The Trans-NCI Obesity and Cancer Work Group was established in 2019. The purpose of the work group is to promote the exchange of information and cross-cutting interests in obesity and cancer research within NCI. Our activities include the development of meetings, workshops and webinars for staff and public knowledge, and the development of scientific manuscripts. The work group also conducts portfolio reviews, and identifies and promotes new opportunities in obesity and cancer research. Six subgroups have been formed: Prevention, Etiology, and Mechanisms, Treatment and Survivorship, Measurement and Methods, Health Disparities, Time-Restricted Eating, and Pediatrics and Physical Activity.
Objectives
- Identify and summarize the state-of-the-science to document what is known and what is needed to move the science forward
- Identify and prioritize critical research questions/needs/gaps in each topic area
- Develop research concept themes and other activities to stimulate research
- Plan and develop a webinar series with topics related to the different subgroups
Subgroups
The Prevention, Etiology, and Mechanisms subgroup is exploring the following challenges in obesity and cancer:
- What are the risk factors, biological mechanisms and pathways associated with obesity/overweight and cancer as it relates to excess body weight and/or adiposity driving the development of pre- and invasive cancers across the lifespan in all racial/ethnic and understudied populations across geographic locations?
- Does overweight/obesity in children and youth increase the risks for cancer development later in life?
- How do risk factors, such as sleep, stress, social determinants of health, the microbiome, metabolic and immune dysfunction, environmental obesogens, influence and/or interact with mechanisms through which obesity might increase risk of cancer?
- What effective strategies could prevent or intercept mechanistic biological changes such as inflammation, immune function, and metabolic dysregulation of obesity associated cancers?
- Does the timing, duration, and amount of weight loss in the life cycle influence cancer risk (i.e. in childhood/youth versus adult)?
- Which interventions decrease obesity and associated unhealthy lifestyle behaviors, applied across the lifespan, to reduce and/or delay cancer incidence?
Co-Chairs
Sharon Ross [DCP]
Ed Sauter [DCP]
The Treatment and Survivorship subgroup is exploring the following challenges in obesity and cancer:
What are the effects of diet, exercise and body composition on cancer treatment efficacy & outcomes?*
- Better characterization of optimal type, dose, frequency, duration, timing of exercise & diet on chemotherapy uptake, adherence, side effects, treatment response & clinical outcomes as it relates to obesity and cancer.
- Greater understanding of the relationships between obesity/body composition, cancer progression, and response to treatment.
What are the effects of obesity/body composition, exercise & dietary regimens on post-treatment outcomes?*
- Better characterization of post-treatment exercise and diet interventions on long-term treatment related toxicities and clinical outcomes, QoL, sleep, and general health outcomes.
- Better precision weight maintenance/loss interventions for cancer survivors.
*These questions need to be addressed across cancer sites/subtypes and in diverse groups of survivors with respect to age, body size, activity level, and race/ethnicity.
Co-Chairs
Tanya Agurs-Collins [DCCPS]
Joanne Elena [DCCPS]
The Measurement and Methods subgroup is exploring the following challenges related to obesity and cancer:
- How can complementary assessment methods (e.g., self-report, sensor-based technologies, and/or biomarkers) be triangulated to improve insights into diet, physical activity, and sleep behaviors and environmental determinants?
- What assessment and analytic methods are needed to better integrate measures of diet, physical activity, and sleep within the 24-hour day?
- How can assessment tools for modifiable risk factors be developed or adapted and validated for cancer survivors?
- How can methods be enhanced to measure the food and physical activity environment in diverse populations using appropriate reference instruments?
Co-Chairs
Jill Reedy [DCCPS]
Dana Wolff-Hughes [DCCPS]
The Health Disparities subgroup is exploring the following challenges in obesity and cancer:
Why do cancer and the health consequences of obesity disproportionately affect Hispanics, non-Hispanic Blacks, and Native Americans more than other race and ethnic groups?
