Racial differences in treatment and survival from early-stage breast carcinoma

Higher 10-Year Survival with Breast-Conserving Therapy over Mastectomy for Women with Early-Stage (I-II) Breast Cancer: Analysis of the CDC Patterns of Care Data Base

Background

Studies in the United States are scarce that assess the survival differences between breast-conserving surgery plus radiation (Breast-Conserving Therapy; BCT) and mastectomy groups using population-based data while accounting for sociodemographic and clinical factors that affect the survival of women with early-stage breast cancer (ESBC).

Objective

To assess whether BCT provides superior long-term overall survival (OS) and breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) compared with mastectomy in women with ESBC, while considering key factors that impact survival.

Design

Cohort study.

Methods

We analyzed data on women aged 20 years and older diagnosed with stage I-II breast cancer (BC) in 2004 who received either BCT or mastectomy. The data were collected by 5 state cancer registries through the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention-funded Patterns of Care study. Multivariable Cox proportional hazard models, accounting for sociodemographic and clinical factors, were used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Sensitivity analysis involved optimal caliper propensity score (PS) matching to address residual confounding.

Results

Of the 3495 women, 41.5% underwent mastectomy. The 10-year OS and BCSS were 82.7% and 91.1% for BCT and 72.3% and 85.7% for mastectomy, respectively. Adjusted models showed that mastectomy recipients had a 22% higher risk of all-cause deaths (ACD) (HR = 1.22, 95% CI = [1.06, 1.41]) and a 26% higher risk of breast cancer-specific deaths (BCD) (HR = 1.26, 95% CI = [1.02, 1.55]) than BCT recipients. Sensitivity analysis demonstrated that mastectomy was associated with a higher risk of ACD (P < .05) but did not exhibit a statistically significant risk for BCD. Women with HR+/HER2+ (luminal B) or invasive ductal carcinoma BC who underwent mastectomy had higher risks of ACD and BCD compared with BCT recipients, while the hazards for ACD in triple-negative BC did not remain significant after adjusting for covariates.

Conclusion

ESBC BCT recipients demonstrate superior OS and BCSS compared with mastectomy recipients.

The Impact of Race on Perioperative and Patient-Reported Outcomes following Autologous Breast Reconstruction

BACKGROUND

Racial disparities are evident in multiple aspects of the perioperative care of breast cancer patients, but data examining whether such differences translate to clinical and patient-reported outcomes are limited. This study examined the impact of race on perioperative outcomes in autologous breast reconstruction.

METHODS

A retrospective cohort study including all breast cancer patients who underwent immediate autologous breast reconstruction at a single institution from 2010 to 2017 was conducted. Self-reported race was used to classify patients into three groups: white, African American, and other. The primary and secondary endpoints were occurrence of any major complications within 30 days of surgery and patient-reported outcomes (measured with the BREAST-Q), respectively. Regression models were constructed to identify factors associated with the outcomes.

RESULTS

Overall, 404 patients, including 259 white (64 percent), 63 African American (16 percent), and 82 patients from other minority groups (20 percent), were included. African American patients had a significantly higher proportion of preoperative comorbidities. Postoperatively, African American patients had a higher incidence of 30-day major complications (p = 0.004) and were more likely to return to the operating room (p = 0.006). Univariable analyses examining complications demonstrated that race was the only factor associated with 30-day major complications (p = 0.001). Patient-reported outcomes were not statistically different at each time point through 3 years postoperatively.

CONCLUSIONS

African American patients continue to present with increased comorbidities and may be more likely to experience major complications following immediate autologous breast reconstruction. However, patient-reported satisfaction or physical well-being outcomes may not differ between groups.

CLINICAL QUESTION/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Risk, II.

A Comprehensive Classification System for Breast Cancer Diagnosis Based on Dynamic Optical Breast Imaging

The Dynamic Optical Breast Imaging technology is a promising breast cancer diagnosis approach based on tumor angiogenesis or vascular change detection which generally causes an increased blood volume in tumor. By applying sustained pressure to breast tissue under red light, the tissue with abnormal vascularization exhibits different dynamic behaviors of optical properties compared with normal breast tissue. In this paper, we explore a comprehensive classification method to discriminate malignant from benign lesions based on the Dynamic Optical breast Imaging technology. Firstly, we propose an automatic Point of Reference (POR) and Point of Interest (POI) selection algorithm from input images for following comparison procedures. Secondly, an automatic Margin Shape Patterns (MSP) recognition algorithm for Region of Interest (ROI) is explored. Furthermore, we define a new significant temporal and contextual feature named Temporal Curves Similarity Index (TCSI), with the aim of better characterizing and quantifying the difference inside the same breast. Finally, Support Vector Machine (SVM) is utilized for comprehensive classification. Experimental results, sensitivity of 91% and specificity of 71%, on our clinical database verify the efficiency of the proposed method.

Differences in Breast Cancer Stage at Diagnosis by Ethnicity, Insurance Status, and Family Income in Young Women in the USA

PURPOSE

Describe the clinical and epidemiological data from young women with breast cancer and determine the association between ethnicity, insurance status, family income, and breast cancer stage at the diagnosis in this population.

METHODS

Women under the age of 40 diagnosed with invasive breast cancer from 2010 to 2014 and identified in the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 18 registries database were included. Binary logistic regression was applied in order to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) for factors that were potentially predictive for receiving a breast cancer diagnosis at stage I.

RESULTS

Of 14,379 young women with invasive breast cancer, 70.9% of the patients were white, 15.9% black, and 13.2% classified as other ethnicity (American Indian, Asian, Pacific Islander). The initial clinical stage at diagnosis was stage I in 28.2%, II in 45.2%, III in 19.0%, and IV in 7.6%. The chi-square test showed a significant association between clinical stage at diagnosis and family income (p < 0.0001), insurance status (p < 0.0001), and ethnicity (p < 0.0001). The ORs for being diagnosed at stage I, regarding different factors, revealed that women with family income higher than US$ 85,000 were more likely to be diagnosed with stage I (OR [95%CI], 1.306 [1.173-1.454]; p value < 0.0001) when compared with patients with family income of less than US$ 60,000. Black women were less likely to be diagnosed with stage I (OR [95%CI], 0.676 [0.605-0.755]; p value < 0.0001), when compared with white women. Uninsured women were less likely to be diagnosed with stage I (OR [95%CI], 0.586 [0.529-0.648]; p value < 0.0001) when compared with women with insurance coverage.

