Sheena Bhalla, MD

Black Americans are more likely to be diagnosed with lung cancer than other racial groups in the U.S. Epigenetic changes (alterations in gene expression that do not change the underlying DNA sequence), such as DNA methylation, may contribute to this disparity and are being used as markers for early lung cancer detection. DNA methylation plays a key role in gene regulation, as well as a role in causing cancer. However so far, DNA methylation studies have mainly included only European ancestry patients. Thus, it is critical to now study DNA methylation changes across racially diverse patients undergoing lung cancer screening. We will conduct DNA methylation testing on blood samples from Black and White individuals undergoing lung cancer screening at Parkland Health System in Dallas. We will study epigenetic changes across race and their association with smoking and lung cancer risk. Findings from this work will help us better understand biological factors associated with lung cancer risk among Black Americans and improve future lung cancer screening efforts.

Update: Over the past year, my team and I have developed a prospective biospecimen repository among patients undergoing lung cancer screening at Parkland Health System in Dallas. We are recruiting patients for blood collection and integrating clinical as well as radiographic data for analyses. Soon, we will begin DNA methylation analysis to examine blood-based epigenetic changes across race and their association with smoking and lung cancer risk.