How genetics explains in part why Black women are more likely to to die of breast cancer

Black women have a 31% breast cancer mortality rate – the highest of any U.S. racial or ethnic group.

Additionally, Black women under age 45 are more likely to be diagnosed with breast cancer than their white counterparts, and they’re more susceptible to triple negative breast cancer, a more aggressive form associated with a higher likelihood of death. 

Most research on these disparities has focused on lifestyle and socioeconomic factors. Yet, a new study suggests a molecular difference in breast cells also may be a significant contributor.

Researchers from Sanford Burnham Prebys in San Diego say their findings can be used to change current diagnostic and treatment strategies to reduce these disparities.

“The way each human being responds to cancer treatment is influenced by so many internal and external factors that are unique to each of us,” said researcher Svasti Haricharan, an assistant professor at Sanford Burnham Prebys.

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The researchers analyzed healthy and tumor tissue from 185 Black women and compared them to samples from white women. They found that eight genes involved in DNA repair expressed themselves differently in Black women. They also found molecular differences in the cellular signals that control how fast cells can grow.

This is an excerpt. Read the original post here.