Epidemiology. Risk biomarkers. Intervention trials. Health disparities and equity.
From laboratory research and epidemiological studies to social sciences and community outreach, the scientists in Roswell Park’s Department of Cancer Prevention & Control (CPC) explore the cause and progression of common cancers, and develop intervention programs for at-risk communities.
“Driven by the diverse backgrounds and training of our faculty, our group conducts cancer research that spans the study of behavioral, biologic and social determinants of cancer risk and outcomes. This multidisciplinary approach fuels exciting research opportunities and findings that have real relevance for the patients and populations that we serve.”
What we do
Landmark Research
Roswell Park has been conducting prominent epidemiological research for more than half a century, dating back to a groundbreaking landmark paper in JAMA published in 1950 on Cancer and Tobacco Smoking – one of the first to link cigarette smoking to lung cancer.
CPC research at Roswell Park ranges from conducting population-based molecular epidemiology studies to intervention studies in cancer patients and survivors to improve cancer outcomes.
Some of our current investigations include:
- The role of gene-environment interactions in cancer etiology and prognosis, with ongoing research in cancers of the ovary, breast, lung, head and neck, esophagus, prostate and bladder.
- Breast cancer disparities to better understand the reasons for more aggressive breast cancer in Black women.
- Cancer health equity in African American, Hispanic and Native American populations.
Our innovative intervention studies examine the effectiveness of behavioral strategies to prevent cancer and cancer recurrence, particularly dietary and weight loss interventions for the primary prevention of cancer. We focus on translating evidence-based intervention strategies for diverse communities using an implementation science framework.
Research highlights
- Matthew Buas, PhD, et al. Germline variation in the insulin-like growth factor pathway and risk of Barrett's esophagus and esophageal adenocarcinoma. Carcinogenesis. 2021 Apr 17;42(3):369-377. doi: 10.1093/carcin/bgaa132. PMID: 33300568.
- Rikki Cannioto, PhD, EdD, et al. Physical Activity Before, During, and After Chemotherapy for High-Risk Breast Cancer: Relationships With Survival. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2021 Jan 4;113(1):54-63. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djaa046. PMID: 32239145. PMCID: PMC7781460.
- Kirsten Moysich, PhD, et al. Circulating CD14 + HLA-DR lo/- monocytic cells as a biomarker for epithelial ovarian cancer progression. Am J Reprod Immunol. 2021 Mar;85(3):e13343. doi: 10.1111/aji.13343. PMID: 32905653. PMCID: PMC7897210.
- Li Tang, PhD, et al. Differential associations of SLCO transporters with prostate cancer aggressiveness between African Americans and European Americans. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2021 Feb 22;cebp.EPI-20-1389-E.2020. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-20-1389. PMID: 33619025.
- Song Yao, PhD, et al. Genetic ancestry and skeletal toxicities among childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia patients in the DFCI 05-001 cohort. Blood Adv. 2021 Jan 26;5(2):451-458. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020003060. PMID: 33496737. PMCID: PMC7839368.
- Song Yao, PhD, et al. A Population-Based Study of Genes Previously Implicated in Breast Cancer. N Engl J Med. 2021 Feb 4;384(5):440-451. doi: 10.1056/NEJMoa2005936. PMID: 33471974.
- Song Yao, PhD, et al. Breast Tumor Microenvironment in Black Women: A Distinct Signature of CD8+ T Cell Exhaustion. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2021 Jan 5;djaa215. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djaa215. PMID: 33395700.
- Christine Ambrosone, PhD, et al. FOXA1 Protein Expression in ER + and ER - Breast Cancer in Relation to Parity and Breastfeeding in Black and White Women. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2020 Feb;29(2):379-385. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-19-0787. PMID: 31871111. PMCID: PMC7007352.
- Christine Ambrosone, PhD, et al. Dietary Supplement Use During Chemotherapy and Survival Outcomes of Patients With Breast Cancer Enrolled in a Cooperative Group Clinical Trial (SWOG S0221). J Clin Oncol. 2020 Mar 10;38(8):804-814. doi: 10.1200/JCO.19.01203. Epub 2019 Dec 19. PMID: 31855498. PMCID: PMC7062457.
