Comparative Analysis of Breast Cancer Risk Factors among African-American Women and White Women

Abstract

The authors assessed risk factor profiles among 1,505 African-American and 1,809 White women in the 1993-2001 Carolina Breast Cancer Study. Multiple logistic regression models for case-control data were used to estimate odds ratios for several factors. Racial differences were observed in the prevalence of many breast cancer risk factors among both younger (aged 20-49 years) and older (aged 50-74 years) women. For older women, the magnitude and direction of associations were generally similar for African-American and White women, but important racial differences were observed among younger women. In particular, multiparity was associated with increased risk of breast cancer among younger African-American women (for three or four pregnancies: adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.5, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.9, 2.6; for five or more pregnancies: OR = 1.4, 95% CI: 0.6, 3.1) but not among younger White women (for three or four pregnancies: OR = 0.7, 95% CI: 0.4, 1.2; for five or more pregnancies: OR = 0.8, 95% CI: 0.2, 3.0). The relations with age at first full-term pregnancy and nulliparity also varied by race. Case-only analyses before and after further adjustment for tumor stage and hormone receptor status revealed little effect on results. Hence, racial variations in both prevalences of and risks associated with particular factors may contribute to the higher incidence of breast cancer among younger African-American women.

Histopathological Grade versus Estrogen and Progestron Receptor Status in Carcinoma Breast- A Single Center Study

“…Our results confirmed that nonreactivity of hormonal receptors increases with increase in tumor size. Infiltrating ductal carcinoma was the most common histological type similar to other studies followed by medullary carcinoma in our study where as in other studies Infiltrating lobular carcinoma being the second most common type [14,15] . Our study provides convincing evidence for a non-significant association between expression of ER, PR and lymph node metastasis.…”

Breast Cancer Epidemiology in Blacks and Whites: Disparities in Incidence, Mortality, Survival Rates and Histology

“…There is some evidence to suggest that, unlike the protective effect of pregnancy on breast cancer risk among women after age 45, early childbearing and higher birth rate observed among black women could increase the likelihood of higher incidence of premenopausal breast cancer [28][29][30] . Moreover, among younger black women, multiparity 31 coupled with lower likelihood of lactation and shorter duration of lactation 32 may also contribute to a higher incidence rate. The reduction in modifiable risk factors including, hormone replace therapy, alcohol consumption, physical activity, and duration of breast-feeding, could substantially reduce breast cancer incidence 33 .…”

Polymorphisms in DNA Repair Genes, Medical Exposure to Ionizing Radiation, and Breast Cancer Risk

“…Among controls, the median time interval between date of ascertainment (sampling) and date of interview was 3.8 months (mean, 6.4 months), and 90% of interviews occurred within 15 months of ascertainment. CBCS participant characteristics were reported previously (33)(34)(35). Race was classified according to self-report.…”