# Multilevel factors associated with heterogeneity in risk of liver cancer within Hispanics with cirrhosis

> **NIH NIH P01** · BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE · 2024 · $98,355

## Abstract

PROGRAM SUMMARY / ABSTRACT
 This application is being submitted in response to the Notice of Special Interest (NOSI) identified as NOT-
CA-24-032. I currently serve as PI/PD for the currently active (year 2 of 5) P01 CA263025 (Prevention of
 Hepatocellular Carcinoma Related to Metabolic Syndrome).
Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is one of the fastest growing causes of cancer deaths among Americans. In the
past decade, there has been an epidemic increase in metabolic (dysfunction) associated fatty liver disease
(MAFLD)-related cirrhosis and HCC. MAFLD is estimated to affect 1 billion individuals globally and is projected
to become the leading cause of HCC in the next 2 decades. In the U.S., Hispanics are currently most affected
by both MAFLD and HCC. There is an urgent need to develop effective strategies to reduce HCC burden in the
growing MAFLD population. The overall goal of the Program Project is to reduce the burden of HCC-related
mortality through better understanding of contemporary risk factors (e.g., metabolic traits and biomarkers) and
protective factors (e.g., chemoprevention, HCC surveillance) of HCC related to MAFLD. We have established
one of the largest and most characterized multiethnic cohort of persons with MAFLD-related cirrhosis, the Texas
HCC Consortium (THCCC) Cohort. This Administrative Supplement aims to increase the impact of our THCCC
research by adding measurements of multilevel factors. The goal of Project 1 of the parent Program Project is
to identify risk factors and biomarkers associated with HCC risk among cirrhosis patients, such that those at
highest risk can be targeted for prevention and early detection. This Administrative Supplement will increase and
expand the influence of Project 1 by using multilevel factors characterizing genetic ancestries and neighborhood
socioeconomic disadvantage to address important gaps in our understanding of heterogeneity in HCC risk within
Hispanic populations with cirrhosis.
 Our Specific Aims are to: (1) examine the associations between genetic ancestry and HCC risk using
admixture mapping analysis among Hispanic cirrhosis patients with (cases) and without HCC (controls) in the
THCCC cohort; and (2) examine how the joint associations of genetic ancestry and neighborhood socioeconomic
disadvantage affects HCC risk within Hispanic cirrhosis patients. The central hypotheses of this Supplement are
that greater proportion of European ancestry and Indigenous ancestry (representing genetic influences) are
associated with an increased risk of developing HCC, and that HCC risk within Hispanics with cirrhosis will vary
by level of neighborhood disadvantage (representing environmental influences).
 The work proposed is relevant to the parent grant and its original work scope, but will provide important
findings that will drive subsequent investigations and preventive measures to address the heterogeneity in HCC
risk within the Hispanic population in the U.S.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11080090
- **Project number:** 3P01CA263025-03S1
- **Recipient organization:** BAYLOR COLLEGE OF MEDICINE
- **Principal Investigator:** Hashem B El-Serag
- **Activity code:** P01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $98,355
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 2022-07-01 → 2027-06-30

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11080090

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11080090, Multilevel factors associated with heterogeneity in risk of liver cancer within Hispanics with cirrhosis (3P01CA263025-03S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-24 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11080090. Licensed CC0.

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