Race did not affect outcome in triple receptor-negative breast cancer

ASCO Breast Cancer Symposium

WASHINGTON — According the results of a study conducted at M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, black women with triple receptor-negative breast cancer will have outcomes identical to those of women of other races when assigned to similar treatment.

Shaheenah S. Dawood, MD, MPH, a senior specialist registrar with Dubai Hospital, presented the findings at the 2008 ASCO Breast Cancer Symposium.

The researchers evaluated 471 patients treated at M.D. Anderson, of whom 100 (21.2%) self-identified as black and 371 (78.8%) self-identified as white/other. All patients were assigned to primary systemic chemotherapy and similar follow-up care.

Seventeen percent of black women and 25.1% of white/other women met the primary endpoint of pathologic complete response (P=.091).

“Pathologic complete response was not different between the two groups,” Dawood said. “This is very important because pathologic complete response is an important surrogate marker for improved long-term outcome.”

Black patients had a three-year recurrence-free survival rate of 68% compared with 62% of white/other patients (P=.302). The researchers concluded there was no significant difference in survival between the two groups.

“We looked at recurrence-free survival, three-year recurrence-free survival and three-year overall survival. There was no difference between black women and women in the white/other category,” Dawood said. “If you have a group of people with the same histological characteristics, race doesn’t seem to matter. They should have the same follow-up, they should have the same treatment, they should have the same sort of care.” – by Jason Harris

For more information:

Dawood SS, Broglio K, Shu-Wan Kau S, et al. #87. Triple receptor-negative breast cancer: The effect of race on response to primary systemic treatment and survival outcomes. Presented at: 2008 ASCO Breast Cancer Symposium; Sept. 5-7, 2008; Washington.