Higher population‐based incidence rates of triple‐negative breast cancer among young African‐American women

Abstract

Background Differences in the breast cancer burden of African American compared with White American women are well-documented. Recent controversies have emerged regarding age-appropriate mammographic screening guidelines, and these surveillance recommendations may influence future breast cancer disparities. Our goal was to evaluate age-specific breast cancer stage distributions and incidence rates of triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) in a population-based tumor registry. Study Design We analyzed California Cancer Registry (CCR) breast cancers diagnosed 1988 – 2006. Results were stratified by age and race/ethnicity, with White Americans identified as Non-Hispanic Whites (NHW) and African Americans as Non-Hispanic Blacks (NHB). Breast cancer stage distributions and TNBC incidence rates were also analyzed. Results A total of 375,761 invasive breast cancers were evaluated (including 276,938 in NHW and 21,681 in NHB) NHB and Hispanics tended to be younger than NHW (median ages 57; 54; and 64 years, respectively). Lifetime incidence rates were higher for NHW compared to NHB and Hispanics, but for women younger than 44 years incidence was highest among NHB. NHB also had higher incidence rates of Stage III and IV disease, and higher incidence of TNBC in all age categories. Conclusions Population-based data demonstrate that African American women have a more advanced stage distribution for breast cancer compared to White Americans, and higher incidence rates for TNBC. These patterns are observed for women age 40–49 years as well as older women, and suggest that mammographic screening for early detection of breast cancer will be particularly relevant for younger African American women.

High Motility of Triple-negative Breast Cancer Cells Is Due to Repression of Plakoglobin Gene by Metastasis Modulator Protein SLUG

“…TNBC is highly overrepresented in the African American breast cancer patients (1,2). The genetic and molecular basis for this incidence and the biological basis for the aggressiveness of TNBCs are largely unknown and of high priority (3)(4)(5)(6). The transcription factor SLUG, which controls epithelial to mesenchymal transition, stem cell phenotypes, and therapeutic responsiveness (7)(8)(9), is highly expressed in the highly aggressive basal and mesenchymal subtypes of the TNBC cells (1,10), making it a candidate master regulator of the TNBC phenotype.…”

“…The transcription factor SLUG, which controls epithelial to mesenchymal transition, stem cell phenotypes, and therapeutic responsiveness (7)(8)(9), is highly expressed in the highly aggressive basal and mesenchymal subtypes of the TNBC cells (1,10), making it a candidate master regulator of the TNBC phenotype. The uncanny ability of the TNBC cells to metastasize to other vital tissues and organs causes severe pain and mortality in the TNBC patients (3)(4)(5)(6). The ability of these cells to breach the basement membrane of epithelial barriers and migrate distinguishes highly metastatic TNBC cells from the non-metastatic breast cancer cells (5,6).…”

“…The uncanny ability of the TNBC cells to metastasize to other vital tissues and organs causes severe pain and mortality in the TNBC patients (3)(4)(5)(6). The ability of these cells to breach the basement membrane of epithelial barriers and migrate distinguishes highly metastatic TNBC cells from the non-metastatic breast cancer cells (5,6). We postulate that transcriptional repression of few key cell adhesion and migration regulatory protein genes by SLUG in the basal and mesenchymal subtypes of the TNBC cells contributes toward the metastatic behavior of these cells, and targeted inhibition of SLUG should reverse the process.…”

Survival Analysis of Women with Triple Negative Breast Cancer Using EMRLinked Cancer Registry Data in Florida

“…TNBC carries a particularly unfavorable prognosis and has limited therapeutic options [2,3]. Black women are more likely to be diagnosed with TNBC, compared to women of other ethnic groups [4,5] and coincidentally they have the worse survival from BC among all women with BC [5]. However, it is unclear whether triple-negative phenotype is a significant contributing factor to the survival of Black women [6][7][8].…”

Aspectos radiológicos dos tumores ductais invasivos de mama dos subtipos basal e não basal triplo negativos

“…Outro estudo com população do norte da África mostrou freqüência de 35,0% de BS em mulheres acima de 50 anos (Agboola et al, 2012) Os TFTN são descritos como mais freqüentes em mulheres afroamericanas (Pacheco et al, 2013), sendo mais incidentes e agressivos em mulheres negras e jovens quando comparado a mulheres brancas jovens (Amirikia et al, 2011 Quanto maior a dimensão da lesão principal, maior foi a associação com linfonodos comprometidos (p=0,045). Estudos da área de radiologia mostrando esse dados não foram levantados, porém essa associação foi também vista em estudo com TFTN de nenhum tipo especial, utilizando amostras cirúrgicas (Ozbas et al, 2012).…”