FY23 Colon Cancer MSI MMR Study

FY23 Colon Cancer MSI MMR Study C3357 Pediatric brain and central nervous system tumors (PBCNST) are the most common solid tumors and are the leading cause of disease-related death in children in the United States (U.S.). PBCNST incidence rates in Kentucky are significantly higher than in the U.S. as a whole and are even higher among Kentucky’s Appalachian children. To understand and eventually eliminate such cancer disparities among Kentucky children, the Contractor will perform continued population-based data collection to facilitate research that is needed to gain a thorough understanding of the epidemiology and etiology of the disease. University of Kentucky Research Foundation (UKRF) shall expand upon the successful 2018-2020 Kentucky Pediatric Cancer Research Trust Fund population-based study to identify factors associated with the high incidence of PBCNST in Kentucky. Contractor will leverage the infrastructure provided by the Kentucky Cancer Registry (KCR), its Virtual Tissue Repository and the NIH Kids First Data Resource Center (DRC) to expand upon the depth and breadth of PBCNST data through the collection of germline non-cancerous specimens for genetic sequencing and information directly from the PBCNST survivors and their families. This work will generate a comprehensive dataset to empower investigations into the factors behind this burden in Kentucky.