Cancer Prevention and Control Program (CPCP)

University Of Arizona, Tucson AZ

Investigators

Linked publications, trials & patents

Abstract

CANCER PREVENTION & CONTROL PROGRAM: ABSTRACT The Cancer Prevention & Control Program (CPCP) at the University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC) conducts highly interactive, transdisciplinary cancer prevention and control research to reduce the cancer burden. CPCP maintains a strong emphasis on catchment-relevant cancer research that informs and impacts the UACC Catchment Area. The Specific Aims are to: (1) advance understanding and early detection of cancer through identification of risk factors and development of detection biomarker and imaging technologies (Discovery); (2) evaluate novel cancer preventive agents and strategies to reduce the cancer burden (Intervention); and (3) implement evidence-based behavioral, psychosocial, and system-level strategies to promote health and improve outcomes (Dissemination and Implementation). CPCP Members have made significant progress on cancer prevention and control research in the following areas: (1) demonstrated exposure of firefighters to carcinogens that alter their DNA methylation patterns, leading to changes in policy; (2) identified differences in drivers of renal cancer in Hispanics versus non-Hispanic Whites; (3) developed a new highly sensitive breast-CT imaging system and smartphone confocal microscope; (4) showed that a broccoli seed extract upregulated detoxification of tobacco carcinogens; (5) completed HPV vaccine dosing studies that informed on WHO policy for worldwide vaccination guideline; (6) developed a highly effective symptom management program for support of Latina breast cancer survivors and caregivers; and (7) increased cancer screening rates in American Indians from 9% to 19%. CPCP has a peer-reviewed, cancer focused funding base of $8.9M (direct costs) of which $6M (67%) is from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), $2.1M (24%) from other National Institutes of Health sources, and $0.8M (9%) from other peer-reviewed sources. Of note, CPCP’s NCI funding is 50% higher than that reported during the prior reporting period. During the reporting period, CPCP Members were awarded $47M in 33 peer-reviewed cancer-relevant multi-PI grants. These MPIs included 12 R01s, two P01s, one U54, and partnerships with 66 institutions across the country, of which three were NCI-designated cancer centers. Funding includes a new P01 in skin cancer prevention; a new UG1 grant to lead early-phase clinical trials of cancer preventive agents, one of only five NCI-funded programs; new Centers for Disease Control and Prevention cancer funding as the Arizona site for the national Cancer Prevention Clinical Trials Network; and P42 funding to address mine waste exposures and cancer promotion. During the current project period, CPCP Members authored 525 cancer-relevant publications, of which 122 (23%) were intraprogrammatic, 76 (14%) were interprogrammatic, 311 (59%) were inter-institutional. In addition, CPCP members filed 59 patents, of which 12 (20%) were issued. During the project period, CPCP accrued 8,941 participants to clinical studies, 6,496 of which were accrued to investigator-initiated trials representing a 2-fold increase compared to the prior period.