Abstract A35: An integrative model of cancer disparities based on the calcium molecular theory of carcinogenesis

One key question that comes to mind regarding cancer patterns is what factors account for the differentiated distribution of different cancer types in a given population? In other words, why is prostate cancer, for example, more prevalent among African Americans than in Caucasian Americans? Or why do native Eastern Asians record the highest incidence of gastric cancer worldwide? Beyond the commonly accepted genetic polymorphism to cancer vulnerability, this study is an in-depth exploration of the factors underpinning cancer distribution. Using a population health approach, an ecologic analysis was conducted, based on the current knowledge on the most prevalent cancer types. The calcium molecular theory of carcinogenesis, as published in our earlier work and presented at the Paris 2016 World Cancer Congress, served as basis for the analysis. As a result, cancer distribution appears to be shaped by a complex interaction between some key socioecologic determinants. Most importantly, we established that these determinants have a differentiated impact on intracellular calcium concentrations and trafficking. Thus, specific populations will be selectively vulnerable to a certain cancer type through a distinctive effect of their socioecologic characteristics on internal calcium. We conclude that calcium ion, already known as a cellular messenger, is also an environmental messenger. That molecule mediates the effects of external factors and their cellular responses, and this interaction accounts for cancer type distribution in the population at large. The work is published in two complementary papers: the first relates to cancer determinants while the second will discuss their impact on calcium metabolism.

Note: This abstract was not presented at the conference.

Citation Format: Bernard KADIO, Sanni Hashimi Yaya, Ajoy Basak, James Gomes, Koffi Djè, Christian Mesenge. An integrative model of cancer disparities based on the calcium molecular theory of carcinogenesis [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Tenth AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2017 Sep 25-28; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2018;27(7 Suppl):Abstract nr A35.