Lab Research
Epidemiology of Childhood Cancer in Children, Adolescents, and Young Adults
This is an ongoing registry and repository for the study of etiologic factors in cancer development in our population of South Texas. This protocol also supports tumor acquisition and clinical annotation for the GCCRI PDX Core funded through CPRIT.
GRACIAS Texas: Genetic Risk Assessment for Cancer in All South Texas
A grant from the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas enabled us to provide genetic counseling services to multiple sites in South Texas, including our regional sites in Laredo and Harlingen. The project enabled public and professional education across a broad region of South Texas to provide an individual risk assessment to over 12,000 individuals through personal and family cancer history assessment and provided formal genetic counseling services to 1575 individuals, most of whom have undergone molecular genetic testing as part of our program. Outcomes of this program are currently being summarized and prepared for publication. Although this project is concluding in 2021, we continue to provide cancer genetic counseling and testing services to the underserved population across our broad region of South Texas. We strive to learn as much as possible about our genetically high-risk population and to address disparities that have existed in this underserved population.
The pediatric component of the genetic risk assessment is located at University Hospital. We provide cancer genetic risk assessment, testing, and surveillance to children and families at high risk of cancer because of genetic predisposition.
Novel strategies for the treatment of liver cancer in children.
This project funded by the Owens Foundation is conducting mechanistic studies on novel agents for the treatment of liver tumors in children. Novel agents were selected based on high-throughput screens in the Center for Innovative Drug Discovery.
Predictive Biomarkers and Novel Therapies in High-Risk Pediatric Liver Cancers (collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine)
This is a component of a large multi-investigator project funded by CPRIT which studies potential correlative markers in hepatoblastoma and other pediatric liver tumors.)
Genetic Risk Factors and Admixture in Hispanic Children with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (ALL) from South Texas and Puerto Rico.
It is well known that ALL is more common in Hispanic children and adolescents compared to non-Hispanic white children and adolescents, although little information is available regarding differences in risks in different sub-populations. This study will compare genetic features between children with ALL from South Texas of primarily Mexican ancestry with children similarly diagnosed in Puerto Rico.
This study is conducted by second-year fellow Dr. Samuel Pabon-Rivera and is supported by the Greehey Family Foundation Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Fellowship Endowment. It is a collaboration between UT Health San Antonio and the University of Puerto Rico. Dr. Tomlinson is a faculty mentor, along with collaborators Dr. Yidong Chen and Dr. Zhao Lai.
COMPLETED STUDIES
Evaluating Utility and Improving Implementation of Genomic Sequencing for Pediatric Cancer Patients in the Diverse Population and Healthcare Settings of Texas: The KidsCanSeq Study (Collaboration with Baylor College of Medicine).
This project enrolls children with cancer clinically perceived to be at increased risk of either a genetic predisposition or else having a tumor with aggressive biological activity. Genomic sequencing of germline and tumor DNA was done at Baylor College of Medicine. An emphasis was made on extending access to genomic testing to the underserved Latino population.
Childhood Cancer Data Initiative: National Childhood Cancer Registry Data from South and West Texas Minority and Underserved Populations.
This project was initiated with a pilot supplement to the Mays Cancer Center P30 grant and will enable the submission of information relevant to cancer risks to the evolving National Children’s Cancer Registry (NCCR).
Lab Staff
Christine Aguilar, MD, MPH
Faculty Associate
Clarissa Aviles, MSHS
Health Educator (Lower Rio Grande Valley)
Allison Grimes, MD
Assistant Professor/Clinical
Elena Marin, CHW
Community Health Worker
Kirsten Murray, MS, CGC
Genetic Counselor
Samuel Parbon Rivera, MD
Pediatric Hematology-Oncology Fellow
Josep-Maria Peralba-Polo, PhD
Research Associate – Senior
Rachel Wyatt, MS, CGC,
Genetic Counselor
Featured News
Drs. Tomlinson and Kurmasheva to be Profiled in San Antonio Woman Magazine Article
Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology: Maternal and paternal occupational exposures and hepatoblastoma: results from the HOPE study through the Children’s Oncology Group
Hyundai Hope on Wheels Awards $250,000 Research Grant to Ut Health Science Center San Antonio in Honor of National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month
News
Clinical Cancer Research: Update on Cancer and Central Nervous System Tumor Surveillance in Pediatric NF2-, SMARCB1-, and LZTR1-Related Schwannomatosis (Tomlinson)
April 15, 2025
Clinical Cancer Research: Update on Surveillance for Wilms Tumor and Hepatoblastoma in Beckwith–Wiedemann Syndrome and Other Predisposition Syndromes (Tomlinson)
December 2, 2024
JCO Precision Oncology: Disparate Rates of Germline Variants in Cancer Predisposition Genes in African American/Black Compared With Non-Hispanic White Individuals Between 2015 and 2022 (Tomlinson)
July 12, 2024
All news