Race Differences in Breast Cancer Survival
Abstract
This is a population based follow-up study of 145 African American (AA) and 177 white (W) women who were diagnosed with breast cancer between 1987 and 1989. As of January, 1999, 135 (41.9%) of the women had died with an average time to death of 4.7 years. Survival among AA women (56.9%) was significantly lower than survival in W women (68.9%) AGE-ADJUSTED Risk Ratio (RR! 1.73 (95% Confidence Interval ?CI) 1.21 - 2.48). The significant survival disadvantage persisted even with additional adjustment for TNM stage at diagnosis and one measure of socioeconomic status (education) (RR 1.49, 95% CI 1.02 - 2.19). Several tumor characteristics differed by race group, with African American women more likely to be in the higher risk category. African American women were twice as likely to be diagnosed with tumors that were TNM stage II or higher (age-adjusted Odds Ratio OR =2.01, 95% Confidence Interval CI 1.24 - 3.24). Evaluating archived tissue specimens, we have demonstrated race differences in a number of other tumor characteristics and genetic alterations: AA women were significantly more likely than W women to have tumors that were higher histologic grade higher nuclear, estrogen receptor negative, and p53 positive, all of which are associated with relatively poor prognosis. Although AA women were more likely than W women to be progesterone receptor negative (61% vs. 50%), and to express c-met (62% vs. 56%), these differences were not statistically significant. AA women were not significantly more likely to be HER-2 NEU positive. African American women were more likely (not significant) to be positive for a number of known prognostic indicators: necrosis, lymphatic invasion, skin or nipple involvement. In summary, tumors in African American women were more likely to be to have characteristics associated with poor prognosis than were white women, explanatory variable.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jul 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADB264542
Entities
People
- Beth A. Jones
Organizations
- Yale University