| Name | Zachary Wilmer Reichenbach |
| Institution | Temple University, Lewis Katz School of Medicine |
| Research Field | Basic Research |
| Role at Institution | Junior Faculty Member |
| Presenter(s) | Zachary Wilmer Reichenbach |
Investigating the Cellular and Molecular Factors Contributing to Health Disparities in Esophageal Cancer
Zachary Wilmer Reichenbach1,2, MD, PhD
1 Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
2 Center for Substance Abuse Research (CSAR), Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University
Esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) is more common in African American (AA) males while esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC) most often occurs in Caucasian American (CA) men. Presently, our understanding of the molecular mechanisms supporting these disparities remains limited. A recent study combined RNA-Seq tissues from AAs and CAs with single cell (sc) RNA-Seq in normal esophageal mucosa to demonstrate that genes upregulated in AAs mapped primarily to two specific cell lineages, supporting the possibility of race-based differences in the cellular heterogeneity of esophageal mucosa. In the current proposal we will directly perform scRNA-Seq on esophageal biopsy specimens from AA and CA subjects with normal esophageal mucosa to explore the innovative hypothesis that differential cellular heterogeneity in the esophageal mucosa of African American and Caucasians subjects contributes to the established race-based disparities in the incidence of esophageal cancer subtypes. To do so, we will compare the cellular and molecular heterogeneity of normal esophageal mucosa in AA and CA individuals using scRNA-Seq. Comprehensive bioinformatics analyses will be performed on scRNA-Seq data to define cell cluster identities, cell fate trajectories, and molecular features in cell types (epithelial, immune, and endothelial cells, fibroblasts) within esophageal mucosa in relation to self-reported race. Identification of cell types and pathways displaying differential representation or expression in AA and CA subjects have great potential to inform our understanding of the biological underpinnings of established racial disparities in esophageal cancer incidence. Additionally, such findings may be used to develop novel strategies for improving diagnosis, monitoring and therapy in esophageal cancer.