Tuesday, April 15, 2008
10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Room 33A-C, Convention Center
Co-Chairpersons:
George J. Hammons, Philander Smith College, Little Rock, AR
Electra D. Paskett, The Ohio State University Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbus, OH
(Listen to the audio recording of the session.)
Current efforts to determine biological differences in cancer and other diseases among racial classified social groups (RCSGs) have primarily focused on genetic variations. An alternative framework of analysis to the genetic approach is a Biopsychosocial one that examines the potential biological mechanisms through which life experiences and behavior might affect health outcomes in these population groups. The biological activities of several factors, including those of lifestyle (e.g., diet/nutrition, obesity, physical exercise, alcohol consumption), psychological (e.g., stress and coping), occupational/environmental exposures, and the presence of other diseases/illnesses, suggest their potential to affect the biological pathways involved in disease etiology (e.g., oxidative stress, genetic damage to DNA, receptor binding, or DNA methylation) and, thereby, modulate health outcome. Therefore, a broader, multi-causal model, that incorporates several psychosocial and environmental factors, which can differ systemically across RCSGs and impact biological pathways related to the development of cancer and other diseases, may be a more useful framework for guiding research in this area. A clearer understanding of the impact of psychosocial and environmental factors, which can act individually and interactively, on biological pathways involved in these diseases and contribute to disparities in health outcomes is needed and can provide an important contribution and foundation for developing appropriate interventions. This session will limit its focus to the potential contributing role of epigenomics and psychosocial stress in differential health outcomes among population groups
Speakers:
"Influence of Bio-Behavioural Factors on Tumor Biology: Potential Role in Cancer Disparities Among Population Groups"
Dr. Paige Green McDonald, NCI, Bethesda, MD
"DNA Methylation Patterns Vary among Population Groups: Implications"
Dr. Stanley R. Hamilton, UT M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX
"Diet as a Determinant of DNA Methylation: Potential Role in Cancer Disparities among Populations"
Dr. Beverly D. Lyn-Cook, FDA-NCTR, Jefferson, AR
Read the extended abstract.
"Biobehavioral Bases of Disease Processes: Potential Role in Cancer Disparities"
Dr. Frank Penedo, University of Miami, Miami, FL