A common AHRR gene variant that may raise lung cancer risk in Black/African American people
Analysis of a missense SNP in the aryl hydrocarbon receptor repressor gene that may disproportionately increase lung cancer risk in Black Americans
['FUNDING_R21'] · UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA · NIH-11211103
This project looks at whether a specific genetic change in the AHRR gene increases lung cancer risk for Black/African American people, especially those who smoke.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_R21'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (Los Angeles, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11211103 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
You would learn whether a missense change in the AHRR gene that is common in Black/African American people affects how the body handles tobacco carcinogens. The team will compare genetic data across populations to see how often the variant occurs and whether it links to smoking-related cancers. They will also run lab experiments, including ATAC-seq and cell-based functional tests, to see how the variant changes AHRR activity and gene regulation. Because the variant is rare in European-descent datasets, the work focuses on Black/African American datasets to get enough information to draw conclusions.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would be Black/African American adults, particularly men or people with a history of smoking, who are willing to contribute genetic or health information.
Not a fit: People without the AHRR variant, non-smokers, or those from populations where the variant is extremely rare may be less likely to receive direct benefit from these findings.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If confirmed, this could help identify people at higher lung cancer risk and guide more targeted screening or prevention for affected Black/African American individuals.
How similar studies have performed: Previous genetic studies have linked AHRR to smoking-related effects, but this specific missense variant is newly recognized and remains largely untested for direct effects on lung cancer risk.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, UNITED STATES
- UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA — Los Angeles, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: OFFRINGA, ITE A — UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
- Study coordinator: OFFRINGA, ITE A
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.