Abstract PO-196: Upregulation of bacterial and fungal pathogen sensing genes in preinvasive colorectal lesions in African Americans compared to Caucasian Americans

• Published in: Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention biomarkers & prevention, 2022-01, Vol.31 (1_Supplement), p.PO-196-PO-196
• Main Authors: Guglietta, Silvia, Fanning, Lauren R., Cousart, Alexandria G., Armeson, Kent E., Sun, Zequn, Lewin, David N., Brazeal, J Grant, Chung, Dongjun, Alekseyenko, Alexander V., Wallace, Kristin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1055-9965; 1538-7755
• DOI: 10.1158/1538-7755.DISP21-PO-196

Background: Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality are higher for African Americans (AAs) than Caucasian Americans (CAs). Variation in tumor immune responses by race appears to be important for prognosis. However, few studies have compared immune gene expression in preinvasive lesions where prevention may be possible. Methods: The immune gene expression of 95 cases of colorectal adenomas (AA 47, CA 48) excised via sigmoidoscopy or colonoscopy with polypectomy between October 2012 and May 2016 was assessed using the NanoString nCounter platform using the immunology v2 panel (n=579 genes). Data were analyzed using a NanoStringDiff R package, implementing negative binomial regression models of gene expression as the dependent variable and race group (AA vs. CA) as the primary predictor variable. Models were adjusted for age, sex, location within the colon, histology, and degree of dysplasia. Results: In AAs vs. CAs, 24 immune genes were up-regulated, while 11 genes were down-regulated (for each gene, p