# University of Arizona Cancer Center - Cancer Center Support Grant [MICEO Administrative Supplement]

> **NIH NIH P30** · UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA · 2024 · $200,000

## Abstract

ABSTRACT
An estimated 62% (37 million) of Mexican-origin (MO) adults in the U.S. are predisposed to non-alcoholic fatty
liver disease (NAFLD), an emerging risk factor for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). This is of particular
concern in the Southern Arizona U.S.-Mexico border region as liver disease and liver cancer, are among the
leading causes of death for MO adults. Significant disparities in the incidence and mortality of HCC in the U.S.
exist across racial/ethnic and gender groups. Specifically, HCC incidence rates are two-fold higher in Hispanic
populations overall compared to non-Hispanic whites. Further, HCC is one of the most fatal cancers; the 5-year
cause-specific survival for Hispanics is 19%, rendering it the 3rd leading cause of cancer death in Hispanic
men and the 5th leading cause in Hispanic women. Despite MO experiencing higher rates and worse
outcomes for NAFLD and HCC compared to all racial and ethnic groups and other Hispanic populations, our
preliminary work suggest awareness of NAFLD is low in Southern Arizona. Therefore, there is a critical need to
improve liver disease and cancer health literacy for MO adults to reduce the disparities among this high-risk
population. In the absence of such tools, the prevalence, morbidity, and economic costs associated with
NAFLD and HCC in this population are likely to continue rising. The proposed research will address this gap by
implementing a culturally tailored, multi-channel educational communication campaign to increase knowledge
and public awareness of liver disease and liver cancer risk factors in MO. To achieve this objective, we will
leverage our current screening and education efforts for liver disease prevention and treatment in Southern
Arizona, the University of Arizona Cancer Center (UACC) catchment area. Further, we will leverage a NAFLD
awareness multi-media educational communication campaign developed in partnership with El Rio Community
Health Center, a Federally Qualified Health Center, including community-based education supported by
promotoras de salud (community health workers). For Track 2: General Population aged 30+ years, we will (1)
evaluate the effectiveness of a culturally tailored, multi-channel educational communication campaign to
improve knowledge and public awareness of liver disease and liver cancer risk factors in MO communities in
Southern Arizona; and (2) determine the impact of promotora-led outreach, engagement, and education for
cancer prevention and treatment in community-based settings. The proposed project will provide much needed
evidence to inform the Community Preventive Services Task Force recommendations for engaging promotoras
to increase knowledge and public awareness of liver disease and liver cancer risk factors in MO, particularly for
this high-risk, underserved population.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 11137397
- **Project number:** 3P30CA023074-43S1
- **Recipient organization:** UNIVERSITY OF ARIZONA
- **Principal Investigator:** JUANITA L. MERCHANT
- **Activity code:** P30 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2024
- **Award amount:** $200,000
- **Award type:** 3
- **Project period:** 1997-07-01 → 2027-07-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/11137397

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 11137397, University of Arizona Cancer Center - Cancer Center Support Grant [MICEO Administrative Supplement] (3P30CA023074-43S1). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-23 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/11137397. Licensed CC0.

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