CONCLUSION

Among young US women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer, most of them presented early stage disease. Women with black ethnicity, low income, and uninsured are at risk for late-stage presentation. Improvements in strategies to allow earlier breast cancer diagnosis in these at risk population are urged.

Examining Associations of Racial Residential Segregation With Patient Knowledge of Breast Cancer and Treatment Receipt

BACKGROUND

The effect of racial residential segregation on breast cancer treatment disparities is unclear. We examined whether racial segregation is associated with adjuvant treatment receipt and patient knowledge of disease.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We surveyed a population-based sample of women in Northern California with stage I to III breast cancer diagnosed in 2010 to 2011 (participation rate = 68.5%, 500 patients). For black, Hispanic, and white women, we measured black and Hispanic segregation using the location quotient (LQ) of racial residential segregation, a proportional measure of the size of a minority group in the census tract compared with the larger metropolitan statistical area. We categorized LQ values for black and Hispanic participants into quartiles, with quartile 1 representing a lower relative level of segregation than quartile 4. We used multivariable logistical regression to assess the odds of receiving guideline-recommended adjuvant therapy and patient knowledge of tumor characteristics according to relative residential segregation.

RESULTS

We observed greater residential segregation for black versus Hispanic patients (P < .05). Overall, there were no treatment differences according to Hispanic or black LQ, except for black LQ quartile 3 (vs. 1) for which we observed higher odds of hormonal therapy. Knowledge of disease did not vary according to black LQ, but patients in the Hispanic LQ quartile 3 (vs. quartile 1) had less tumor knowledge.

CONCLUSION

We did not find clear associations for racial residential segregation and treatment or cancer knowledge in Northern California, an area with low levels of segregation. Additional research should assess the effect of segregation on breast cancer treatment disparities in a variety of geographical locations.

Literature review of data-based models for identification of factors associated with racial disparities in breast cancer mortality

In the United States, early detection methods have contributed to the reduction of overall breast cancer mortality but this pattern has not been observed uniformly across all racial groups. A vast body of research literature shows a set of health care, socio-economic, biological, physical, and behavioural factors influencing the mortality disparity. In this paper, we review the modelling frameworks, statistical tests, and databases used in understanding influential factors, and we discuss the factors documented in the modelling literature. Our findings suggest that disparities research relies on conventional modelling and statistical tools for quantitative analysis, and there exist opportunities to implement data-based modelling frameworks for (1) exploring mechanisms triggering disparities, (2) increasing the collection of behavioural data, and (3) monitoring factors associated with the mortality disparity across time.

Active smoking and survival following breast cancer among African American and non-African American women in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study

PURPOSE

To examine racial differences in smoking rates at the time of breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent survival among African American and non-African American women in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study (Phases I/II), a large population-based North Carolina study.

METHODS

We interviewed 788 African American and 1,020 Caucasian/non-African American women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer from 1993 to 2000, to assess smoking history. After a median follow-up of 13.56 years, we identified 717 deaths using the National Death Index; 427 were breast cancer-related. We used Cox regression to examine associations between self-reported measures of smoking and breast cancer-specific survival within 5 years and up to 18 years after diagnosis conditional on 5-year survival. We examined race and estrogen receptor status as potential modifiers.

RESULTS

Current (vs never) smoking was not associated with 5-year survival; however, risk of 13 year conditional breast cancer-specific mortality was elevated among women who were current smokers at diagnosis (HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.06-2.25), compared to never smokers. Although smoking rates were similar among African American (22.0%) and non-African American (22.1%) women, risk of breast cancer-specific mortality was elevated among African American (HR 1.69, 95% CI 1.00-2.85), but only weakly elevated among non-African American (HR 1.22, 95% CI 0.70-2.14) current (vs. never) smokers (P Interaction = 0.30). Risk of breast cancer-specific mortality was also elevated among current (vs never) smokers diagnosed with ER- (HR 2.58, 95% CI 1.35-4.93), but not ER+ (HR 1.11, 95% CI 0.69-1.78) tumors (P Interaction = 0.17).

CONCLUSIONS

Smoking may negatively impact long-term survival following breast cancer. Racial differences in long-term survival, as related to smoking, may be driven by ER status, rather than by differences in smoking patterns.

Predicted 25-hydroxyvitamin D in relation to incidence of breast cancer in a large cohort of African American women

BACKGROUND

Vitamin D deficiency, which has been linked to an increased risk of colorectal cancer, is particularly common among African Americans. Previous studies of vitamin D status and breast cancer risk, mostly conducted in white women, have had conflicting results. We examined the relationship between predicted vitamin D status and incidence of breast cancer in a cohort of 59,000 African American women.

METHODS

Participants in the Black Women's Health Study have been followed by biennial mail questionnaires since 1995, with self-reported diagnoses of cancer confirmed by hospital and cancer registry records. Repeated five-fold cross-validation with linear regression was used to derive the best 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25(OH)D) prediction model based on measured 25(OH)D in plasma specimens obtained from 2856 participants in 2013-2015 and questionnaire-based variables from the same time frame. In the full cohort, including 1454 cases of incident invasive breast cancer, Cox proportional hazards models were used to compute the incidence rate ratio (IRR) for each quartile of predicted vitamin D score relative to the highest quartile. Predicted vitamin D score for each two-year exposure period was a cumulative average of predicted scores from all exposure periods up to that time.

RESULTS

Twenty-two percent of women with measured 25(OH)D were categorized as "deficient" (<20 ng/mL) and another 25 % as "insufficient" (20-29 ng/mL). The prediction model explained 25 % of variation in measured 25(OH)D and the correlation coefficient for predicted versus observed 25(OH)D averaged across all cross-validation runs was 0.49 (SD 0.026). Breast cancer risk increased with decreasing quartile of predicted 25(OH)D, p for trend 0.015; the IRR for the lowest versus highest quartile was 1.23 (95 % confidence interval 1.04, 1.46).

