Neighborhood factors and tumor epigenetics in racial differences in triple-negative breast cancer
Investigating Socio-Structural Determinants of Health and the Tumor Epigenome to Understand the Etiology of Racial Disparities in Breast Cancer
This project looks at whether neighborhood conditions like historical redlining are linked to changes in tumor DNA and cancer signaling in women of different racial backgrounds with breast cancer, especially the triple-negative type.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Mississippi Med Ctr NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Jackson, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11266197 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
From a patient perspective, the team combines neighborhood history and medical records with laboratory analysis of tumor tissue to see if social and structural factors leave biological marks on tumors. They will compare tumors from Black and White women, focusing on triple-negative breast cancer, and link findings to measures such as redlining, area characteristics, and pollution. Lab work includes DNA methylation profiling and analysis of oncogenic signaling pathways in tumor samples, while population-level analyses use geocoded addresses and clinical data. The goal is to explain demographic differences in TNBC by connecting lived social exposures to tumor biology.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are women diagnosed with breast cancer—especially triple-negative breast cancer—who can provide tumor tissue and allow researchers to use their residential history and medical records.
Not a fit: People without breast cancer, those with other cancer types, or those unwilling to share medical records or address history are unlikely to be eligible or receive direct benefit, and participants should not expect immediate therapeutic effects.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal biological pathways by which neighborhood and social conditions drive racial gaps in TNBC, helping target prevention and care for higher-risk groups.
How similar studies have performed: Some previous studies have linked redlining and neighborhood disadvantage to worse breast cancer outcomes, but directly connecting social factors to tumor DNA methylation and signaling is a newer and still exploratory approach.
Where this research is happening
Jackson, United States
- University of Mississippi Med Ctr — Jackson, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Miller-Kleinhenz, Jasmine — University of Mississippi Med Ctr
- Study coordinator: Miller-Kleinhenz, Jasmine
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.