- Geography, economy, health care access, internet access, culturally-sensitive communication, differences in lifestyle, and citizenship status all contribute to the impact of the ability of diverse patient populations to seek and receive cancer information and care related to cancer prevention, screening and treatment - including risks/benefits associated with various treatment modalities - in equitable fashion.
- Need for greater understanding of the intersection of cancer, obesity and disparities within racially-ethnically diverse populations in the basic/translational, clinical and population sciences.
- Enhance understanding of the underlying factors associated with rising obesity rates, especially among vulnerable populations.
How can we tailor interventions influencing weight loss, exercise & dietary regimens to have better outcomes in diverse populations to reduce cancer risk?
- Better characterization of optimal delivery of interventions, type, dose, frequency, duration, timing of exercise & diet on health behavior outcomes & QoL.
- Identify evidence-based interventions and strategies to improve weight, physical exercise, and diet, including effective ways to ensure affordability and address barriers, such as those relating to SES and environmental constraints (e.g. time constraints) that pose obstacles to implementing such strategies.
Co-Chairs
Tanya Agurs-Collins [DCCPS]
Anil Wali [CRCHD]
The Time-Restricted Eating subgroup is exploring the following challenges in obesity and cancer:
- What are the effects of time-restricted eating (TRE) compared to other diet strategies, including, but not limited to, caloric restriction or other intermittent fasting approaches, on weight loss, weight maintenance, and long-term dietary adherence?
- What role does TRE play in reducing cancer incidence and progression, cancer treatment response, and cancer recurrence?
- What are the emerging obesity risk factors, including the hormonal milieu, microbiome, and epigenetic modifications that impact TRE’s efficacy?
Co-Chairs
Ed Sauter [DCP]
Marissa Shams-White [DCCPS]
The Pediatrics and Physical Activity subgroup is exploring the following challenges in obesity and cancer:
- What is needed to accelerate the application of pediatric exercise and physical activity intervention knowledge from bench to bedside to communities and policy?
- What are research opportunities for exercise, physical activity and physical education for pediatric cancer patients and survivors?
- What role do pediatric exercise and physical activity interventions play in improving cancer treatment outcomes?
Co-Chairs
Heather Bowles [DCP]
Frank Perna [DCCPS]
Funding Opportunities
Title | Announcement # | Expiration Date | Contact(s) |
---|---|---|---|
Stimulating Innovations in Behavioral Intervention Research for Cancer Prevention and Control | PAR-19-309 (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) | September 08, 2022 | Tanya Agurs-Collins 240-276-6956 collinsta@mail.nih.gov |
Smart Health and Biomedical Research in the Era of Artificial Intelligence and Advanced Data Science | NOT-OD-21-011 | November 11, 2022 | Dana Wolff-Hughes 240-620-0673 dana.wolff@nih.gov |
Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Dietary, Physical Activity, Sedentary Behavior and Sleep Assessment Methodologies Among Infants and Young Children (Birth to 5 years) through Adults | NOT-CA-21-108 | May 08, 2023 | Kirsten Herrick 240-276-5734 kirsten.herrick@nih.gov |
Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Validation of Digital Health and Artificial Intelligence Tools for Improved Assessment in Epidemiological, Clinical, and Intervention Research | NOT-CA-22-037 | March 09, 2024 | Dana Wolff-Hughes 240-620-0673 dana.wolff@nih.gov |
Mechanisms that Impact Cancer Risk after Bariatric Surgery | PAR-21-331 (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) PAR-21-332 (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