CONCLUSIONS

In prospective data, African American women in the lowest quartile of cumulative predicted 25(OH)D were estimated to have a 23 % increased risk of breast cancer relative to those with relatively high levels. Preventing vitamin D deficiency may be an effective means of reducing breast cancer incidence in African American women.

A Multidisciplinary Patient Navigation Program Improves Compliance With Adjuvant Breast Cancer Therapy in a Public Hospital

Cancer health disparities affecting low-income and minority patients have been well documented to lead to poor outcomes. This report examines the impact of patient navigation on adherence to prescribed adjuvant breast cancer treatment. A multidisciplinary patient navigation program was initiated at a public safety net hospital to improve compliance with 3 National Quality Forum measures: (1) administration of combination chemotherapy for women with Stage (defined by the American Joint Committee on Cancer [AJCC]) T1c, II, or III hormone receptor-negative breast cancer within 120 days; (2) administration of endocrine therapy for women with AJCC Stage T1c, II, or III hormone receptor-positive breast cancer within 365 days; and (3) radiation therapy for women receiving breast-conserving surgery within one year. Implementation of a multidisciplinary patient navigation program reduced time to treatment and improved compliance with adjuvant therapy for breast cancer in an underserved minority community.

Factors associated with contralateral preventive mastectomy

INTRODUCTION

Contralateral prophylactic mastectomy (CPM) is an option for women who wish to reduce their risk of breast cancer or its local recurrence. There is limited data on demographic differences among patients who choose to undergo this procedure.

METHODS

The population-based Florida cancer registry, Florida's Agency for Health Care Administration data, and US census data were linked and queried for patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer from 1996 to 2009. The main outcome variable was the rate of CPM. Primary predictors were race, ethnicity, socioeconomic status (SES), marital status and insurance status.

RESULTS

Our population was 91.1% White and 7.5% Black; 89.1% non-Hispanic and 10.9% Hispanic. Out of 21,608 patients with a single unilateral invasive breast cancer lesion, 837 (3.9%) underwent CPM. Significantly more White than Black (3.9% vs 2.8%; P<0.001) and more Hispanic than non-Hispanic (4.5% vs 3.8%; P=0.0909) underwent CPM. Those in the highest SES category had higher rates of CPM compared to the lowest SES category (5.3% vs 2.9%; P<0.001). In multivariate analyses, Blacks compared to Whites (OR =0.59, 95% CI =0.42-0.83, P=0.002) and uninsured patients compared to privately insured (OR =0.60, 95% CI =0.36-0.98, P=0.043) had significantly less CPM.

CONCLUSION

CPM rates were significantly different among patients of different race, socio-economic class, and insurance coverage. This observation is not accounted for by population distribution, incidence or disease stage. More in-depth study of the causes of these disparities in health care choice and delivery is critically needed.

Long-term outcomes among African-American and white women with breast cancer: what is the impact of comorbidity?

OBJECTIVES

We examined the association between comorbidity and long-term mortality from breast cancer and other causes among African-American and white women with breast cancer.

METHODS

A total of 170 African-American and 829 white women aged 40-84years were followed for up to 28years with median follow-up of 11.3years in the Health and Functioning in Women (HFW) study. The impact of the Charlson Comorbidity Score (CCS) in the first few months following breast cancer diagnosis on the risk of mortality from breast cancer and other causes was examined using extended Cox models.

RESULTS

Median follow-up was significantly shorter for African-American women than their white counterparts (median 8.5years vs. 12.3years). Compared to white women, African-American women had significantly fewer years of education, greater body mass index, were more likely to have functional limitations and later stage at breast cancer diagnosis, and fewer had adequate financial resources (all P<0.05). Proportionately more African-American women died of breast cancer than white women (37.1% vs. 31.4%, P=0.15). A positive and statistically significant time-varying effect of the Charlson Comorbidity Score (CCS) on other-cause mortality persisted throughout the first 5years of follow-up (P<0.001) but not for its remainder.

CONCLUSIONS

Higher CCS was associated with increased risk of other-cause mortality, but not breast cancer specific mortality; the association did not differ among African-American and white women.

Triple-negative breast carcinoma in African American and Caucasian women: clinicopathology, immunomarkers, and outcome

PURPOSE

Breast cancers are often classified on the presence/absence of hormone receptors, and growth factor oncogenes (estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, HER2). Triple-negative breast cancers, negative for these markers, do not benefit from targeted therapy. We compared clinicopathologic parameters and immunohistochemical markers of prognostic and/or predictive significance, and outcome between African American and Caucasian triple-negative breast cancer patients.

METHODS

Invasive triple-negative breast cancers from African American (n=94) and Caucasian (n=68) patients were studied. Clinicopathologic features (age, tumor size, grade, lymph node status, angiolymphatic invasion, visceral metastases) and survival (overall and progression free) were compared. Marker expression (CK5, CK7, CK8, CK14, CK18, CK19, vimentin, CD44, c-Kit, epidermal growth factor receptor, p-cadherin, p53, p63, topoisomerase II, androgen receptor, Ki-67) was assessed in tissue microarrays.

RESULTS

Significant differences between African American and Caucasian women were observed for mean age and tumor size. African Americans had a trend toward greater lymph node involvement than Caucasians. The following markers were found in significantly different frequencies between the 2 groups: CK5, CK8, CK19, c-Kit, androgen receptor, and high Ki-67. African Americans show shorter overall and progression-free survival. Other clinicopathologic parameters, markers, and outcome were present at similar frequencies.

DISCUSSION

African American triple-negative breast cancers were more aggressive, occurring at a younger age, being larger, with higher proliferation, patients more frequently dying of disease, and with a trend toward positive lymph node status. Heterogeneity of marker expression suggests variation in the genetics of breast carcinomas in different races.

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.

Cancer portal project: a multidisciplinary approach to cancer care among Hispanic patients

PURPOSE

This study investigates the impact of a multilingual, multidisciplinary team targeting social and economic determinants of cancer treatment adherence among at-risk Hispanic immigrants.