- Christine Ambrosone, PhD, et al. Contribution of Germline Predisposition Gene Mutations to Breast Cancer Risk in African American Women. J Natl Cancer Inst. 2020 Dec 14;112(12):1213-1221. doi: 10.1093/jnci/djaa040. PMID: 32427313. PMCID: PMC7735769.
- Kirsten Moysich, PhD, et al. Clinical needs for transgender men in the gynecologic oncology setting. Gynecol Oncol. 2020 Dec;159(3):899-905. doi: 10.1016/j.ygyno.2020.09.038. PMID: 33004214. PMCID: PMC7721990.
- Angela Omilian, PhD, et al. Racial differences in CD8 + T cell infiltration in breast tumors from Black and White women. Breast Cancer Res. 2020 Jun 9;22(1):62. doi: 10.1186/s13058-020-01297-4. PMID: 32517730. PMCID: PMC7285742.
- Angela Omilian, PhD, et al. Somatic mutations of triple-negative breast cancer: a comparison between Black and White women. Breast Cancer Res Treat. 2020 Jul;182(2):503-509. doi: 10.1007/s10549-020-05693-4. Epub 2020 May 21. PMID: 32441016. PMCID: PMC7313393.
- Elisa Rodriguez, PhD, et al. Factors associated with biomedical research participation within community-based samples across 3 National Cancer Institute-designated cancer centers. Cancer. 2020 Mar 1;126(5):1077-1089. doi: 10.1002/cncr.32487. PMID: 31909824. PMCID: PMC7021578.
- Elisa Rodriguez, PhD, et al. Translating new science into the community to promote opportunities for breast and cervical cancer prevention among African American women. Health Expect. 2020 Apr;23(2):337-347. doi: 10.1111/hex.12985. PMID: 31800158. PMCID: PMC7104642.
- Nicolas Schlecht, PhD, et al. HIV Modifies the Effect of Tobacco Smoking on Oral Human Papillomavirus Infection. J Infect Dis. 2020 Jul 23;222(4):646-654. doi: 10.1093/infdis/jiaa135. PMID: 32211783. PMCID: PMC7377295.
- Karen Yeary, PhD, et al. The WORD: Outcomes of a Behavioral Weight Loss Maintenance Effectiveness Trial in Rural Black Adults of Faith. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2020 Mar;28(3):510-520. doi: 10.1002/oby.22717. Epub 2020 Jan 27. PMID: 31984668. PMCID: PMC7042080.
- Nicolas Schlecht, PhD, et al. Risk of Oral Human Papillomavirus Infection Among Sexually Active Female Adolescents Receiving the Quadrivalent Vaccine. JAMA Netw Open. 2019 Oct 2;2(10):e1914031. doi: 10.1001/jamanetworkopen.2019.14031. PMID: 31651968. PMCID: PMC6822084.
- Nicolas Schlecht, PhD, et al. Timing of HPV16-E6 antibody seroconversion before OPSCC: findings from the HPVC3 consortium. Ann Oncol. 2019 Aug 1;30(8):1335-1343. doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdz138. PMID: 31185496. PMCID: PMC6683856.
- Li Tang, PhD, et al. The Be-Well Study: a prospective cohort study of lifestyle and genetic factors to reduce the risk of recurrence and progression of non-muscle-invasive bladder cancer. Cancer Causes Control. 2019 Feb;30(2):187-193. doi: 10.1007/s10552-019-1130-8. PMID: 30656539. PMCID: PMC6422041.
15 years. 35,000 people. Better testing. Earlier detection. More effective treatment.
Roswell Park is home to one of the most powerful tools available to cancer researchers — the Data Bank and BioRepository (DBBR). This resource helps scientists around the world zero in on biological differences between people who have cancer and people who don’t.
Training the next generation of scientists
In addition to our research and community outreach, the Department of Cancer Prevention & Control is actively involved in hands-on teaching with Master’s and PhD students in our highly competitive graduate studies program.
Our multidisciplinary education model allows students a unique immersive experience, preparing them for successful careers as independent investigators.
In the news
Contact us
Gregory L. Ciupak, MPH
Senior Department Administrator
Phone: 716-845-8863
Fax: 716-845-8487
Email: Gregory.Ciupak@RoswellPark.org