Neighborhood Social Environmental Factors and Breast Cancer Subtypes among Black Women.
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ABSTRACT: Background
The disproportionate burden of more aggressive breast cancer subtypes among African American/Black women may stem from multilevel determinants. However, data are limited regarding the impacts of neighborhood social environmental characteristics among Black women.Methods
We evaluated the association between neighborhood-level socioeconomic status (nSES) and breast cancer subtypes in the Women's Circle of Health and Women's Circle of Health Follow-up Study, which included 1,220 Black women diagnosed from 2005 to 2017 with invasive breast cancer. nSES at diagnosis was measured using NCI's census tract-level SES index. We used multilevel multinomial logistic regression models to estimate the association of nSES with breast cancer subtypes [triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC), HER2-positive vs. luminal A], adjusting for individual-level SES, body mass index, and reproductive factors. We tested for interactions by neighborhood racial composition.Results
Compared with census tracts characterized as high nSES, the relative risk ratios (RRR) for TNBC were 1.81 [95% confidence interval (CI): 1.20-2.71] and 1.95 (95% CI: 1.27-2.99) for women residing in areas with intermediate and low nSES, respectively (P trend = 0.002). Neighborhood racial composition modified the association between nSES and TNBC; the highest relative risk of TNBC was among women residing in low nSES areas with low proportions of Black residents.Conclusions
Black women residing in socioeconomically disadvantaged neighborhoods may have an increased risk of TNBC, particularly in areas with lower proportions of Black residents.Impact
Places people live may influence breast tumor biology. A deeper understanding of multilevel pathways contributing to tumor biology is needed.
SUBMITTER: Qin B
PROVIDER: S-EPMC7867587 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive, heterogeneous subtype of breast cancer, which is more frequently diagnosed in African American (AA) women than in European American (EA) women. The purpose of this study is to investigate the role of social determinants in racial disparities in TNBC. Data on Louisiana TNBC patients diagnosed in 2010-2012 were collected and geocoded to census tract of residence at diagnosis by the Louisiana Tumor Registry. Using multilevel statistical models, we analyzed the role of neighborhood concentrated disadvantage index (CDI), a robust measure of physical and social environment, in racial disparities in TNBC incidence, stage at diagnosis, and stage-specific survival for the study population. Controlling for age, we found that AA women had a 2.21 times the incidence of TNBC incidence compared to EA women. Interestingly, the incidence of TNBC was independent of neighborhood CDI and adjusting for neighborhood environment did not impact the observed racial disparity. AA women were more likely to be diagnosed at later stages and CDI was associated with more advanced stages of TNBC at diagnosis. CDI was also significantly associated with poorer stage-specific survival. Overall, our results suggest that neighborhood disadvantage contributes to racial disparities in stage at diagnosis and survival among TNBC patients, but not to disparities in incidence of the disease. Further research is needed to determine the mechanisms through which social determinants affect the promotion and progression of this disease and guide efforts to improve overall survival.
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Project description:INTRODUCTION:Although breast cancer incidence is higher among white women, black women are more likely to have aggressive tumors with less favorable histology, and to have a worse prognosis. Obesity and alcohol consumption have been identified as two modifiable risk factors for breast cancer, while physical activity may offer protection. Little however is known about the association of these factors with race on the severity of breast cancer. METHODS:Data collected as part of a large prospective study looking at insulin resistance and race among women with breast cancer was queried for patient characteristics, lifestyle factors and tumor characteristics. The association with Nottingham Prognostic Index (NPI) was assessed with different models using univariate and multivariate linear regression. RESULTS:Among 746 women in our cohort, 82% (n?=?615) were white and 18% (n?=?131) were black, mean age 58 years. Black patients were more likely to have high BMI (31.0 vs. 26.7, p?<?0.0001), comorbidities (69% vs 55%, p?=?0.01), self-reported poor diet (70% vs 42%, p?<?0.001), be sedentary (56% vs 46%, p?=?0.03) and were less likely to consume alcohol (8% vs 32%, p?<?0.0001) compared to white patients. Overall, 137 (18%) of the patients had poorer prognosis (NPI?>?4.4), which was significantly associated with younger age (55.6 vs 58.5 years, p?=?0.02), black race (27% vs 15%, p?=?0.001), triple negative cancer (15% vs 6%, p?=?0.003), and poor diet (54% vs 45%, p?=?0.046) compared to patients with better prognosis (NPI???4.4). On multivariate analysis, (model R2?=?0.12; p?<?0.001), age (??=?-0.011 per year, p?=?0.002), healthy diet (??=?-0.195, p?=?0.02), and exercise (??=?-0.004, p?=?0.02) were associated with better prognosis, while black race (??=?0.247, p?=?0.02) and triple negative cancer (??=?0.908, p?<?0.0001) were associated with poor prognosis. Neither alcohol use nor BMI was significantly associated with NPI. CONCLUSION:Among modifiable risk factors, diet and exercise are associated with NPI. Unmodifiable factors including race and biologic subtype remain the most important determinants of prognosis.
