Program Leaders
Mission Statement
The main mission of this program is to address cancer health disparities in Arkansas.
Specific Aims: The overarching goal of the Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences Program is to reduce cancer burdens for Arkansans through discovering etiologies of cancer, examining ways to effectively implement cancer prevention measures and conducting interventional studies to reduce cancer incidence. To achieve this goal, research in the Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences Program has the following aims:
- Aim 1: Reduce cancer incidence and progression by identifying etiological and risk factors.
- Aim 2: Develop and test implementation methods of evidence-based dissemination strategies designed to promote cancer prevention and early detection.
- Aim 3: Develop interventions for reducing cancer occurrence and recurrence.
Primary Areas of Research
Reduce Cancer Incidence and Progression
Identify etiology and risk factors and develop and implement novel strategies/interventions to reduce cancer risk and improve cancer outcomes.
Decrease Regional Cancer Disparities
Develop and test implementation methods of evidence-based dissemination strategies designed to promote cancer prevention and early detection.
Understand the Role of Immune System in Cancer Development
Develop and test immune-mediated interventions for preventing cancers and recurrence of cancers, as well as reducing progression of cancers in a watchful waiting state.
Arkansas Rural Community Health Study
Welcome to the Arkansas Rural Community Health Study, formerly known as the Spit for the Cure. In order to continue our research efforts, it is important that you provide us with your updated contact information. Providing your updated information, just like your enrollment in the study itself, is completely voluntary and will not affect your medical care now or in the future.
Learn MoreFeatured Publications
Allen JL, Rogers LQ, Martin MY, Amick BC 3rd. The mediating role of physical activity on cognitive disparities in cancer survivors. JNCI cancer spectrum. 2025 Apr;9(3). doi: 10.1093/jncics/pkaf023. PMID: 40036790; PMCID: PMC12042741.
Jung W, Park YM, Yu J, Yoo JE, Cho IY, Han K, Shin DW. Weight Changes and Heart Failure Risk After Breast Cancer Development. JAMA oncology. 2025 Mar;11(3):342-345. doi: 10.1001/jamaoncol.2024.5803. PMID: 39786741; PMCID: PMC11926620.
Ellis ET, Young SG, Carroll R, Stahr SD, Runnells GA, Grasmuck EA, Su LJ, Park YM, Hsu PC. Carcinogenic air pollutants and breast cancer risk in the Arkansas rural community health study: A nested case-control study. Environmental pollution (Barking, Essex : 1987). 2025 Mar;368:125709. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2025.125709. PMID: 39828205; PMCID: PMC12347715.
Soule EK, Mayne S, Snipes W, Guy MC, Breland A, Fagan P. Reactions to a Hypothetical Ban of Open-System Electronic Cigarettes Among People Who Currently Use Electronic Cigarettes. Nicotine & tobacco research : official journal of the Society for Research on Nicotine and Tobacco. 2025 Jan;27(2):308-316. doi: 10.1093/ntr/ntae020. PMID: 38408200; PMCID: PMC11750733.
van der Plas E, Darji H, Srivastava DK, Schapiro M, Jeffe D, Perkins S, Howell R, Leisenring W, Armstrong GT, Oeffinger K, Krull K, Edelstein K, Hayashi RJ. Risk factors for neurocognitive impairment, emotional distress, and poor quality of life in survivors of pediatric rhabdomyosarcoma: A report from the Childhood Cancer Survivor Study. Cancer. 2024 Jun;130(12):2224-2236. doi: 10.1002/cncr.35236. PMID: 38373075; PMCID: PMC11139574.
Park YM, Jung W, Yeo Y, Park SH, Fradley MG, Malapati SJ, Tarun T, Raj V, Lee HS, Naqvi TZ, Henry-Tillman RS, Mehta JL, Schootman M, Amick BC 3rd, Han K, Shin DW. Mid- and long-term risk of atrial fibrillation among breast cancer surgery survivors. BMC medicine. 2024 Feb;22(1):88. doi: 10.1186/s12916-024-03308-z. PMID: 38419017; PMCID: PMC10903065.
Bradley CJ, Kitchen S, Owsley KM. Working, Low Income, and Cancer Caregiving: Financial and Mental Health Impacts. Journal of clinical oncology : official journal of the American Society of Clinical Oncology. 2023 Jun;41(16):2939-2948. doi: 10.1200/JCO.22.02537. PMID: 37043714; PMCID: PMC10414725.
Adkins D, Ley J, Atiq O, Powell S, Spanos WC, Gitau M, Rigden C, Palka K, Oppelt P. Nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel with cetuximab and carboplatin as first-line therapy for recurrent or metastatic head and neck cancer: A single-arm, multicenter, phase 2 trial. Oral oncology. 2021 Apr;115:105173. doi: 10.1016/j.oraloncology.2020.105173. PMID: 33548860; PMCID: PMC8579485.
Park YM, Bookwalter DB, O’Brien KM, Jackson CL, Weinberg CR, Sandler DP. A prospective study of type 2 diabetes, metformin use, and risk of breast cancer. Annals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology. 2021 Mar;32(3):351-359. doi: 10.1016/j.annonc.2020.12.008. PMID: 33516778; PMCID: PMC7995619.
Shibata T, Shah S, Evans T, Coleman H, Lieblong BJ, Spencer HJ, Quick CM, Sasagawa T, Stephens OW, Peterson E, Johann D Jr, Lu YC, Nakagawa M. Expansion of Human Papillomavirus-Specific T Cells in Periphery and Cervix in a Therapeutic Vaccine Recipient Whose Cervical High-Grade Squamous Intraepithelial Lesion Regressed. Frontiers in immunology. 2021 Jan;12:645299. doi: 10.3389/fimmu.2021.645299. PMID: 34659195; PMCID: PMC8515132.
Leung YK, Biesiada J, Govindarajah V, Ying J, Kendler A, Medvedovic M, Ho SM. Low-Dose Bisphenol A in a Rat Model of Endometrial Cancer: A CLARITY-BPA Study. Environmental health perspectives. 2020 Dec;128(12):127005. doi: 10.1289/EHP6875. PMID: 33296240; PMCID: PMC7725436.
Schraw JM, Desrosiers TA, Nembhard WN, Langlois PH, Meyer RE, Canfield MA, Rasmussen SA, Chambers TM, Spector LG, Plon SE, Lupo PJ. Cancer diagnostic profile in children with structural birth defects: An assessment in 15,000 childhood cancer cases. Cancer. 2020 Aug;126(15):3483-3492. doi: 10.1002/cncr.32982. PMID: 32469081; PMCID: PMC8485389.
Meeting Time and Location
The Cancer Prevention and Population Sciences Program meets monthly on the 2nd Tuesday at 12:00pm in the Betsy Blass Conference Room on the 10th floor of the Cancer Institute.