The ability to estimate ancestry using genetic markers brings the potential for deeper understandings of the biological basis for cancer health disparities but also presents challenges regarding how best to incorporate this information into epidemiologic studies. New insights can be gained by evaluating the association between ancestry and established cancer risk factors. Using an example of African ancestry, strong associations between the level of African ancestry and various cancer-related biomarkers may provide compelling new information that leads to a better understanding of genetic underpinnings of excess cancer burden in the African American population. African ancestry also has the potential, however, to be correlated with sociodemographic, geographic, and/or behavioral factors. Investigators should be cognizant of these potential correlations to avoid misinterpretation of ancestry-related findings.

Citation Format: Lisa B. Signorello. Gaining epidemiologic insights from ancestry associations with cancer risk factors. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Fifth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2012 Oct 27-30; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2012;21(10 Suppl):Abstract nr ED02-03.

©2012 American Association for Cancer Research.
2012