Determinants of breast cancer treatment delay differ for African American and White women

Assessment of duration until initial treatment and its determining factors among newly diagnosed oral cancer patients: A population-based retrospective cohort study

Few studies have focused on the early treatment stages of cancer, and the impact of treatment delay on oncologic outcomes is poorly defined. We used oral cancer as an example to investigate the distribution of durations until initial treatment.This study was conducted using the National Health Insurance Research Database, which is linked to Taiwan's Cancer Registry and Death Registry databases. We defined "cutoff points for first-time treatment" according to a weekly schedule and sorted the patients into 2 groups based on whether their duration until initial treatment was longer or shorter than each cutoff. We then calculated the Kaplan-Meier estimator to determine the difference in survival rates between the 2 groups and performed logistic regression to identify determining factors.The average time between diagnosis and initial treatment was approximately 22.45 days. The average survival duration was 1363 days (standard deviation: 473.06 days). Oral cancer patients had no statistically significant differences in survival until a cutoff point of 3 weeks was used (with survival duration 71 days longer if initial treatment was received within 3 weeks). Patients with higher incomes or higher Charlson comorbidity index scores and patients treated at a hospital in a region with medium urbanization had lower likelihoods of treatment delay, whereas older patients were at higher risk of treatment delay.The attitudes, beliefs, and social contexts of oral cancer patients influence the treatment-seeking behaviors of these patients. Therefore, the government should advocate the merits of the referral system for cancer treatment or improve quality assurance for cancer diagnoses across different types of hospitals. Health authorities should also educate patients or use a case manager to encourage prompt treatment within 3 weeks and should provide screening and prevention services, particularly for high-risk groups, to reduce mortality risk.

Understanding racial differences in health-related quality of life in a population-based cohort of breast cancer survivors

PURPOSE

Although racial disparities in health-related quality of life (HRQOL) among women with breast cancer (BC) are well documented, less is known about HRQOL changes over time among women of different races. Our objective was to assess racial differences in HRQOL during active treatment and survivorship phases of BC care.

METHODS

We used data from the third phase of the Carolina Breast Cancer Study (CBCS-III). CBCS-III enrolled 3000 women in North Carolina aged 20-74 years diagnosed with BC between 2008 and 2013. HRQOL assessments occurred 5 and 25 months post diagnosis, representing distinct phases of care. HRQOL measures included the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy for BC and Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy for Spiritual Well-Being. Analysis of covariance models were employed to assess racial differences in changes in HRQOL.

RESULTS

The cohort included 2142 Non-Hispanic White (n = 1105) and Black women (n = 1037) who completed both HRQOL assessments. During active treatment, Whites reported physical and functional scores 2-2.5 points higher than Blacks (p < 0.0001). Spiritual HRQOL was 2.1 points higher for Blacks (p < 0.0001). During survivorship, differences persisted. After adjusting for demographic, socioeconomic, tumor, and treatment characteristics, physical and functional HRQOL gaps narrowed, but spiritual HRQOL gaps widened.

CONCLUSIONS

Racial differences in physical and functional HRQOL during active treatment and survivorship may be largely mediated by socioeconomic factors. However, our results suggest that among Black women, spiritual HRQOL is well supported throughout the BC care continuum. These results inform opportunities for improving the quality and equity of supportive services for women with BC.

Breast cancer biologic and etiologic heterogeneity by young age and menopausal status in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study: a case-control study

BACKGROUND

Young-onset breast cancer (<40 years) is associated with worse prognosis and higher mortality. Breast cancer risk factors may contribute to distinct tumor biology and distinct age at onset, but understanding of these relationships has been hampered by limited representation of young women in epidemiologic studies and may be confounded by menopausal status.

METHODS

We examined tumor characteristics and epidemiologic risk factors associated with premenopausal women's and young women's breast cancer in phases I-III of the Carolina Breast Cancer Study (5309 cases, 2022 control subjects). Unconditional logistic regression was used to assess heterogeneity by age (<40 vs. ≥40 years) and menopausal status.

RESULTS

In both premenopausal and postmenopausal strata, younger women had more aggressive disease, including higher stage, hormone receptor-negative, disease as well as increased frequency of basal-like subtypes, lymph node positivity, and larger tumors. Higher waist-to-hip ratio was associated with reduced breast cancer risk among young women but with elevated risk among older women. Parity was associated with increased risk among young women and reduced risk among older women, while breastfeeding was more strongly protective for young women. Longer time since last birth was protective for older women but not for young women. In comparison, when we stratified by age, menopausal status was not associated with distinct risk factor or tumor characteristic profiles, except for progesterone receptor status, which was more commonly positive among premenopausal women.

