Gene
Identified May Explain Racial Differences in Outcomes of Breast
Cancer
According to a recent article published in Breast Cancer Research,
researchers have identified a gene that may explain the differences
in survival between black women and white women who are treated
for breast cancer.
Breast cancer is diagnosed in over 200,000 women and claims
the lives of approximately 40,000 women annually in the United
States alone. Researchers are trying to determine specific
genetic or biological characteristics that may be associated
with the development of breast cancer in order to identify
women at a high risk of developing the disease and/or to identify
specific targets for novel therapeutic approaches.
Data has shown that survival outcomes have remained worse
for black women treated for breast cancer compared to white
women. Researchers have attempted to explain this disparity
through the the compilation and evaluation of data; however,
no differing variables had been discovered to clarify this
survival difference.
Researchers from the George Washington University Medical
Center recently discovered a gene that may be, at least in
part, responsible for the different survival outcomes between
black and white women diagnosed with breast cancer. These
researchers examined samples of breast cancer tissue and normal
breast tissue. Of these samples, the gene known as BP1 was
expressed in 80% of cancerous tissues, while only 15% of normal
tissue specimens expressed low levels of the gene. Furthermore,
89% of black women had cancer that expressed BP1, compared
to only 56% of white women. BP1 expression was significantly
associated with estrogen-receptor negative (ER-negative) breast
cancer and did not display a correlation between cancer size,
aggressiveness of spread to lymph nodes.
The researchers conclude that BP1 may be a potential target
for treatment and early detection of breast cancer. In addition,
BP1 may be responsible for the differences in survival between
black and white women with breast cancer. Further studies
are warranted to confirm these findings.
Reference: Berg P, et al. Breast Cancer Research. 2003;5:R82-R87.
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