# Genomics of Renal Cancer in Patients of African Ancestry

> **NIH NIH R21** · SLOAN-KETTERING INST CAN RESEARCH · 2024 · $192,963

## Abstract

PROJECT SUMMARY
The outcomes of Black patients are worse than white patients across renal cell carcinoma (RCC) subtypes. Black
patients also suffer higher disease incidence compared to the white patient population, particularly for the
papillary subtype. Environmental and structural factors likely contribute to this disparity; however, there is
evidence suggesting that somatic genomic differences also contribute. Although patients of African (AFR)
ancestry are under-represented in most publicly available databases, decreased VHL gene mutation and
chromosome 3p deletion in clear cell RCC patients of AFR ancestry was observed compared to European (EUR)
ancestry. In our preliminary data with increased sample size, we found NF2 mutations and chromosome 22q
deletion to be more frequent in RCCs from patients of AFR ancestry across subtypes. These preliminary findings
of genomic correlations with ancestry lead us to hypothesize that the survival disparity may be partially explained
by molecular features enriched in tumors from patients of AFR ancestry.
In this project, we will take three parallel approaches to understanding the molecular tumor differences between
patients of AFR and EUR ancestry. In the first aim, we will perform a comprehensive computational analysis of
larger RCC datasets to validate and identify new genomic tumor differences between these two patient
populations. In the second aim, we will functionally characterize the “ancestry-specific” genomic alterations
identified in preliminary studies, including two aneuploidy events - chromosome 3p deletion and chromosome
22q deletion. Lastly, in the third aim, we will move beyond panel and exome sequencing to identify new driver
events, using whole-genome sequencing coupled with RNA-sequencing on tumors from Black patients. The
results from these experiments will lead to new insights about the specific biology of RCC in this patient
population. Our studies will reveal ancestry-associated driver alterations that could not only improve diagnostic
testing for RCC patients of AFR ancestry, but will also identify new therapeutic targets to decrease the disparities
observed in RCC.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10835956
- **Project number:** 5R21CA280577-02
- **Recipient organization:** SLOAN-KETTERING INST CAN RESEARCH
- **Principal Investigator:** Alison M. Taylor
- **Activity code:** R21 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $192,963
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 2023-05-02 → 2025-04-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10835956

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10835956, Genomics of Renal Cancer in Patients of African Ancestry (5R21CA280577-02). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-26 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10835956. Licensed CC0.

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