CONCLUSIONS

Age is a key predictor of breast cancer biologic and etiologic heterogeneity and may be a stronger determinant of heterogeneity than menopausal status. Young women's breast cancer appears to be etiologically and biologically distinct from that among older women.

A case-control analysis of smoking and breast cancer in African American women: findings from the AMBER Consortium

Recent population studies suggest a role of smoking in the etiology of breast cancer, but few have been conducted among African American women. In a collaborative project of four large studies, we examined associations between smoking measures and breast cancer risk by menopause and hormone receptor status [estrogen receptor-positive (ER+), ER-negative (ER-) and triple-negative (ER-, PR-, HER2-)]. The study included 5791 African American women with breast cancer and 17376 African American controls. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated in multivariable logistic regression analysis with adjustment for study and risk factors. Results differed by menopausal status. Among postmenopausal women, positive associations were observed for long duration and greater pack-years of smoking: relative to never smoking, fully adjusted ORs were 1.14 (95% CI: 1.03-1.26) for duration ≥20 years and 1.16 (95% CI: 1.01-1.33) for ≥20 pack-years. By contrast, inverse associations were observed among premenopausal women, with ORs of 0.80 (95% CI: 0.68-95) for current smoking and 0.81 (95% CI: 0.69-0.96) for former smoking, without trends by duration. Associations among postmenopausal women were somewhat stronger for ER+ breast cancer. The findings suggest that the relation of cigarette smoking to breast cancer risk in African American women may vary by menopausal status and breast cancer subtype.

Patient delays and system delays in breast cancer treatment in developed and developing countries

AbstractDelays in treating breast cancer have been associated with a more advanced stage of the disease and a decrease in patient survival rates. The scope of this integrative review was to analyze the main causal factors and types of patient and system delays. The underlying causal factors of delays were compared among studies conducted in developing and developed countries. Of the 53 studies selected, 24 were carried out in developing countries and 29 in developed countries, respectively. Non-attribution of symptoms to cancer, fear of the disease and treatment and low educational level were the most frequent causes of patient delay. Less comprehensive health insurance coverage, older/younger age and false negative diagnosis tests were the three most common causal factors of system delay. The effects of factors such as age were not decisive per se and depended mainly on the social and cultural context. Some factors caused both patient delay and system delay. Studies conducted in developing countries identified more causal factors of patient delay and had a stronger focus on patient delay or the combination of both. Studies conducted in developed countries had a stronger focus on aspects of system delay during treatment and guidance of breast cancer patients in the health care system.

Race/ethnicity and socio-economic differences in breast cancer surgery outcomes

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study is to evaluate racial and socio-economic differences in breast cancer surgery treatment, post-surgical complications, hospital length of stay and mortality among hospitalized breast cancer patients.

METHODS

We examined the association between race/ethnicity and socio-economic status with treatment and outcomes after surgery among 71,156 women hospitalized with a primary diagnosis of breast cancer using the Nationwide Inpatient Sample database from 2007 to 2011. Multivariable regression models were used to compute estimates, odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals adjusting for age, comorbidities, stage at diagnosis, insurance, and residential region.

RESULTS

Black women were more likely to receive breast conserving surgery but less likely to receive mastectomies compared with white women. They also experienced significantly longer hospital stays (β=0.31, 95% CI: 0.24, 0.39), post-surgical complications (OR=1.21, 95% CI: 1.04-1.42) and in-hospital mortality (OR=1.26, 95% CI: 1.07-1.50) compared with Whites, after adjusting for other factors including the number of comorbidities and treatment type.

CONCLUSION

Among patients hospitalized for breast cancer, there were racial differences observed in treatment and outcomes. Further studies are needed to fully characterize whether these differences are due to individual, provider level or hospital level factors, and to highlight areas for targeted approaches to eliminate these disparities.