METHODS

Patients were recruited at 10 hospital-based cancer clinics in New York City between December 2008 and November 2009. This is a nested cohort study of Hispanic patients and their sociodemographic characteristics, areas of needed assistance, and reported impact of meeting service needs on keeping appointments. At the core of the intervention is the trained, bilingual Portal Access Facilitator, who assesses needs and synchronizes an individualized set of transdisciplinary services for each patient.

RESULTS

A total of 328 Hispanic patients participated in the study. Of these, 89% preferred to speak Spanish in the health care setting, and 17% had no health insurance. The most common cancer diagnosis among participants was breast cancer (35%) followed by GI (17%) and gynecologic (16%) cancers. Patients most commonly requested financial support (59%), food support (37%), transportation assistance (21%), social work services (14%), psychosocial support (6%), help with health insurance issues (5%), and legal services (5%). In a follow-up assessment of high-need patients in urgent need of financial support, 86% reported that portal services helped them attend cancer care and treatment appointments, and 72% reported that portal services decreased worry about their care.

CONCLUSION

Most patients reported that financial, social, and logistical support would help them attend their appointments for cancer care and treatment. Further multidisciplinary interventions should be implemented and evaluated to address social and economic determinants in cancer care for this population.

Racial disparities in clinical presentation, surgical treatment and in-hospital outcomes of women with breast cancer: analysis of nationwide inpatient sample database

To examine racial/ethnic disparities in stage of disease and comorbidity (pre-treatment), surgical treatment allocation (breast-conserving surgery versus mastectomy), and in-hospital outcomes after surgery (post-treatment) among women with breast cancer. Nationwide inpatient sample is a nationwide clinical and administrative database compiled from 44 states representing 95 % of all hospital discharges in the Unites States. Discharges of adult women who underwent surgery for breast cancer from 2005 to 2009 were identified. Information about patients and hospitals characteristics was obtained. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were used to examine the risk adjusted association between race/ethnicity and the aforementioned outcomes (pre-treatment, treatment, and post-treatment). We identified 75,100 patient discharges. Compared to Whites, African-Americans (1.17, p < 0.001), and Hispanics (1.20, p < 0.001) were more likely to present with regional or metastatic disease. Similarly, African-American (1.58, p < 0.001) and Hispanics (1.11, p 0.003) were more likely to have comorbidity. Compared to Whites, African-Americans (0.71, p < 0.001), and Hispanics (0.77, p < 0.001) were less likely to receive mastectomy. Compared to Whites, African-Americans were more likely to develop post-operative complications (1.35, p < 0.001) and in-hospital mortality (1.87, p 0.13). Other racial groups showed no statistically significant difference compared to Whites. After controlling for potential confounders, we found racial/ethnic disparities in stage, comorbidity, surgical treatment allocation, and in-hospital outcomes among women with breast cancer. Future researches should examine the underlying factors of these disparities.

Variation in tumor natural history contributes to racial disparities in breast cancer stage at diagnosis

Black women tend to be diagnosed with breast cancer at a more advanced stage than whites and subsequently experience elevated breast cancer mortality. We sought to determine whether there are racial differences in tumor natural history that contribute to these disparities. We used the University of Wisconsin Breast Cancer Simulation Model, a validated member of the National Cancer Institute's Cancer Intervention and Surveillance Modeling Network, to evaluate the contribution of racial differences in tumor natural history to observed disparities in breast cancer incidence. We fit eight natural history parameters in race-specific models by calibrating to the observed race- and stage-specific 1975-2000 U.S. incidence rates, while accounting for known racial variation in population structure, underlying risk of breast cancer, screening mammography utilization, and mortality from other causes. The best fit models indicated that a number of natural history parameters must vary between blacks and whites to reproduce the observed stage-specific incidence patterns. The mean of the tumor growth rate parameter was 63.6 % higher for blacks than whites (0.18, SE 0.04 vs. 0.11, SE 0.02). The fraction of tumors considered highly aggressive based on their tendency to metastasize at a small size was 2.2 times greater among blacks than whites (0.41, SE 0.009 vs. 0.019, SE 0.008). Based on our simulation model, breast tumors in blacks grow faster and are more likely to metastasize earlier than tumors in whites. These differences suggest that targeted prevention and detection strategies that go beyond equalizing access to mammography may be needed to eliminate breast cancer disparities.

Adherence to adjuvant hormone therapy in low-income women with breast cancer: the role of provider-patient communication

To assess the impact of patient-provider communication on adherence to tamoxifen (TAM) and aromatase inhibitors (AIs) 36 months after breast cancer (BC) diagnosis in a low-income population of women. California statewide surveys were conducted among 921 low-income women with BC at 6, 18, and 36 months after BC diagnosis. A subset of 303 women with stage I-III BC who initiated hormone treatment after diagnosis was identified. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed, and adjusted adherence rates were calculated. The main outcome measure was self-reported hormone use at 36 months after BC diagnosis and the chief independent variables were patient-centered communication after diagnosis by patient report as measured by the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) and patients' self-efficacy in patient-physician interactions (PEPPI). Overall adherence to TAM/AI was relatively high (88 %). Adjusted rates of adherence were 59 and 94 % for patients with the lowest versus highest scores on the CAHPS communication scale (AOR = 1.22, P = 0.006) and 72 versus 91 % for patients with the lowest and highest rating of PEPPI (AOR = 1.04, P = 0.04). Having at least one comorbid condition also increased the odds of adherence to hormonal therapy (AOR = 3.14, P = 0.03). Having no health insurance and experiencing side-effects from hormone treatment were barriers for adherence (AOR = 0.12, P = 0.001; AOR = 0.26, P = 0.003, respectively). Patient-centered communication and perceived self-efficacy in patient-physician interaction were significantly associated with patient adherence to ongoing TAM/AI therapy among low-income women with BC. Interventions on patient-provider communication may provide opportunities to improve patient outcomes in this vulnerable population.

