NCI Gene-Environment Think-Tank
Overview
Risk of cancer is determined by a complex interplay of genetic and environmental factors. Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified hundreds of genetic variants associated with cancer. However, it remains unclear how to best incorporate gene-environment interplay into study design and analysis in order to better understand cancer etiology, or to identify public health interventions.
NCI's Epidemiology and Genomics Research Program (EGRP) sponsored a Gene-Environment Think-Tank on January 10-11, 2012 in Rockville, MD.
The objective was to facilitate discussions on the:
- goals of gene-environment interaction studies in cancer epidemiology;
- state of the science of gene-environment interactions; and
- opportunities for the future, including novel study design and analysis tools.
Topics covered included presentations on summary results from large consortia studies of breast, lung, colon, and bladder cancer; review of current statistical methods; and discussion of challenges in the field. The Think-Tank expanded on earlier discussions about gene-environment interactions made at the September 2010 Workshop on Next-Generation Analytic Tools for Large-Scale Genetic Epidemiology Studies of Complex Diseases.
Agenda
Day 1 | |
---|---|
12:30 p.m. |
Welcome Muin Khoury, M.D., Ph.D. Epidemiology and Genomics Research Program Division of Cancer Control and Population Sciences (DCCPS) National Cancer Institute (NCI) |
12:35 p.m. |
Introduction to Meeting Leah Mechanic, Ph.D., M.P.H. Host Susceptibility Factors Branch Epidemiology and Genomics Research Program, DCCPS, NCI |
12:45 p.m. |
Goals of Gene-Environment Interaction Studies in Cancer Epidemiology Nilanjan Chatterjee, Ph.D. Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, NCI |
1:00 p.m. |
State of the Science - Short Presentations
|
1:00 p.m. |
Breast Cancer Peter Kraft, Ph.D. Harvard School of Public Health |
1:20 p.m. |
Colorectal Cancer Ulrike Peters, Ph.D. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center |
1:40 p.m. |
Lung Cancer Christopher Amos, Ph.D. The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center |
2:00 p.m. |
Bladder Cancer Nathaniel Rothman, M.D., M.P.H., M.H.S. Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, NCI |
2:20 p.m. |
Glioma Melissa Bondy, Ph.D. Baylor College of Medicine |
2:40 p.m. |
Knowledge Management and Synthesis Paolo Boffetta, Ph.D. The Mount Sinai Hospital |
3:20 p.m. |
Group Discussion: State of the Science
Panel: Moderator: Facilitators: |
4:20 p.m. | Methodological Challenges and Opportunities - Analytical Methods |
4:20 p.m. |
Emerging Approaches for Gene-Environment Wide Association Studies Duncan Thomas, Ph.D. Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California |
4:40 p.m. |
Beyond Logistic Regression and Case-Only Tests Clarice Weinberg, Ph.D. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences |
5:00 p.m. |
Group Discussion: Analytical Methods Panel Moderator: Facilitators: |
Day 2 | |
8:00 a.m. |
Introduction to Day 2 Leah Mechanic, Ph.D., M.P.H. Host Susceptibility Factors Branch Epidemiology and Genomics Research Program, DCCPS, NCI |
8:10 a.m. | Methodological Challenges and Opportunities - Measurement or Assessment of the Environment |
8:10 a.m. |
Exposure Measurement Error in Complex Studies, Some Basic Principles and Relevant Examples Daniel O. Stram, Ph.D. Keck School of Medicine of the University of Southern California |
8:30 a.m. |
Challenges of Exposure Assessment and Measurement Error in Studies of GxE Interaction Donna Spiegelman, Ph.D. Harvard School of Public Health |
8:50 a.m. |
Novel Methodologies for Exposure Assessment - Report from Genes Environment and Health Initiative (GEI) Exposure Biology Program David Balshaw, Ph.D. National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences |
9:10 a.m. |
Time Varying Exposure Metrics and Timing of Exposure Effects Molin Wang, Ph.D. Harvard School of Public Health |
9:50 a.m. |
Group Discussion: Measurement or Assessment of the Environment
Panel: Moderator: Facilitators: |
10:50 a.m. | Methodological Challenges and Opportunities - Study Designs and Approaches |
11:10 a.m. |
Opportunities for Study in Diverse Populations Christian Abnet, Ph.D. Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, NCI |
11:30 a.m. |
Epigenetics Studies for Gene-Environment Margaret Daniele Fallin, Ph.D. The Johns Hopkins University |
11:50 a.m. |
Opportunities for Study of Gene-Environment in Cancer Laura Jean Bierut, M.D. Washington University |
1:10 p.m. |
Group Discussion: Study Designs and Approaches
Panel: Moderator: Facilitators: |
2:10 p.m. | Clinical and Public Health Implications |
2:10 p.m. |
Application of GxE to Cancer Prevention Studies Ross Prentice, Ph.D. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center |
3:00 p.m. |
Group Discussion: Discussion and Meeting Summation
Panel: Moderator: |
4:00 p.m. |
Group Discussion: Meeting Conclusions
Moderator: |
Workshop Summary
A meeting report is currently in development and will be included here when completed.
Additional Resources
Related Funding Opportunities
A related NIH Funding Opportunity Announcement (FOA), Methods and Approaches for Detection of Gene-Environment Interactions (PAR-11-032), was announced in November 2010; applications were due February 2011.
EGRP does not currently have any gene-environment interaction FOAs, but encourages investigator-initiated grant applications on the topic.
Contact
For further information or questions about the Think-Tank, contact Leah Mechanic, Ph.D., M.P.H., Program Director, Host Susceptibility Factors Branch, Epidemiology and Genomics Research Program.