Racial variation in adjuvant chemotherapy initiation among breast cancer patients receiving oncotype DX testing

It is unknown whether racial differences exist in adjuvant chemotherapy initiation among women with similar oncotype DX (ODX) risk scores. We examined whether adjuvant chemotherapy initiation varied by race. Data come from the Phase III, Carolina Breast Cancer Study, a longitudinal, population-based study of North Carolina women diagnosed with breast cancer between 2008 and 2014. We used modified Poisson regression and report adjusted relative risk (aRR) and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) to estimate the association between race and adjuvant chemotherapy initiation across ODX risk groups among women who received the test (n = 541). Among women who underwent ODX testing, 54.2, 37.5, and 8.3% of women had tumors classified as low-, intermediate-, and high-risk groups, respectively. We observed no racial variation in adjuvant chemotherapy initiation. Increasing ODX risk score (aRR = 1.39, 95%CI = 1.22, 1.58) and being married (aRR = 2.92, 95%CI = 1.12, 7.60) were independently associated with an increased likelihood of adjuvant chemotherapy in the low-risk group. Among women in the intermediate-risk group, ODX risk score (aRR = 1.15, 95%CI = 1.11, 1.20), younger age (aRR = 1.95, 95%CI = 1.35, 2.81), larger tumor size (aRR = 1.70, 95%CI = 1.22, 2.35), and higher income were independently associated with increased likelihood of adjuvant chemotherapy initiation. No racial differences were found in adjuvant chemotherapy initiation among women receiving ODX testing. As treatment decision-making becomes increasingly targeted with the use of genetic technologies, these results provide evidence that test results may drive treatment in a similar way across racial subgroups.

Characteristics of the Delayed or Refusal Therapy in Breast Cancer Patients: A Longitudinal Population-Based Study in Taiwan

Background

The evidence indicated breast cancer was a cancer with high survival rate. However, there were still some breast cancer patients delaying or refusing therapy. So we conducted a cohort study to explore the relationship between characteristics of breast cancer patients and delay or refusal of therapy within four months after cancer diagnosed.

Methods

This was a retrospective national population-based study from 2004 to 2010 in Taiwan. This study included 35,095 patients with new diagnosis breast cancer from Taiwan Cancer Registry Database. Several analysis methods, including t test, Chi-square test, generalized estimating equations of logistic regression analysis, and Cox proportional hazards model, were performed to explore the characteristics of these patients and the relative risk of mortality with delay or refusal of therapy.

Results

Our study showed that the overall survival rates were significantly different (p <0.05) between the breast cancer patients who delayed or refused therapy and those with treatment. The patients who delayed or refused therapy had lower 5-year overall survival rate compared with the treated group. The related factors included age, Charlson comorbidity index, cancer staging (OR = 1.30–19.69; p <0.05), other catastrophic illnesses or injuries and the level of diagnostic hospitals. However, the patients with different income levels and degree of urbanization in living area were not statistically significant factors.

Conclusion

Our results demonstrated that age and cancer staging were the main patient characteristics affecting whether the patients delayed or refused therapy. The delay or refusal of treatment was associated with the level of diagnosing hospital.

Racial and Ethnic Differences in Breast Cancer Survival: Mediating Effect of Tumor Characteristics and Sociodemographic and Treatment Factors

PURPOSE

To evaluate the relationship between race/ethnicity and breast cancer-specific survival according to subtype and explore mediating factors.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Participants were women presenting with stage I to III breast cancer between January 2000 and December 2007 at National Comprehensive Cancer Network centers with survival follow-up through December 2009. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to compare breast cancer-specific survival among Asians (n = 533), Hispanics (n = 1,122), and blacks (n = 1,345) with that among whites (n = 14,268), overall and stratified by subtype (luminal A like, luminal B like, human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 type, and triple negative). Model estimates were used to derive mediation proportion and 95% CI for selected risk factors.

RESULTS

In multivariable adjusted models, overall, blacks had 21% higher risk of breast cancer-specific death (hazard ratio [HR], 1.21; 95% CI, 1.00 to 1.45). For estrogen receptor-positive tumors, black and white survival differences were greatest within 2 years of diagnosis (years 0 to 2: HR, 2.65; 95% CI, 1.34 to 5.24; year 2 to end of follow-up: HR, 1.50; 95% CI, 1.12 to 2.00). Blacks were 76% and 56% more likely to die as a result of luminal A-like and luminal B-like tumors, respectively. No disparities were observed for triple-negative or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2-type tumors. Asians and Hispanics were less likely to die as a result of breast cancer compared with whites (Asians: HR, 0.56; 95% CI, 0.37 to 0.85; Hispanics: HR, 0.74; 95% CI, 0.58 to 0.95). For blacks, tumor characteristics and stage at diagnosis were significant disparity mediators. Body mass index was an important mediator for blacks and Asians.

CONCLUSION

Racial disparities in breast cancer survival vary by tumor subtype. Interventions are needed to reduce disparities, particularly in the first 2 years after diagnosis among black women with estrogen receptor-positive tumors.