The dynamic optical breast imaging in the preoperative workflow of women with suspicious or malignant breast lesions: development of a new comprehensive score

Purpose. To determine the diagnostic accuracy of DOBIComfortScan in patients with Breast Imaging Reporting suspect breast lesions (BI-RADS) 4-5 breast lesions. Materials and Methods. One-hundred and thirteen patients underwent DOBIComfortScan examination before surgery. Twelve parameters were taken into consideration to define DOBI findings. Results. Twenty-seven radical mastectomies, 47 quadrantectomies and 39 wide excisions, were performed. Overall, 65 invasive cancer, 9 in situ carcinoma and 39 nonmalignant lesions, were observed. Ten out of 12 considered parameters resulted significantly in association with histology at discriminant analysis. A summation score of 30.5 resulted to be the best cut off at ROC analysis, giving a sensitivity and specificity of 80% and 87%, respectively, and a positive predictive value of 92.2%. Finally the following DOBI-BI-RADS model was developed: malignant B5 ≥ 38 score); possibly malignant (B4 = 25 − 37 score); benign but the possibility of malignancy cannot be excluded (B3 = 20 − 24 score); benign (B2 < 20 score). Conclusion. definition of other parameters permits to improve the accuracy of this procedure. Further studies are warranted to define the potential role of DOBIComfortScan in breast cancer imaging.

Use and timeliness of radiation therapy after breast-conserving surgery in low-income women with early-stage breast cancer

PURPOSE

To characterize overall receipt and timeliness of radiation therapy (RT) following breast-conserving surgery among Medicaid-insured patients.

METHOD

State cancer registry data linked with Medicaid claims from 2003 to 2009 were analyzed. Multivariate logistic and Cox proportional hazards regressions were employed.

RESULTS

Overall, 81% of patients received guideline-recommended RT. Significant variation in timing of RT initiation was documented. Having fewer comorbitidies and receiving chemotherapy were correlated with higher odds of RT initiation within 1 year.

CONCLUSION

Although RT use in Medicaid-insured women appears to have improved since earlier studies, documented delays in RT are troublesome and warrant further investigation.

Breast cancer stage at diagnosis and area-based socioeconomic status: a multicenter 10-year retrospective clinical epidemiological study in China

Background

Although socioeconomic status (SES) has been focused on as a key determinant of cancer stage at diagosis in western countries, there has been no systemic study on the relationship of SES and breast cancer stage at diagnosis in China.

Methods

The medical charts of 4,211 eligible breast cancer patients from 7 areas across China who were diagnosed between 1999 and 2008 were reviewed. Four area-based socioeconomic indicators were used to calculate area-based SES by cluster analysis. The associations between area-based SES and stage at diagnosis were analyzed by trend chi-square tests. Binary logistic regression was performed to estimate odds ratios for individual demographic characteristics' effects on cancer stages, stratified by area-based SES.

Results

The individual demographic and pathologic characteristics of breast cancer cases were significantly different among the seven areas studied. More breast cancer cases in low SES areas (25.5%) were diagnosed later (stages III & IV) than those in high (20.4%) or highest (14.8%) SES areas (χ² for trend = 80.79, P < 0.001). When area-based SES is controlled for, in high SES areas, cases with less education were more likely to be diagnosed at later stages compared with more educated cases. In low SES areas, working women appeared to be diagnosed at earlier breast cancer stages than were homemakers (OR: 0.18-0.26).

Conclusions

In China, women in low SES areas are more likely to be diagnosed at later breast cancer stages than those in high SES areas.

Omission of radiation therapy after breast-conserving surgery in the United States: a population-based analysis of clinicopathologic factors

BACKGROUND

Radiation therapy (RT) after breast-conserving surgery (BCS) is associated with a significant reduction in ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence and breast cancer mortality rates in patients with early stage breast cancer. The authors of this report sought to determine which patients with breast cancer do not receive RT after BCS in the United States.

METHODS

The Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry was used to determine the rates of RT after BCS for women with stage I through III breast cancer in the United States from 1992 through 2007. A multivariate analysis was performed to identify independent predictors of omission of RT.

RESULTS

In total, 294,254 patients with invasive, nonmetastatic breast cancer were identified who underwent surgery from 1992 through 2007. Most patients (57%) underwent BCS; among those, 21.1% did not receive RT after BCS. The omission of RT increased significantly from 1992 (15.5%) to 2007 (25%). The receipt of RT also decreased significantly for patients with increased cancer stage, age <55 years, high-grade tumors, large tumors, positive or untested lymph node status, African American or Hispanic race, and negative or unknown estrogen receptor status. Significant geographic variation was observed in the rates of RT after BCS.

CONCLUSIONS

The omission of RT after BCS was more common in recent years, especially among women who had an increased risk of breast cancer recurrence. This trend represents a serious health care concern because of the potential increased risk of local recurrence and breast cancer mortality.

Parity and lactation in relation to estrogen receptor negative breast cancer in African American women

BACKGROUND

Estrogen receptor (ER)-negative breast tumors and progesterone receptor (PR)-negative breast tumors occur more commonly in women of African ancestry. Recent research indicates that the effects of reproductive factors may differ by hormone receptor status. We assessed the relation of parity and lactation to incidence of ER(-)/PR(-) and ER(+)/PR(+) breast cancer in a cohort of African American women.

METHODS

From 1995-2009, 457 incident cases of ER(+)/PR(+) and 318 cases of ER(-)/PR(-) breast cancer were confirmed by review of pathology data among 59,000 African American women followed in the Black Women's Health Study through biennial questionnaires. HRs and two-sided 95% CIs for the incidence of breast cancer subtypes were derived from proportional hazards regression models that controlled for age, reproductive variables, and breast cancer risk factors.

RESULTS

Higher parity was associated with an increased risk of ER(-)/PR(-) breast cancer (HR = 1.48, 95% CI: 0.98-1.84 for 3+ versus 0 births, P(trend) = 0.009), and with a reduced risk of ER(+)/PR(+) cancer (HR = 0.53, 95% CI: 0.39-0.73 for 3+ versus 0 births, P(trend) = 0.0002). Among women who had breastfed, high parity was no longer associated with increased incidence of ER(-)/PR(-) breast, but the inverse association with ER(+)/PR(+) cancer persisted.

CONCLUSIONS

The higher incidence of ER(-)/PR(-) breast cancer in African American women may be explained in part by their higher parity and lower prevalence of breastfeeding relative to white women.

IMPACT

Increased breastfeeding may lead to a reduction in the incidence of this breast cancer subtype.

