Researching Ethnic and Racial Differences in Breast Cancer Diagnosis
The following information comes from Indiana University’s School of Medicine and is based on research being conducted by members of the Vera Bradley Foundation for Breast Cancer Research Laboratories. View the full original article on Active Research In Breast Cancer Prevention And Early Detection.
The article shares, “Breast cancer rates for African-Americans women are greater than in Caucasian women, especially for aggressive types of breast cancer. Hypotheses on why this occurs range from disparities in access to breast screening and quality care and social and physical stresses to biology of healthy tissue. “
Hari Nakshatri, PhD, is leading an effort to determine if differences in the normal healthy breast tissue of African American and Caucasian individuals might reveal the likelihood of specific types of tumors. Early data suggests that African American women tend to have a higher number of healthy breast cells that can become more aggressive if cancer develops. The goal is to determine pathways involved in the very early development of breast cancer and how they differ among racial and ethnic groups. Gaining an understanding of this could lead to new screening or prevention options.
Exploring the Effects of Social and Physical Stress
In addition to ethnic and racial differences, social and physical stresses are being researched to see if they play a role in tumor type. Brittney-Shea Herbert, PhD; Anna Maria Storniolo, MD; and Hiromi Tanaka, PhD; along with behavioral and social scientists are exploring the correlation of emotional or physical stress to telomere length, an indicator of both stress and the onset of breast cancer. Telomeres are caps on the tips of chromosomes that preserve genetic integrity. The tips become shortened as individuals age, making them more susceptible to disease and death.
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