Disparities in breast cancer surgery delay: the lingering effect of race

BACKGROUND

Delays to surgical breast cancer treatment of 90 days or more may be associated with greater stage migration. We investigated racial disparities in time to receiving first surgical treatment in breast cancer patients.

METHODS

Insured black (56 %) and white (44 %) women with primary breast cancer completed telephone interviews regarding psychosocial (e.g., self-efficacy) and health care factors (e.g., communication). Clinical data were extracted from medical charts. Time to surgery was measured as the days between diagnosis and definitive surgical treatment. We also examined delays of more than 90 days. Unadjusted hazard ratios (HRs) examined univariate relationships between delay outcomes and covariates. Cox proportional hazard models were used for multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Mean time to surgery was higher in blacks (mean 47 days) than whites (mean 33 days; p = .001). Black women were less likely to receive therapy before 90 days compared to white women after adjustment for covariates (HR .58; 95 % confidence interval .44, .78). Health care process factors were nonsignificant in multivariate models. Women with shorter delay reported Internet use (vs. not) and underwent breast-conserving surgery (vs. mastectomy) (p < .01).

CONCLUSIONS

Prolonged delays to definitive breast cancer surgery persist among black women. Because the 90-day interval has been associated with poorer outcomes, interventions to address delay are needed.

Diagnosis and surgical delays in African American and white women with early-stage breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Delays in diagnosis and treatment for breast cancer may contribute to excess deaths among African Americans. We examined racial differences in delays in diagnosis and surgical treatment for early-stage breast cancer and evaluated race-specific predictors associated with delay.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study was conducted among 634 African American and white women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 2005 and 2010 in New Jersey. Detailed medical-chart abstraction and patient interviews were undertaken. Time intervals were calculated from symptom recognition to diagnosis (diagnosis delay) and from diagnosis to first operation (surgical delay). Binomial regression models were used to examine racial differences in delay and factors associated with ≥2 months delay in the overall population and stratified by race. Reasons responsible for diagnosis delay were also examined by race.

RESULTS

Compared to white women, African American women experienced significantly higher risk of ≥2 months delay in diagnosis and surgical treatment (adjusted relative risks=1.44 (1.12-1.86) and 3.08 (1.88-5.04), respectively). For the African Americans, predictors of diagnosis delay included mode of detection, insurance, and tumor size; for whites, mode of detection and tumor grade. Surgical delay was associated with operation type and education among African Americans but with operation type and tumor size for whites. Patient-related factors were commonly noted as reasons for diagnosis delay.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings emphasize the need to raise further awareness, especially among African American patients and their providers, of the importance of prompt evaluation and treatment of breast abnormalities. Research on effective ways to accomplish this is needed.

Breast cancer treatment among African American women in north St. Louis, Missouri

Similar to disparities seen at the national and state levels, African American women in St. Louis, Missouri have higher breast cancer mortality rates than their Caucasian counterparts. We examined breast cancer treatment (regimens and timing) in a sample of African American breast cancer patients diagnosed between 2000 and 2008 while residing in a North St. Louis cluster (eight zip codes) of late stage at diagnosis. Data were obtained from medical record extractions of women participating in a mixed-method study of breast cancer treatment experiences. The median time between diagnosis and initiation of treatment was 27 days; 12.2% of the women had treatment delay over 60 days. These findings suggest that treatment delay and regimens are unlikely contributors to excess mortality rates for African American women diagnosed in early stages. Conflicting research findings on treatment delay may result from the inconsistent definitions of treatment delay and variations among study populations. Breast cancer treatment delay may reduce breast cancer survival; additional research is needed to better understand the points at which delays are most likely to occur and develop policies, programs, and interventions to address disparities in treatment delay. There may also be differences in treatment-related survivorship quality of life; approximately 54% of the women in this sample treated with mastectomies received breast reconstruction surgery. Despite the high reconstruction rates, most women did not receive definitive completion. African American women have higher reconstruction complication rates than Caucasian women; these data provide additional evidence to suggest a disparity in breast reconstruction outcomes by race.

