Abstract B063: Polyethnic-1000: Advancing cancer genomics by studying ethnically diverse, underserved patient populations in New York

Recent advances in DNA sequencing technologies have revolutionized approaches to the prevention, risk assessment, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of cancers. However, many ethnic groups, especially nonEuropean populations, have been significantly underrepresented in cancer research, including clinical trials, and have not received equal benefits in clinical practice. As a result, our current knowledge about tumor biology, cancer risk, and response to treatment has primarily been derived from patients of European descent. These inequities limit our understanding of the many types of cancer and may exacerbate health disparities in the United States. In this proposal, we address both the scientific and social issues by creating a dynamic research platform within the greater New York area that promises to enhance the ways in which cancer is prevented, diagnosed, and treated. This initiative, named Polyethnic-1000, will involve patients and staff at several academic health centers and partner hospitals in the New York City region. It will use the genomics and informatics capabilities of the New York Genome Center to determine how inherited and somatically acquired genetic variations affect the behavior of cancers occurring in ethnically diverse populations. In a first, retrospective phase, we will establish the workflow from sample acquisition to whole-exome and RNA sequencing, data analysis, and data sharing within the consortium. Then we will start a prospective study enabling the formation of cohorts of interest for particular cancer types and particular ethnicities, with uniform consent allowing broad data sharing of the somatic variants identified. Polyethnic-1000 will establish a framework to enhance interactions among our region9s academic and health centers to advance cancer genomics. These efforts should improve and widen the use of genomics for all, especially currently underserved ethnic minority populations. Citation Format: Nicolas Robine, Fieke Froeling, Benjamin Hubert, Michael C. Zody, Dayna Oschwald, Harold Varmus, Charles Sawyers, David Tuveson. Polyethnic-1000: Advancing cancer genomics by studying ethnically diverse, underserved patient populations in New York [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2018 Nov 2-5; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl):Abstract nr B063.