September 08, 2024 | General questions, bariatric surgery questions, and clinical trials questions: Edward Sauter 240-276-7657 edward.sauter@nih.gov Inquiries related to basic cancer biology and mechanisms: Kristine Willis 240-276-6230 Kristine.willis@nih.gov
Philip Daschner
|
Basic Research in Cancer Health Disparities | PAR-21-324 (R03 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) PAR-21-323 (R21 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) PAR-21-322 (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
September 08, 2024 | Anu Sharman 240-276-6250 sharmananu@nih.gov Tiffany Wallace 240-276-5114 tiffany.wallace@nih.gov Asad Umar 240-276-7070 umara@mail.nih.gov
|
Time-Sensitive Obesity Policy and Program Evaluation | PAR-21-305 (R01 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) | September 11, 2024 | David Berrigan (for built environment grants) 240-276-6752 berrigad@mail.nih.gov Marissa Shams-White (for food environment/dietary change grants) 240-276-7654 marissa.shams-white@nih.gov
|
Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Developing and Testing Multilevel Physical Activity Interventions to Improve Health and Well-Being | NOT-OD-21-087 | February 16, 2024 | Frank Perna 240-276-6782 pernafm@mail.nih.gov |
Administrative Supplements to Support Cancer Disparity Collaborative Research | PAR-22-114 (Clinical Trial Optional) | January 24, 2025 | Cancer Disparities Research: Maria Jamela Revilleza 240-620-0616 mariajamela.revilleza@nih.gov Population Sciences: Amy Kennedy 240-781-3335 amy.kennedy@nih.gov Translational and Clinical Studies: Minkyung (Min) H. Song 240-246-6139 songm@mail.nih.gov Cancer Prevention: Vikrant Sahasrabuddhe 240-276-7332 sahasrabuddhevv@mail.nih.gov Basic Cancer Biology Research: Natalia Mercer 240-276-6220 natalia.mercer@nih.gov Global Health: James Alaro 240-276-6429 james.alaro@nih.gov
|
Title | Announcement # | Expiration Date | Contact(s) |
---|---|---|---|
Exercise and Nutrition Interventions to Improve Cancer Treatment-Related Outcomes (ENICTO) in Cancer Survivors Consortium | RFA-CA-21-031 (U01 Clinical Trial Required) RFA-CA-21-032 (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
July 15, 2021 | Frank Perna 240-276-6782 pernafm@mail.nih.gov |
Improving Outcomes in Cancer Treatment-Related Cardiotoxicity | PA-19-112 (R01 Clinical Trial Optional) PA-19-111 (R21 Clinical Trial Optional) |
January 8, 2022 | Nonniekaye Shelburne 240-276-6897 nshelburne@mail.nih.gov |
Metabolic Dysregulation and Cancer Risk Program, Research Grants: a Transdisciplinary Approach to Obesity-Associated Research | RFA-CA-21-021 (U01 Clinical Trial Optional) RFA-CA-21-022 (U24 Clinical Trial Not Allowed) |
October 07, 2022 | For general inquiries about the NOFO and questions related to epidemiology: Tram Kim Lam 240-276-6967 lamt@mail.nih.gov For inquiries related to cancer biology: Philip Daschner 240-276-6227 daschnep@mail.nih.gov For inquiries related to cancer prevention: Edward Sauter 240-276-7657 edward.sauter@nih.gov For inquiries related to cancer disparities: Mary Ann Van Duyn 240-276-6165 vanduynm@mail.nih.gov |
Obesity & Cancer Webinar Series
The Obesity and Cancer Webinar Series includes a wide range of obesity and cancer topics. Past webinars have focused on the following topics as related to cancer and obesity: time restricted eating, sleep and circadian rhythm, COVID-19, health disparities, inflammation and insulin resistance, microbiome, and physical activity interventions.
Recordings of these webinars, and information on planned webinars, is available at the following link:
Additional Information
- Agurs-Collins T, Ross SA, Dunn BK. The many faces of obesity and Its influence on breast cancer risk. Front Oncol. 2019 Sep 4;9:765. doi: 10.3389/fonc.2019.00765.
- Arends J, Bachmann P, Baracos V, et al. ESPEN guidelines on nutrition in cancer patients. Clin Nutr. 2017;36(1):11-48. doi: 10.1016/j.clnu.2016.07.015.