Interactions among genes, tumor biology and the environment in cancer health disparities: examining the evidence on a national and global scale

Cancer incidence and mortality rates show great variations across nations and between population groups. These variations are largely explained by differences in age distribution, diet and lifestyle, access to health care, cultural barriers and exposure to carcinogens and pathogens. Cancers caused by infections are significantly more common in developing than developed countries, and they overproportionally affect immigrant populations in the USA and other countries. The global pattern of cancer is not stagnant. Instead, it is dynamic because of fluctuations in the age distribution of populations, improvements in cancer prevention and early detection in affluent countries and rapid changes in diet and lifestyle in parts of the world. For example, increased smoking rates have caused tobacco-induced cancers to rise in various Asian countries, whereas reduced smoking rates have caused these cancers to plateau or even begin to decline in Western Europe and North America. Some population groups experience a disproportionally high cancer burden. In the USA and the Caribbean, cancer incidence and mortality rates are excessively high in populations of African ancestry when compared with other population groups. The causes of this disparity are multifaceted and may include tumor biological and genetic factors and their interaction with the environment. In this review, we will discuss the magnitude and causes of global cancer health disparities and will, with a focus on African-Americans and selected cancer sites, evaluate the evidence that genetic and tumor biological factors contribute to existing cancer incidence and outcome differences among population groups in the USA.

Outcomes in black patients with early breast cancer treated with breast conservation therapy

BACKGROUND

The race-specific impact of prognostic variables for early breast cancer is unknown for black patients undergoing breast conservation.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

This was a retrospective study of 1,231 consecutive patients ≥40 years of age with Stage I-II invasive breast cancer treated with lumpectomy and radiation therapy at the University of Chicago Hospitals and affiliates between 1986 and 2004. Patients were classified as either black or nonblack. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to model the effects of known prognostic factors and interactions with race.

RESULTS

Median follow-up for surviving patients was 82 months. Thirty-four percent of patients were black, and 66% were nonblack (Caucasian, Hispanic, and Asian). Black patients had a poorer 10-year overall survival (64.6% vs. 80.8%; adjusted hazard ratio [HR], 1.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.23-2.06) and 10-year disease-free survival (58.1% vs. 75.4%; HR 1.49; 95% CI, 1.18-1.89) compared with nonblack patients. Tumor sizes were similar between nonblack and black patients with mammographically detected tumors (1.29 cm vs. 1.20 cm, p = 0.20, respectively). Tumor size was significantly associated with overall survival (HR 1.48; 95% CI, 1.12-1.96) in black patients with mammographically detected tumors but not in nonblack patients (HR 1.09; 95% CI, 0.78-1.53), suggesting that survival in black patients depends more strongly on tumor size in this subgroup. Tests for race-size method of detection interactions were statistically significant for overall survival (p = 0.049), locoregional control (p = 0.036), and distant control (p = 0.032) and borderline significant for disease-free survival (p = 0.067).

CONCLUSION

Despite detection at comparable sizes, the prognostic effect of tumor size in patients with mammographically detected tumors is greater for black than in nonblack patients.

Targeting social and economic correlates of cancer treatment appointment keeping among immigrant Chinese patients

Chinese immigrants have high rates of a variety of cancers and face numerous social and economic barriers to cancer treatment appointment keeping. This study is a nested cohort of 82 Chinese patients participating in the Immigrant Cancer Portal Project. Twenty-two percent reported having missed appointments for oncology follow-up, radiation therapy, and/or chemotherapy. Patients most commonly reported needing assistance with financial support to enable appointment keeping. Efforts to further address social and economic correlates in cancer care should be developed for this population.

Disparities in the use of radiation therapy in patients with local-regionally advanced breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Radiation therapy (RT) is indicated for the treatment of local-regionally advanced breast cancer (BCa).

HYPOTHESIS

We hypothesized that black and Hispanic patients with local-regionally advanced BCa would receive lower rates of RT than their white counterparts.

METHODS

The Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results database was used to identify white, black, Hispanic, and Asian patients with invasive BCa and ≥10 metastatic lymph nodes diagnosed between 1988 and 2005. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression evaluated the relationship of race/ethnicity with use of RT. Multivariate models stratified for those undergoing mastectomy or lumpectomy.

RESULTS

Entry criteria were met by 12,653 patients. Approximately half of the patients did not receive RT. Most patients were white (72%); the remainder were Hispanic (10.4%), black (10.3%), and Asian (7.3%). On univariate analysis, Hispanics (odd ratio [OR] 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.79-1.00) and blacks (OR 0.79; 95% CI, 0.70-0.89) were less likely to receive RT than whites. On multivariate analysis, blacks (OR 0.76; 95% CI, 0.67-0.86) and Hispanics (OR 0.80; 95% CI, 0.70-0.90) were less likely than whites to receive RT. Disparities persisted for blacks (OR 0.74; 95% CI, 0.64-0.85) and Hispanics (OR 0.77; 95% CI, 0.67-0.89) who received mastectomy, but not for those who received lumpectomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Many patients with local-regionally advanced BCa do not receive RT. Blacks and Hispanics were less likely than whites to receive RT. This disparity was noted predominately in patients who received mastectomy. Future efforts at improving rates of RT are warranted. Efforts at eliminating racial/ethnic disparities should focus on black and Hispanic candidates for postmastectomy RT.

Screening criteria for breast cancer

Breast cancer screening constitutes an integral part of surgical practice for many surgeons and is an important tool in the war against breast cancer. Among many modalities, mammography plays a central role, with MRI now being increasingly used for women with high risk for breast cancer. Current guidelines for screening are in the process of evolution as more scientific knowledge is gained. The challenge lies in developing cost-effective methods to reach the maximum number of the population at risk.

Diagnostic and therapeutic delays among a multiethnic sample of breast and cervical cancer survivors

BACKGROUND

Several publications reporting on health disparities document that ethnic minorities disproportionately experience delays in healthcare access, delivery, and treatment. However, few studies examine factors underlying access and receipt of healthcare among cancer survivors from the patient perspective. This study explores diagnostic and therapeutic care delays among a multiethnic sample of breast and cervical cancer survivors and examines contextual factors influencing diagnostic and therapeutic care delays.