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Project description:BackgroundBreast cancer in African women differs from the Caucasian. Understanding the profile of Nigerian women with breast cancer will help with preventive measures and treatment. This study focused on the clinico-pathological characteristics, with risk factors of breast cancer patients in Nigeria.MethodsNewly diagnosed female patients with breast cancer were assessed over 12 months. Patients were reviewed using a predesigned proforma which focused on socio-demographic information, clinical information, risk factors and tumor biology.ResultsA total of 251 women were identified; their mean age was 46 years. More than half (62.5%) are premenopausal at presentation, 37.8% with Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG) score of 0 and right side (50.2%) as the most common primary site of disease. Less than half of them (43.0%) are estrogen receptor (ER) positive, 27.9% are progesterone receptor (PR) positive, 43.8% and 47.4% are hormone receptor positive and triple negative, respectively. Most patients presented at the latter stage of the disease, stage III (66.9%) and stage IV (18.3%). Only 15.9% are well differentiated and almost all (92.8%) had invasive ductal histological type. Obesity (66.2%) and physical inactivity (41.9%) are the most common risk factors for the disease. A significant relationship was found between immunohistochemistry status and family history of breast cancer, tumor site, previous breast surgery, previous lump and alcohol intake.ConclusionFindings from this study showed that Nigerian breast cancer patients differ from their counterparts in the high human development index (H-HDI) countries in terms of the patients and disease characteristics. In view of this, prevention and treatment options should consider this uniqueness to ensure better outcome.
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Project description:Abstract Background Black women living in southern states have the highest breast cancer mortality rate in the United States. The prognosis of de novo metastatic breast cancer is poor. Given these mortality rates, we are the first to link nationally representative data on breast cancer mortality hot spots (counties with high breast cancer mortality rates) with cancer mortality data in the United States and investigate the association of geographic breast cancer mortality hot spots with de novo metastatic breast cancer mortality among Black women. Methods We identified 7292 Black women diagnosed with de novo metastatic breast cancer in Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER). The county-level characteristics were obtained from 2014 County Health Rankings and linked to SEER. We used Cox proportional hazards models to calculate adjusted hazard ratios (aHRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for mortality between hot spot and non–hot spot counties. Results Among 7292 patients, 393 (5.4%) resided in breast cancer mortality hot spots. Women residing in hot spots had similar risks of breast cancer–specific mortality (aHR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.85 to 1.15) and all-cause mortality (aHR = 0.97, 95% CI = 0.84 to 1.11) as women in non–hot spots after adjusting for individual and tumor-level factors and treatments. Additional adjustment for county-level characteristics did not impact mortality. Conclusion Living in a breast cancer mortality hot spot was not associated with de novo metastatic breast cancer mortality among Black women. Future research should begin to examine variation in both individual and population-level determinants, as well as in molecular and genetic determinants that underlie the aggressive nature of de novo metastatic breast cancer.
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Project description:BackgroundBreast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, divided into subtypes based on the expression of estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2). Subtypes have different biology and prognosis, with accumulating evidence of different risk factors. The purpose of this study was to compare breast cancer risk factors across tumor subtypes in a large, diverse mammography population.MethodsWomen aged 40-84 without a history of breast cancer with a screening mammogram at three United States health systems from 2006 to 2015 were included. Risk factor questionnaires were completed at mammogram visit, supplemented by electronic health records. Invasive tumor subtype was defined by immunohistochemistry as ER/PR+HER2-, ER/PR+HER2+, ER, and PR-HER2+, or triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Cox proportional hazards models were run for each subtype. Associations of race, reproductive history, prior breast problems, family history, breast density, and body mass index (BMI) were assessed. The association of tumor subtypes with screen detection and interval cancer was assessed using logistic regression among invasive cases.ResultsThe study population included 198,278 women with a median of 6.5 years of follow-up (IQR 4.2-9.0 years). There were 4002 invasive cancers, including 3077 (77%) ER/PR+HER2-, 300 (8%) TNBC, 342 (9%) ER/PR+HER2+, and 126 (3%) ER/PR-HER2+ subtype. In multivariate models, Black women had 2.7 times higher risk of TNBC than white women (HR = 2.67, 95% CI 1.99-3.58). Breast density was associated with increased risk of all subtypes. BMI was more strongly associated with ER/PR+HER2- and HER2+ subtypes among postmenopausal women than premenopausal women. Breast density was more strongly associated with ER/PR+HER2- and TNBC among premenopausal than postmenopausal women. TNBC was more likely to be interval cancer than other subtypes.ConclusionsThese results have implications for risk assessment and understanding of the etiology of breast cancer subtypes. More research is needed to determine what factors explain the higher risk of TNBC for Black women.
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