title: Biological basis of cancer health disparities: resources and challenges for research.
abstract: Last few decades have witnessed remarkable progress in our understanding of cancer initiation and progression leading to refinement of prevention and treatment approaches. Although these advances have improved the survival of cancer patients in general, certain racial/ethnic groups have benefited only partially. Footprints of cancer-associated racial disparities are very much evident in cancers of the prostate, breast, cervical, colorectal, endometrium, liver and lung. These health inequalities are mostly attributed to socioeconomic differences among races, but there is a growing realization that these may actually be due to inherent biological differences as well. Indeed, significant data now exist to support the biological basis of racial disparities in cancer, warranting basic research investigations, using appropriate tools and model systems. In this article, we have aimed to succinctly review the literature supporting the biological bases of racial disparities in cancer, along with available resources, databases and model systems that will be of interest to researchers. Moreover, we have highlighted the specific areas that need attention in terms of development of resources and/or tools, and discuss the opportunities and challenges in basic biological research in cancer health disparities.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama Mobile, Alabama 36604, USA.
authors.forename: Sachin K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Deshmukh
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama Mobile, Alabama 36604, USA.
authors.forename: Shafquat
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Azim
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama Mobile, Alabama 36604, USA.
authors.forename: Aamir
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ahmad
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama Mobile, Alabama 36604, USA.
authors.forename: Haseeb
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zubair
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama Mobile, Alabama 36604, USA.
authors.forename: Nikhil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tyagi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South AlabamaMobile, Alabama 36604, USA; Division of Cell Biology and Genetics, Tatva Biosciences, Coastal Innovation Hub600 Clinic Drive, 3rd Floor, Mobile, Alabama 36688, USA.
authors.forename: Sanjeev K
authors.initials: SK
authors.lastname: Srivastava
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama Mobile, Alabama 36604, USA.
authors.forename: Arun
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bhardwaj
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South AlabamaMobile, Alabama 36604, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of South AlabamaMobile, Alabama 36688, USA.
authors.forename: Seema
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: Department of Interdisciplinary Clinical Oncology, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South Alabama Mobile, Alabama 36604, USA.
authors.forename: Rodney P
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Rocconi
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncologic Sciences, Mitchell Cancer Institute, University of South AlabamaMobile, Alabama 36604, USA; Department of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology, College of Medicine, University of South AlabamaMobile, Alabama 36688, USA.
authors.forename: Ajay P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Singh
keywords: PDX; Racial disparity; biobanks; cell line model; web-based databanks