METHODS

Population-based sampling and a cross-sectional design were used to recruit 1377 survivors (breast cancer, n = 698; cervical cancer, n = 679). This multiethnic sample included 449 European American, 185 African American, 468 Latina American, and 275 Asian American survivors.

RESULTS

Latina Americans were more likely to report diagnostic delays (P = .003), whereas African Americans were more likely to report therapeutic delays (P = .007). In terms of cancer type, cervical cancer survivors were more likely to report diagnostic (P = .004) and therapeutic delays (P = .000) compared with breast cancer survivors. "Fear of finding cancer" was the most frequently cited reason for diagnostic delays, and "medical reasons" were most frequently cited for therapeutic delays.

CONCLUSIONS

Due in part to a higher proportion of diagnostic and therapeutic delays, ethnic minorities endure greater cancer burden, including poorer survival and survivorship outcomes. The medical community must recognize the impact of existing psychological and cultural dimensions on diagnostic care, as well as the personal and healthcare system level barriers that contribute to therapeutic delays.

Forecasting age-related changes in breast cancer mortality among white and black US women: a functional data approach

BACKGROUND

The disparity in breast cancer mortality rates among white and black US women is widening, with higher mortality rates among black women. We apply functional time series models on age-specific breast cancer mortality rates for each group of women, and forecast their mortality curves using exponential smoothing state-space models with damping.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The data were obtained from the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) program of the US [1]. Mortality data were obtained from the National Centre for Health Statistics (NCHS) available on the SEER*Stat database. We use annual unadjusted breast cancer mortality rates from 1969 to 2004 in 5-year age groups (45-49, 50-54, 55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84). Age-specific mortality curves were obtained using nonparametric smoothing methods. The curves are then decomposed using functional principal components and we fit functional time series models with four basis functions for each population separately. The curves from each population are forecast and prediction intervals are calculated.

RESULTS

Twenty-year forecasts indicate an overall decline in future breast cancer mortality rates for both groups of women. This decline appears to be steeper among white women aged 55-73 and black women aged 60-84. For black women under 55 years of age, the forecast rates are relatively stable indicating there is no significant change in future breast cancer mortality rates among young black women in the next 20 years.

CONCLUSION

White women have smooth and consistent patterns in breast cancer mortality rates for all age-groups whereas the mortality rates for black women are much more variable. The projections suggest, for some age groups, black American women may not benefit equally from the overall decline in breast cancer mortality in the United States.

Racial/ethnic differences in early detection of breast cancer: a study of 250,985 cases from the California Cancer Registry

AIMS

This study analyzed early breast cancer detection rates as a surrogate for breast cancer mortality rates. Stage at diagnosis was broken down by race/ethnicity and year of diagnosis for the cases of female breast cancer in the California Cancer Registry from 1988 to 2002.

METHODS

A quarter million cases of breast cancer in women > or =50 years of age recorded in the California Cancer Registry over the period 1988-2002 were classified as early (in situ and localized stages) or late (regional and distant stages). The increases in the percent of cases that were early were studied by 3-year periods over this interval. In addition to the total group, data were broken down by race/ethnicity. The 3-year periods were used to compensate for small numbers of cases in some of the nonwhite groups.

RESULTS

The proportion of early stage female breast cancers reached a plateau at 70% in the mid-1990s. African American and Hispanic women's screening rates reached a plateau at a considerably lower rate. Only Pacific Islander/Asian American women demonstrated a sustained rise in the percent of early breast cancers detected through 2002, eventually nearing the rate of early detection set by white women.

CONCLUSIONS

The plateaus observed suggest that focused interventions continue to be needed for all women, especially for African American and Hispanic women if the American Cancer Society's 2015 goals are to be achieved.

Patterns of care in Dutch postmenopausal patients with hormone-sensitive early breast cancer participating in the Tamoxifen Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational (TEAM) trial

BACKGROUND

The Tamoxifen and Exemestane Adjuvant Multinational (TEAM) trial investigates the efficacy and safety of adjuvant exemestane alone and in sequence after tamoxifen in postmenopausal women with hormone-sensitive early breast cancer. As there was a nationwide participation in The Netherlands, we studied the variations in patterns of care in the Comprehensive Cancer Centre Regions (CCCRs) and compliance with national guidelines.

METHODS

Clinicopathological characteristics, carried out local treatment strategies and adjuvant chemotherapy data were collected.

RESULTS

From 2001 to January 2006, 2754 Dutch patients were randomised to the study. Mean age of patients was 65 years (standard deviation 9). Tumours were < or =2 cm in 46% (within CCCRs 39%-50%), node-negative disease varied from 25% to 45%, and PgR status was determined in 75%-100% of patients. Mastectomy was carried out in 55% (45%-70%), sentinel lymph node procedure in 68% (42%-79%) and axillary lymph node dissections in 77% (67%-83%) of patients, all different between CCCRs (P < 0.0001). Adjuvant chemotherapy was given in 15%-70% of eligible patients (P < 0.001).

DISCUSSION

In spite of national guidelines, breast cancer treatment on specific issues widely varied between the various Dutch regions. These data provide valuable information for breast cancer organisations indicating (lack of) guideline adherence and areas for breast cancer care improvement.

Cancer treatment adherence among low-income women with breast or gynecologic cancer: a randomized controlled trial of patient navigation

BACKGROUND

The authors implemented a controlled, randomized trial that compared 2 interventions: the provision of written resource navigation information (enhanced usual care [EUC]) versus written information plus patient navigation (TPN) aimed at improving adjuvant treatment adherence and follow-up among 487 low-income, predominantly Hispanic women with breast cancer or gynecologic cancer.

METHODS

Women were randomized to receive either TPN or EUC; and chemotherapy, radiation therapy, hormone therapy, and follow-up were assessed over 12 months. Patients with breast cancer were analyzed separately from patients with gynecologic cancer.

