The OSUCCC – James Plascak Lab research experts are dedicated to discovering how socio-spatial environments influence cancer outcomes, as well as identifying modifiable mechanisms to target in order to attain cancer treatment and health equity.
Research conducted through the Plascak Lab is funded through various sources, including the National Institutes of Health, the OSUCCC – James and Pelotonia.
Dr. Plascak was the principal investigator on a project called “Social Environmental Factors, DNA Methylation of Inflammation Genes and Breast Cancer Survivorship Among African American Women.” Funded by the National Cancer Institute, this 2018-2023 study focused on social and built environment characteristics of breast cancer patients’ cases in New Jersey. Using Google Street View and innovative spatial statistical methods, researchers quantified epigenetic profiles with a focus on inflammation-related DNA methylation.
The Plascak Lab research specialists are investigating whether breast cancer survival is associated with modifiable environmental characteristics and whether epigenetic alteration of inflammation-related genes could be a potential mechanism.
Dr. Plascak has recently received an award from the National Cancer Institute to conduct a project called “Time-varying relationships between built environment factors, colon and rectum cancer prognosis, and survival.” This 2022-2027 study will focus on the neighborhood and built environment characteristics of colorectal cancer patients’ cases in New Jersey. Researchers will utilize Google Street View and novel spatial-temporal statistical methods to investigate disparities in colorectal cancer outcome by race and geography.
With collaborators at Columbia University and the University of Washington, the Plascak Lab also recently developed a novel virtual neighborhood auditing protocol called “Drop and Spin.” This forward-thinking model allowed researchers to observe and record built environment characteristics at more than 20,000 locations across New Jersey.
Researchers subsequently linked estimates of neighborhood physical disorder to breast cancer cases reported to the state’s cancer registry, finding that women residing in areas of high physical disorder had greater odds of late-stage diagnosis and shorter survival times. (Cancer, 2021)
Recent publications include:
- National Comprehensive Cancer Network Policy Summit
- Frontiers in Oncology
- Blood Advances
- JAMA Network Open
View a full list of publications