCC in Hispanics involving 8 Institutions across Texas to identify germline genetic factors associated with risk of HCC and/or cirrhosis progression to HCC in Hispanics. Finally, we will explore disparities in HCC risk among Hispanics according to genetic ancestry and acculturation. A total of 1,500 Hispanic HCC cases, 4,500 healthy controls, and 1,500 cirrhosis controls will be included. Our study will provide a detailed understanding of the genetic risk factors for HCC development and cirrhosis progression in Hispanics, the population at especially high HCC risk but which have been critically understudied.

Read Less