7 USC scholars receive American Association for Cancer Research awards for their research on cancer health disparities

The 17th American Association for Cancer Research (AACR) Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved was held in Los Angeles from September 21-24, 2024. During the event, faculty, students, and staff from the Department of Population and Public Health Sciences (PPHS) from the Keck School of Medicine of USC presented their latest research findings, chaired insightful sessions, and served as experts on panels. Many PPHS faculty are members of the USC Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center who work in partnership to advance cancer health equity and promote population and public health. Seven researchers were recognized by the AACR and awarded for their contributions towards addressing cancer health disparities. Read about them below.

Minority Scholar in Cancer Research Award

Angel Arizpe

4^th Year PhD student in epidemiology program

Angel Arizpe is first-generation college student who presented his research on ‘Cannabis use among cancer survivors and its association with cardiometabolic risk factors’ from the All of Us Research Program.

“We wanted to study how cannabis use might affect certain health markers related to heart and metabolism in cancer survivors,” he says. “We were also looking to see if these effects differed based on race and ethnicity, or sex. Our results underscored that more frequent cannabis use may have a detrimental effect on immune risk factors like white blood cell counts among survivors, highlighting the need for more research on this area.”

Ugonna Ihenacho, PhD, MPH

Postdoctoral scholar

Ugonna Ihenacho presented her research on the ‘Association between ambient particulate matter and colorectal cancer incidence: The Multiethnic Cohort Study.’

“There is growing evidence that air pollution may increase the risk of colorectal cancer, but few studies have looked at this association in large, multiethnic populations, or considered differences by race and ethnicity, sex, or colorectal cancer tumor site,” she says. “In our study, we examined the associations of exposure to particulate matter in the air with risk of colorectal cancer within the Multiethnic Cohort Study. Our findings suggest that exposure to particulate matter with a diameter of 2.5 micrometers or smaller is associated with an increased risk of colorectal cancer, especially among female participants and Latino participants in the MEC.”

Fatimata Sanogo, PhD

Senior research scientist

Fatimata Sanogo presented her research on ‘Intersecting burdens: The role of social barriers and perceived stress in moderating cortisol reactivity among African American breast cancer survivors.’

“This research aims to understand how factors like financial struggles, social isolation, and negative life experiences influence stress reactions in Black breast cancer survivors,” says Sanogo, a first-generation college graduate. “Chronic stress is known to worsen cancer outcomes, but little data exists on how stress responses vary in this population. We found social risk factors influence stress reactivity in Black women breast cancer survivors. There is a need to understand the lived experiences of Black women and develop interventions that mitigate the impact of social stressors on stress responses.”

Scholar-In-Training Award

Joel Sanchez Mendez

4^th Year PhD student in epidemiology program

Joel Sanchez Mendez presented on two areas of research: ‘Proof-of-Concept: A Machine learning classifier to impute nativity status in Hispanic/Latino/a/x cancer patients in the California Cancer Registry’; and ‘Determinants of increased generalized self-efficacy among Hispanic/Latino colorectal cancer patients participating in a Cancer Moonshot Study.’

“My research primarily focuses on understanding the environmental and genetic determinants of disparities in risk, treatment patterns, and outcomes among Hispanic/Latino/a/x individuals with colorectal cancer living in the United States,” he says. Our findings may enable us to construct precise initiatives to prevent, manage and treat Hispanic/Latino/a/x individuals with colorectal cancer in the future. Thus, closing the disparity gap for these populations in the United States.”

Miriam Gorbatov

PhD student in epidemiology program

Miriam Gorbatov presented her research on ‘Disparities in Cancer Burden and Survival Rates in Persistent Poverty Communities in Los Angeles County.’

“Our study explored how cancer rates and survival outcomes differed between individuals living in persistent poverty tracts in Los Angeles County and those in areas with less long-term economic hardship,” she says. “We also examined how these differences varied across racial and ethnic groups and stages of diagnosis, considering the diverse population of the county. By focusing on persistent poverty, we aimed to understand how sustained economic disadvantages impact cancer diagnoses and survival outcomes. Cancer patients in persistent poverty areas of LA County have higher rates of lung, colorectal, liver, and stomach cancers and lower survival rates compared to those in non-persistent poverty areas. These disparities are evident across racial and ethnic groups and stages of diagnosis. The lower rates of breast and prostate cancers, which are more easily detected early, highlight the need for better outreach and access to routine screenings in these communities. Future research should focus on identifying barriers to cancer prevention and care in these areas, offering insights into the factors driving these disparities and guiding efforts to improve outcomes for patients in persistent poverty.”

Women in Cancer Research Scholar Award

Kelsie Campbell

2^nd Year PhD student in health behavior research program

Kelsie Campbell presented her research on ‘Socioeconomic, Social, and Clinical Factors Associated with Perceived Social Isolation among Black and African American Breast Cancer Survivors.’

“The goal of this study was to learn about the levels of loneliness among Black and African American breast cancer patients,” she says. “We also wanted to identify whether factors such as marital status, chronic disease status, and financial strain were related to feelings of loneliness among these survivors. We found that many African American breast cancer patients in this study reported high levels of loneliness. Greater efforts are needed to identify patients who could benefit from interventions that enhance social connections, especially if they are married, experiencing financial strain, and have co-morbid conditions.”

Dayanara Ruiz

2^nd Year PhD student in health behavior research program

Dayanara Ruiz, a first-generation college student, presented her findings from ‘A needs assessment of genetic and hereditary breast cancer awareness in Southern California women diagnosed with a genetic mutation.’

“The objective of my research was to show the need for great health education on hereditary and genetic breast cancer mutations,” she says. “My research showed the need for greater health education and awareness of hereditary and genetic breast cancer mutations due to the elevated breast cancer risk it poses to them.”