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Family history influenced risk for triple-negative breast cancer in women of Mexican descent
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Women of Mexican descent diagnosed with breast cancer were twice as likely to present with triple-negative disease than other subtypes if they had a family history of breast or ovarian cancers, according to study results presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved in San Antonio.
“Triple-negative breast cancer is one of the worst breast cancer subtypes in terms of outcomes,” Maria Elena Martinez, PhD, Sam M. Walton endowed chair for cancer research and professor in the department of family and preventive medicine at the University of California, San Diego, Moores Cancer Center, said in a press release. “Our finding that family history is related to breast cancer subtype for Hispanic women of Mexican descent has tremendous implications for breast cancer treatment, screening and prevention among this population. It not only affects decisions around treatment plans for patients, but extends to screening and prevention plans for family members.”
Martinez and colleagues evaluated data on 1,150 women of Mexican descent diagnosed with breast cancer and included in the Ella Binational Breast Cancer Study. Researchers obtained information about tumor subtype for 914 (79.4%) of these women.
Researchers determined 13.1% of patients had a first-degree relative diagnosed with breast cancer, and 24.1% had a first- or second-degree relative diagnosed with breast cancer. About one in seven (14.9%) women in the cohort reported that they had a first-degree relative diagnosed with either breast cancer or ovarian cancer.
After Martinez and colleagues adjusted for age and country of residence, they determined women who had a first-degree relative diagnosed with breast cancer were twice as likely to present with triple-negative breast cancer than other subtypes (OR=1.98; 95% CI, 1.26-3.11). Researchers reported a similarly increased risk among women who had a first-degree relative diagnosed with either breast cancer or ovarian cancer (OR=1.93; 95% CI, 1.26-2.97).
Other research has shown the prevalence of deleterious BRCA mutations is up to 25% higher among Hispanic/Latina women than those of European descent. Consequently, Martinez and colleagues are investigating whether BRCA mutation status may help explain the association between family history and triple-negative breast cancer.
For more information:
Martinez ME. Abstract #B17. Presented at: American Association for Cancer Research Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; Nov. 9-12, 2014; San Antonio.
Disclosure: The study was funded by NIH, the Avon Foundation and Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.