NEW YORK (Reuters Health) - Based on similarities in breast cancer epidemiology between African-American women and women in sub-Saharan Africa, researchers propose that genetic factors play an important role in the racial differences in breast cancer burdens.
Although African-American women have a lower incidence of breast cancer than White-American women, mortality rates from breast cancer are higher, Drs. Alero Fregene and Lisa A. Newman note in their report, published in the April 15th issue of Cancer.
To investigate the potential role of genetics, the investigators, based at the University of Michigan in Ann Arbor, reviewed publications from 1988 to 2004 of English-language literature on breast cancer in Africa.
They found that women in Africa had a 5 to 10 times lower incidence of breast cancer compared with westernized populations. The two researchers suggest that gynecologic and reproductive patterns within African populations that minimize estrogen exposure - such as late menarche, multiparity and prolonged lactation - as well as dietary factors may account for these differences.
However, breast cancer mortality rates are disproportionately high among African women. Although delayed presentation and limited therapeutic modalities may play a role, there may also be a predisposition to biologically aggressive tumors. The latter possibility is reflected in lower age of onset and advanced stage tumors, as is seen among African-American women.
“As research into interactions among tumor biology, genetics, and socioeconomics and/or lifestyle factors continues, medical professionals and researchers will be in a stronger position to address and to eradicate the disproportionate breast cancer burden that currently affects African-American women,” the authors conclude.
Source: Cancer 2005;103. [ Google search on this article ]
MeSH Headings:Breast Neoplasms: Neoplasms: Neoplasms by Site: DiseasesCopyright © 2002 Reuters Limited. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Reuters content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Reuters. Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Reuters and the Reuters sphere logo are registered trademarks and trademarks of the Reuters group of companies around the world.
