Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
African American breast cancer patients have lower frequency of hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative disease and higher subtype-specific mortality. Racial differences in molecular subtype within clinically defined subgroups are not well understood.Methods
Using data and biospecimens from the population-based Carolina Breast Cancer Study (CBCS) Phase 3 (2008-2013), we classified 980 invasive breast cancers using RNA expression-based PAM50 subtype and recurrence (ROR) score that reflects proliferation and tumor size. Molecular subtypes (Luminal A, Luminal B, HER2-enriched, and Basal-like) and ROR scores (high vs low/medium) were compared by race (blacks vs whites) and age (?50?years vs?>?50?years) using chi-square tests and analysis of variance tests.Results
Black women of all ages had a statistically significantly lower frequency of Luminal A breast cancer (25.4% and 33.6% in blacks vs 42.8% and 52.1% in whites; younger and older, respectively). All other subtype frequencies were higher in black women (case-only odds ratio [OR] = 3.11, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 2.22 to 4.37, for Basal-like; OR?=?1.45, 95% CI?=?1.02 to 2.06, for Luminal B; OR?=?2.04, 95% CI?=?1.33 to 3.13, for HER2-enriched). Among clinically HR+/HER2- cases, Luminal A subtype was less common and ROR scores were statistically significantly higher among black women.Conclusions
Multigene assays highlight racial disparities in tumor subtype distribution that persist even in clinically defined subgroups. Differences in tumor biology (eg, HER2-enriched status) may be targetable to reduce disparities among clinically ER+/HER2- cases.
SUBMITTER: Troester MA
PROVIDER: S-EPMC6059138 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Feb
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Troester Melissa A MA Sun Xuezheng X Allott Emma H EH Geradts Joseph J Cohen Stephanie M SM Tse Chiu-Kit CK Kirk Erin L EL Thorne Leigh B LB Mathews Michelle M Li Yan Y Hu Zhiyuan Z Robinson Whitney R WR Hoadley Katherine A KA Olopade Olufunmilayo I OI Reeder-Hayes Katherine E KE Earp H Shelton HS Olshan Andrew F AF Carey Lisa A LA Perou Charles M CM
Journal of the National Cancer Institute 20180201 2
<h4>Background</h4>African American breast cancer patients have lower frequency of hormone receptor-positive (HR+)/human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-negative disease and higher subtype-specific mortality. Racial differences in molecular subtype within clinically defined subgroups are not well understood.<h4>Methods</h4>Using data and biospecimens from the population-based Carolina Breast Cancer Study (CBCS) Phase 3 (2008-2013), we classified 980 invasive breast cancers using RNA ex ...[more]