Single-nucleotide polymorphisms in DNA bypass polymerase genes and association with breast cancer and breast cancer subtypes among African Americans and Whites

DNA damage recognition and repair is a complex system of genes focused on maintaining genomic stability. Recently, there has been a focus on how breast cancer susceptibility relates to genetic variation in the DNA bypass polymerases pathway. Race-stratified and subtype-specific logistic regression models were used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CIs) for the association between 22 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in seven bypass polymerase genes and breast cancer risk in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study, a population-based, case-control study (1,972 cases and 1,776 controls). We used SNP-set kernel association test (SKAT) to evaluate the multi-gene, multi-locus (combined) SNP effects within bypass polymerase genes. We found similar ORs for breast cancer with three POLQ SNPs (rs487848 AG/AA vs. GG; OR = 1.31, 95 % CI 1.03-1.68 for Whites and OR = 1.22, 95 % CI 1.00-1.49 for African Americans), (rs532411 CT/TT vs. CC; OR = 1.31, 95 % CI 1.02-1.66 for Whites and OR = 1.22, 95 % CI 1.00-1.48 for African Americans), and (rs3218634 CG/CC vs. GG; OR = 1.29, 95 % CI 1.02-1.65 for Whites). These three SNPs are in high linkage disequilibrium in both races. Tumor subtype analysis showed the same SNPs to be associated with increased risk of Luminal breast cancer. SKAT analysis showed no significant combined SNP effects. These results suggest that variants in the POLQ gene may be associated with the risk of Luminal breast cancer.

Breast cancer treatment delays in a majority minority community: is there a difference?

PURPOSE

Recent studies from large nationwide cancer databases have consistently shown that Hispanic women with breast cancer have delays in treatment initiation compared with non-Hispanic white women. However, time to treatment initiation has not been studied in a community where Hispanics are the majority.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We conducted a retrospective, observational study of 362 female patients with breast cancer treated at a large National Cancer Institute (NCI) -designated cancer center with a largely Hispanic population. We examined the relationship between race/ethnicity and time from mammogram to biopsy as well as time from biopsy to treatment initiation using Kaplan-Meier analyses and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression.

RESULTS

Half of the female patients with breast cancer were of Hispanic descent (50.0%; n = 181). Hispanic patients were more likely to be obese, have an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group functional status ≥ 1, and have higher histologic grade disease (all P ≤ .05); no differences in American Joint Committee on Cancer stage at diagnosis were observed. After comprehensive adjustment for demographic and clinical characteristics, we found no significant differences between Hispanic versus non-Hispanic white patients in time from mammogram to biopsy (hazard ratio [HR], 0.91; 95% CI, 0.68 to 1.21) or time from biopsy to treatment (HR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.69 to 1.88).

CONCLUSION

Hispanic women and Non-Hispanic white women with breast cancer treated at an NCI-designated cancer center had similar times to biopsy and treatment initiation. These findings suggest that in majority minority communities with large cancer centers, racial disparities can be reduced. With a growing Hispanic population throughout the United States, future studies should examine the long-term impact on improved breast cancer survival in this population.

Racial differences in physical activity among breast cancer survivors: implications for breast cancer care

BACKGROUND

Physical activity after breast cancer diagnosis is associated with improved survival. The current study examined levels of and changes in physical activity after breast cancer diagnosis, overall and by race.

METHODS

Phase 3 of the Carolina Breast Cancer Study assessed both pre- and postdiagnosis physical activity levels in a cohort of 1735 women aged 20 years to 74 years who were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 2008 and 2011 in 44 counties of North Carolina. Logistic regression and analysis of variance were used to examine whether demographic, behavioral, and clinical characteristics were associated with activity levels.

RESULTS

Only 35% of study participants met current physical activity guidelines after diagnosis with breast cancer. A decrease in activity after diagnosis was reported by 59% of patients, with the average study participant reducing their activity by 15 metabolic equivalent task (MET) hours (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 12 MET hours-19 MET hours). After adjustment for potential confounders, when compared with white women, African American women were less likely to meet national physical activity guidelines after diagnosis (odds ratio, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.01-1.88) and reported less weekly postdiagnosis physical activity (12 MET hours vs 14 MET hours; P = .13). In adjusted stratified analyses, receipt of treatment was found to be significantly associated with postdiagnosis activity in African American women (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite compelling evidence demonstrating the benefits of physical activity after a diagnosis of breast cancer, it is clear that more work needs to be done to promote physical activity in patients with breast cancer, especially among African American women.

Racial differences in physical activity among breast cancer survivors: implications for breast cancer care

BACKGROUND

Physical activity after breast cancer diagnosis is associated with improved survival. The current study examined levels of and changes in physical activity after breast cancer diagnosis, overall and by race.

