Human Leukocyte Antigen (HLA) Genotype as a Contributor to Racial/Ethnic Differences in Breast Cancer: A Population-Based, Molecular Epidemiologic Study
Abstract
Breast cancer incidence differs across racial/ethnic groups, but known risk factors do not explain all this variation. The human leukocyte antigen (HLA) component of the immune system, coded by highly polymorphic genes whose distribution varies by race/ethnicity, may be a biologically based risk factor for breast cancer and thus may explain some of its racial/ethnic variation. Therefore, for a population-based series of post-menopausal white, black and Hispanic breast cancer cases and controls, we are determining HLA class I (A, B) and class II (DR, DO) genotypes; whether HLA genotype is related to breast cancer overall; whether associations and prevalence of associated HLA genotypes vary by race/ethnicity, and how much such differences explain racial/ethnic differences in breast cancer incidence; whether HLA associations vary by indicators of prognosis, tumor characteristics, or known breast cancer risk factors. With HLA now typed on all 915 specimens, class I A and B were not strongly associated with breast cancer risk. However, risk increased for whites with A-23 and African-Americans with A-32, and decreased for Hispanics with B-7 after adjustment for age and reproductive risk factors. Continuing analyses will examine associations with other breast cancer risk factors and with HLA class II DR and DQ.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2005
- Accession Number
- ADA441312
Entities
People
- Sally L. Glaser
Organizations
- Cancer Prevention Institute of California