Does Lactation Mitigate Triple Negative/Basal Breast Cancer Progression?
Abstract
The prevalence and mortality rate of triple negative/basal breast cancer is increased young African American women compared to young Caucasian women. We hypothesize that pregnancy and involution without lactation promotes triple negative/basal breast cancer. Aims: 1) Determine if pregnancy and involution, in the absence of lactation, confers tumor promotion. 2) Determine if lactation mitigates promotional effects of pregnancy/involution on tumor progression. Results: Compared to nulliparous controls, tumors in the pregnant group appear to be less proliferative and tumor burden is not increased. In contrast, tumors in the involution group were much more proliferative and tumor burden was increased with respect to nulliparous controls. The protective myoepithelial cell layer may be preferentially compromised by tumors formed in post-partum involution mammary glands. These data may reflect key differences in the influence of these reproductive states on tumor progression. Impact: Our initial studies help to address the question of why breast cancer (especially in African American women), when diagnosed within close proximity to a recent pregnancy, is more aggressive and more likely to spread.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA554421
Entities
People
- Tanya Russell
Organizations
- University of Colorado Boulder