- Ballard R, Arteaga S, Berrigan D, et al. Advancing measurement to address childhood obesity: results of three workshops. Am J Prev Med. 2021;61(6):e296-e304. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2021.05.025
- Belcher BR, Wolff-Hughes DL, Dooley EE, et al. US population-referenced percentiles for wrist-worn accelerometer-derived activity. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2021;53(11):2455-2464. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002726
- Brown JC, Carson TL, Thompson HJ, Agurs-Collins T. The triple health threat of diabetes, obesity, and cancer-epidemiology, disparities, mechanisms, and interventions. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2021 Jun;29(6):954-959. doi: 1002/oby.23161.
- Campbell KL, Winters-Stone KM, Wiskemann J, et al. Exercise guidelines for cancer survivors: consensus statement from international multidisciplinary roundtable. Med Sci Sports Exerc. 2019;51(11):2375-2390. doi: 10.1249/MSS.0000000000002116.
- de Cabo R, Mattson MP. Effects of intermittent fasting on health, aging, and disease. N Engl J Med. 2019;381(26):2541-2551. doi: 10.1056/NEJMra1905136.
- Lin W, Leider J, Shang C., et al. The association between state physical education laws and student physical activity. Am J Prev Med. 2020;58(3):436-445. doi: 10.1016/j.amepre.2019.09.018
- Locke AE, Kahali B, Berndt SI, et al. Genetic studies of body mass index yield new insights for obesity biology. Nature. 2015;518(7538): 197-506. doi: 10.1038/nature14177
- Look AHEAD Research Group, Yeh HC, Bantle JP, Cassidy-Begay M, et al. Intensive weight loss intervention and cancer risk in adults with type 2 diabetes: analysis of the Look AHEAD randomized clinical trial. Obesity (Silver Spring). 2020;28(9):1678-1686. doi: 10.1002/oby.22936.
- Energy balance and obesity. IARC Working Group Reports, Volume 10, Edited by Isabelle Romieu, Laure Dossus, and Walter C. Willett. Chapter 12. Molecular and metabolic mechanisms underlying the obesity–cancer link, Ciara H. O’Flanagan, Laura W. Bowers, Emma H. Allott, and Stephen D. Hursting. 2017, International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France.
- Orgel E, Framson C, Buxton R, et al. Caloric and nutrient restriction to augment chemotherapy efficacy for acute lymphoblastic leukemia: the IDEAL trial. Blood Adv. 2021 Apr 13;5(7):1853-1861. doi: 10.1182/bloodadvances.2020004018.
- Park Y, Dodd KW, Kipnis V, et al. Comparison of self-reported dietary intakes from the Automated Self-Administered 24-h recall, 4-d food records, and food-frequency questionnaires against recovery biomarkers. AmJ Clin Nutr. 2018;107(1), 80-93. doi: 10.1093/ajcn/nqx002.
- Patterson RE, Sears DD. Metabolic effects of intermittent fasting. Annu Rev Nutr. 2017;21;37:371-393. doi: 10.1146/annurev-nutr-071816-064634.
- Perez-Escamilla R, King A, Rivera J (Eds). Childhood obesity prevention across borders: The promise of US‐Latin American research collaboration [Special Issue]. Obesity. 2021.
- Piekarz-Porter E, Lin W, Leider J, et al. State laws matter when it comes to school provisions for structured PE and daily PE participation. Transl Behav Med. 2021;11(2):597-603. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2021.7755
- Saint-Maurice PF, Graubard BI, Troiano RP, et al. Estimated number of deaths prevented through increased physical activity among US adults. JAMA Intern Med. 2022;182(3):349-352. doi: 10.1001/jamainternmed.2021.7755
- Schauer DP, Feigelson HS, Koebnick C, et al. Bariatric surgery and the risk of cancer in a large multisite cohort. Ann Surg. 2019;269(1):95-101. doi: 10.1097/SLA.0000000000002525.
- Shams-White MM, Romaguera D, Mitrou P, et al. Further guidance in implementing the Standardized 2018 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) Score. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2020;29(5):889-894. doi: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-19-1444
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