Why some stomach cancers are more common and aggressive in Latino patients
Understanding the biology of disparity-associated genomically stable gastric tumors
This work explores why a chemotherapy‑resistant form of stomach cancer (the genomically stable/diffuse type) appears more often in Latino patients.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California at Davis NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Davis, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11194468 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will compare DNA methylation patterns from tumor and matched normal tissue from Latino patients with large public datasets to find genes and pathways linked to the genomically stable (GS) subtype. They will use reduced representation bisulfite sequencing (RRBS) and re‑analysis of TCGA methylation data to identify differentially methylated genes in pathways like WNT, TGF‑beta, and PI3K/AKT. The team focuses on the GS/diffuse tumors that often carry CDH1 and RHOA changes and are chemotherapy‑resistant and immunologically 'cold'. Results will be used to pinpoint biomarkers or molecular targets that might explain the worse outcomes seen in Latino patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with diffuse/genomically stable stomach (gastric) cancer—especially Latino patients—who can provide tumor and normal tissue samples or share their tumor data.
Not a fit: People without stomach cancer or whose tumors are not the genomically stable/diffuse subtype may not see direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to better tests to identify high‑risk tumors and suggest new treatment targets for Latino patients with stomach cancer.
How similar studies have performed: Large efforts like TCGA have defined the GS subtype and prior work shows methylation differences, but effective targeted treatments for GS tumors are not yet established.
Where this research is happening
Davis, United States
- University of California at Davis — Davis, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Carvajal Carmona, Luis Guillermo — University of California at Davis
- Study coordinator: Carvajal Carmona, Luis Guillermo
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.