METHODS

Phase 3 of the Carolina Breast Cancer Study assessed both pre- and postdiagnosis physical activity levels in a cohort of 1735 women aged 20 years to 74 years who were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 2008 and 2011 in 44 counties of North Carolina. Logistic regression and analysis of variance were used to examine whether demographic, behavioral, and clinical characteristics were associated with activity levels.

RESULTS

Only 35% of study participants met current physical activity guidelines after diagnosis with breast cancer. A decrease in activity after diagnosis was reported by 59% of patients, with the average study participant reducing their activity by 15 metabolic equivalent task (MET) hours (95% confidence interval [95% CI], 12 MET hours-19 MET hours). After adjustment for potential confounders, when compared with white women, African American women were less likely to meet national physical activity guidelines after diagnosis (odds ratio, 1.38; 95% CI, 1.01-1.88) and reported less weekly postdiagnosis physical activity (12 MET hours vs 14 MET hours; P = .13). In adjusted stratified analyses, receipt of treatment was found to be significantly associated with postdiagnosis activity in African American women (P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

Despite compelling evidence demonstrating the benefits of physical activity after a diagnosis of breast cancer, it is clear that more work needs to be done to promote physical activity in patients with breast cancer, especially among African American women.

[Delays in treatment of breast cancer: experience of an expert center of the Assistance Publique-Hôpitaux de Paris (AP-HP)]

OBJECTIVES

The National Institute of the Cancer (INCA) recently published a study over the deadlines of medical care of breast cancers. We compared our delay within the framework of our expert center with their results.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Our work is a retrospective unicentric non-interventional study. We included all the patients taken care for a breast cancer to the hospital Tenon in Paris. The criteria of inclusion were a primitive breast cancer, having accepted a care for a first cancer operated over a period of three months. We recovered 9 key deadlines to study the care of our patients.

RESULTS

Sixty-six patients were included. The mean age was of 55.6 years. The deadline of access to the hospital Tenon was 8.7 ± 7.7 days for the meetings of gynecology and 4.3 ± 4 days for those of radiology. The deadline of access to the diagnosis was 31.8 ± 26 days. The deadlines of access to the meeting of multidisciplinary dialogue pre-therapeutic was 13 ± 11 days. The access to the first management time was 18.5 days for the neoadjuvant chemotherapy and 13.5 days for surgery. The deadline of access to the postoperative therapeutic proposal was on average 20 ± 8 days. The deadline of access to the postoperative radiotherapy was of 197 days in case of postoperative chemotherapy vs 47.5 days without chemotherapy. The global deadline mammography-radiotherapy was of 188 days.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

The deadline of access to the diagnosis, to the postoperative therapeutic proposal and the global deadline mammography-radiotherapy with adjuvant chemotherapy or neoadjuvant were longer in our center compared with the results of the INCA. The deadlines of access to the surgery and access to the radiotherapy without postoperative chemotherapy were shorter on the other hand. The contribution of the diagnosis in one day for breast cancer is probably going to allow us to improve the deadlines of care in our structure.

A collaborative study of the etiology of breast cancer subtypes in African American women: the AMBER consortium

PURPOSE

Breast cancer is a heterogeneous disease, with at least five intrinsic subtypes defined by molecular characteristics. Tumors that express the estrogen receptor (ER+) have better outcomes than ER- tumors, due in part to the success of hormonal therapies that target ER+ tumors. The incidence of ER- breast cancer, and the subset of ER- cancers that are basal-like, is about twice as high among African American (AA) women as among US women of European descent (EA). This disparity appears to explain, in part, the disproportionately high mortality from breast cancer that occurs in AA women. Epidemiologic research on breast cancer in AA women lags behind research in EA women. Here, we review differences in the etiology of breast cancer subtypes among AA women and describe a new consortium of ongoing studies of breast cancer in AA women.

METHODS

We combined samples and data from four large epidemiologic studies of breast cancer in AA women, two cohort and two case-control, creating the African American Breast Cancer Epidemiology and Risk consortium. Tumor tissue is obtained and stored in tissue microarrays, with assays of molecular markers carried out at a pathology core. Genotyping, carried out centrally, includes a whole exome SNP array and over 180,000 custom SNPs for fine-mapping of genome-wide association studies loci and candidate pathways.

RESULTS

To date, questionnaire data from 5,739 breast cancer cases and 14,273 controls have been harmonized. Genotyping of the first 3,200 cases and 3,700 controls is underway, with a total of 6,000 each expected by the end of the study period.

CONCLUSIONS

The new consortium will likely have sufficient statistical power to assess potential risk factors, both genetic and non-genetic, in relation to specific subtypes of breast cancer in AA women.