1097-0142/asset/cover.gif?v=1&s=a7299bc18f075294c232ade468773cd0672bd470 "Cancer")
Fax: (203) 785-6980
1097-0142/asset/olbannerleft.gif?v=1&s=ca681f5719430b26e1bc15e9ea4c9fc0a7110104)
1097-0142/asset/olbannerright.gif?v=1&s=8142566facf7e76aef9be6c51162a2e920b3b9f9)
Original Article
You have full text access to this OnlineOpen article
African-American/White differences in breast carcinoma†‡
p53 Alterations and other tumor characteristics
Article first published online: 9 AUG 2004
DOI: 10.1002/cncr.20500
Copyright © 2004 American Cancer Society
Additional Information
How to Cite
Jones, B. A., Kasl, S. V., Howe, C. L., Lachman, M., Dubrow, R., Curnen, M. M., Soler-Vila, H., Beeghly, A., Duan, F. and Owens, P. (2004), African-American/White differences in breast carcinoma. Cancer, 101: 1293–1301. doi: 10.1002/cncr.20500
- †
See related editorial on pages 1261–3, this issue.
- ‡
Certain data used in the current study were obtained from the Connecticut Tumor Registry located in the Connecticut Department of Public Health. The author(s) assume full responsibility for analyses and interpretation of these data.
Publication History
- Issue published online: 1 SEP 2004
- Article first published online: 9 AUG 2004
- Manuscript Accepted: 15 APR 2004
- Manuscript Revised: 9 APR 2004
- Manuscript Received: 8 JAN 2004
Funded by
- Department of Defense Breast Cancer Research Program. Grant Number: DAMD17-96-1-6101
- National Cancer Institute
- National Institutes of Health Program Project Grant. Grant Number: 5-P01-CA42101
- Abstract
- Article
- References
- Cited By
Keywords:
- African Americans;
- black;
- breast neoplasms;
- tumor characteristics;
- prognosis;
- genetic alterations;
- p53;
- HER-2/neu;
- c-met;
- tumor biology
Abstract
BACKGROUND
Despite mounting evidence that breast tumors in African-American (AA) women are more aggressive compared with breast tumors in white (W) women, little is known regarding racial/ethnic differences in genetic alterations that may be of prognostic importance.
METHODS
In this population-based cohort of 322 AA women (45%) and W women (55%) who were diagnosed with breast carcinoma between 1987–1989, the authors evaluated available archived tumor tissue (n = 247 samples) for racial differences in selected genetic alterations and other prognostic indicators. Tumor characteristics were assessed by immunohistochemistry and/or expert review.
RESULTS
Alterations in p53 were significantly more common in AA women compared with W women (odds ratio, 4.00; 95% confidence interval, 1.77–9.01) and remained statistically significant in models that were adjusted for disease stage at diagnosis, according to American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC) criteria, and for other prognostic indicators. No racial difference with regard to HER-2/neu status was observed, but alterations in c-met were more common in AA women once the model was adjusted for negative confounders (not significant). Among other tumor characteristics, significant findings included later AJCC stage and higher histologic and nuclear grade tumors in AA women. In addition, the burden of aggressive tumor characteristics was greater in AA women because they were more likely to be at high risk on multiple factors (e.g., both high histologic grade and high nuclear grade [P = 0.03] and negative status for both estrogen receptors and progesterone receptors [P = 0.01]).
CONCLUSIONS
Data from this population-based cohort confirmed that breast tumors in AA women most likely are more aggressive compared with breast tumors in W women and offer new evidence for possible racial/ethnic differences with regard to p53 alterations. Cancer 2004. © 2004 American Cancer Society.