Associations between sociodemographic and clinicopathological factors and breast cancer subtypes in a population-based study

Abstract

Purpose This study examines the factors distinguishing breast cancer (BC) subtypes. Methods We examined subtypes in 629 women with invasive BC, diagnosed from 2006–2012 and enrolled in an epidemiological study in New Jersey. Using molecular characteristics from pathology reports, BCs were categorized as luminal A, luminal B, non-luminal HER2-expressing, or triple-negative breast cancer [TNBC] subtypes. Multinomial logistic models (luminal A as referent) were used to describe BC subtype associations. Results Women with luminal B tumors were more likely to be younger at diagnosis (Odds ratio [OR] 1.8, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.0–3.4) and to have higher grade (OR 2.6, 95% CI 1.5–4.7), larger (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.0–3.6), and Ki67 positive tumors (OR 2.1, 95% CI 1.1–4.0). Women with non-luminal HER2-expressing BCs were more likely to have higher grade tumors (OR 14.5, 95% CI 5.3–39.7). Women with TNBCs were more likely to be African American (OR 1.9, 95% CI 1.0–3.4) and to have higher grade (Or 9.7, 95% CI 5.1–18.4), larger (OR 2.2, 95% CI 1.0–4.8), and Ki67 positive (OR 2.9, 95% CI 1.6–5.2) tumors. Notably, compared to the luminal A subtype, luminal B, non-luminal HER2-expressing and triple-negative subtypes were more frequently self-detected; however, these associations were attenuated in multivariable models. Conclusions These findings suggest that some BC subtypes were associated with features denoting more aggressive phenotypes, namely higher grade, larger size, and Ki67 positivity, and possibly patient self-detection among some women. These findings highlight a need for enhanced screening, particularly among younger women, racial/ethnic minorities and lower socioeconomic subgroups.

Sociodemographic and Clinical-pathological Study of Molecular Subtitles of Breast Carcinoma in a Reference Unit of Maranhão

“…This information is relevant in terms of the level of knowledge of the patients about the disease, its prevention and diagnosis, since this level is directly proportional to education. 14 Regarding marital status, in agreement with the studies by Farina et al, Llanos et al, and Haddad et al, 12,16,17 most women were married. Marital status is not considered a risk factor for the development of the disease, but the fact of having a partner is associated with better social support, optimism and quality of life among surviving women.…”

LINE-1 and EPAS1 DNA methylation associations with high-altitude exposure

“…Previous studies have shown that polymorphisms in the 1C metabolism pathway can affect LINE-1 methylation [37,38]. We identified 44 SNPs in the 1C metabolism pathway that have been found to associate with changes in LINE-1 methylation and for which we had genotype data from the Affymetrix (Santa Clara, CA) Axoim Biobanking array [36][37][38][39][40][41][42]. We first tested each SNP for an association with average LINE-1 methylation using an additive model of inheritance in R (R Core Group, 2018) (Supplementary Table 2).…”

“…To identify candidate genes from the one-carbon metabolism pathway we performed a literature search for publications reporting one-carbon metabolism SNPs in association with DNA methylation, cancer, and diet among others [36][37][38][39][40][41][42][78][79][80]. Based on the previously published one-carbon metabolism SNP associations, we selected 81 SNPs that were present on the Affymetrix (Santa Clara, CA) Axoim Biobanking array.…”

Factors Associated with Initial Mode of Breast Cancer Detection among Black Women in the Women’s Circle of Health Study

“…We conducted case-case analysis of incident, primary breast cancers diagnosed among Black women 40-75 years, who were enrolled in the Women's Circle of Health Study (WCHS). As previously described [23, 27–29], WCHS is a case-control study conducted in metropolitan New York City (NYC) and ten counties in New Jersey (NJ). Breast cancer cases with histologically confirmed ductal carcinoma in situ or invasive breast cancer, who self-identified as either Black/African American or White/European American, were aged 20-75 years, were able to complete an interview in English, and had no history of cancer except nonmelanoma skin cancer, were eligible to participate.…”

“…[15–25]. Evidence indicates that particular sociodemographic factors also differ when comparing women with screen-detected vs. self-detected breast cancers, including age, race/ethnicity, and educational attainment [23, 26]. Furthermore, evidence suggests that patients with mammogram-detected breast cancers have improved survival rates compared to those with self-detected cancers, specifically among those diagnosed with luminal A breast cancers [15, 16, 19, 22].…”