RESULTS

Overall adherence rates ranged from 87% to 94%, and there were no significant differences between the TPN group and the EUC group. Among women with breast cancer, 90% of the EUC group and 88% of the TPN group completed chemotherapy (14% of the EUC group and 26% of the TPN group delayed the completion of chemotherapy), 2% of the EUC group and 4% of the TPN group failed to complete chemotherapy, and 8% of the EUC group and 7% of the TPN group refused chemotherapy. Radiation treatment adherence was similar between the groups: Ninety percent of patients completed radiation (40% of the EUC group and 42% of the TPN group delayed the completion of radiation); in both groups, 2% failed to complete radiation, and 8% refused radiation. Among gynecologic patients, 87% of the EUC group and 94% of the TPN group completed chemotherapy (41% of the EUC group and 31% of the TPN group completed it with delays), 7% of the EUC group and 6% of the TPN group failed to complete chemotherapy, 6% of the EUC refused chemotherapy, 87% of the EUC group and 84% of the TPN group completed radiation (51% of the EUC group and 42% of the TPN with delays), 5% of the EUC group and 8% of the TPN group failed to complete radiation, and 8% of the EUC group and 5% of the TPN group refused radiation.

CONCLUSIONS

Treatment adherence across randomized groups was notably higher than reported in previous studies, suggesting that active telephone patient navigation or written resource informational materials may facilitate adherence among low-income, predominantly Hispanic women. Adherence also may have be facilitated by federal-state breast and cervical cancer treatment funding.

The influence of black race on treatment and mortality for early-stage breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Black Americans have higher mortality from breast cancer than white Americans. This study explores the influence of socioeconomic factors and black race on treatment and mortality for early-stage breast cancer.

METHODS

A cohort of 21,848 female black and white, non-Hispanic subjects from the Massachusetts Cancer Registry diagnosed with stage I or II breast cancer between 1999-2004 was studied. Subjects with tumors larger than 5 cm were excluded. We used mixed modeling methods to assess the impact of race on guideline concordant care (GCC), defined as receipt of mastectomy or breast conserving surgery plus radiation. Cox proportional hazard regression was used to assess disease-specific mortality.

RESULTS

Blacks were less likely to receive GCC after adjusting for age and clinical variables (OR: 0.75; 95% CI: 0.61, 0.92). Marital status and insurance were predictors of receipt of GCC. After adjustment for all covariates, there were no longer significant differences between black and white women regarding the receipt of GCC. Nevertheless, black women were more likely to die of early-stage breast cancer than white women after adjusting for clinical, treatment, socioeconomic variables, and reporting hospital (HR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.1-2.1).

CONCLUSIONS

Socioeconomic factors are mediators of racial differences in treatment outcomes. Significant racial differences exist in disease-specific mortality for women with early-stage breast cancer. Attention to reducing socioeconomic barriers to care may influence racial differences in breast cancer treatment and mortality.

Patterns of HER2 testing in the management of primary breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Women with invasive breast cancer should be tested for human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2) status at the time of diagnosis. To date, no population-based patterns of use studies have examined demographic and clinicopathologic factors associated with decisions by clinicians to test patients.

METHODS

We reviewed summary pathology reports submitted to the Connecticut Tumor Registry for all Black/African American (B/AA) women (n=644) and a 7% random sample (n=720) of White women diagnosed in 2000-2003 with primary invasive breast carcinoma. Receipt of a HER2 test (yes vs. no) was examined in relation to patient race, age, socioeconomic status, year of diagnosis, estrogen receptor (ER) status, tumor grade, lymph node status, size and stage at diagnosis.

RESULTS

A greater proportion of tumors from B/AA patients were tested compared to those of White women (69.5% vs. 61.9%, p<0.05). Tumors of patients under the age of 60 were 1.50-times more likely than older women to have been tested, and B/AA women were 1.40-times more likely than White patients to be tested. HER2 testing was more likely to be observed when information also was reported about ER status (OR=15.9, p<0.001), tumor grade (OR=2.28, p<0.05), tumor size (OR=2.16, p<0.05), and lymph node status (OR=2.06, p<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Variation in which breast cancer patients received HER2 testing appears to reflect expectations about a woman's prognosis. Discrepancies in receipt of testing deserve further study as current guidelines call for all tumors to be assessed in order to adequately characterize prognosis and determine eligibility for HER2-targeted therapy.

Racial and socioeconomic disparities in adjuvant chemotherapy for older women with lymph node-positive, operable breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Consistent with findings from clinical trials, a recent population-based study indicated that adjuvant chemotherapy for lymph node-positive, operable breast cancer is effective at improving survival in older women, specifically those ages 65 years to 69 years; however, to the authors' knowledge, no conclusion has been reached about the relative benefit of chemotherapy for women aged > or =70 years, probably because of small number of patients. However, little is known about racial and socioeconomic disparities in adjuvant chemotherapy for breast cancer among older women.

METHODS

This study included 14,177 white women and 1277 black women aged > or =65 years who were diagnosed with operable breast cancer (stage II-IIIA) and positive lymph nodes between 1991 and 2002. These women were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results and Medicare-linked database. Multivariate logistic regression was used to compute the odds ratios of receiving chemotherapy among black women compared with white women, and the causal step approach was used to test whether census tract-level poverty mediated racial disparities.

RESULTS

Interaction terms analyses indicated that regressions should be stratified by age group. In the group ages 65 years to 69 years, the adjusted odds ratio of receiving chemotherapy were lower for black women than for white women (odds ratio, 0.85; 95% confidence interval, 0.57-0.97). Poverty mediated the association between chemotherapy and race in this age group. No racial or socioeconomic disparities were observed among women aged > or =70 years.

CONCLUSIONS

This study documented racial disparities in adjuvant chemotherapy that were mediated by poverty in women ages 65 years to 69 years, an age group for which there is clear evidence for the efficacy of chemotherapy, but no disparities were observed among women aged > or =70 years. The authors concluded that it is important to work toward reducing treatment disparities among older women.

Why do Asian-American women have lower rates of breast conserving surgery: results of a survey regarding physician perceptions

Background

US Asian women with early-stage breast cancer are more likely to receive a modified radical mastectomy (MRM) than White women, contrary to clinical recommendations regarding breast conserving treatment (BCT).

Methods

We surveyed physicians regarding treatment decision-making for early-stage breast cancer, particularly as it applies to Asian patients. Physicians were identified through the population-based Greater Bay Area Cancer Registry. Eighty (of 147) physicians completed a questionnaire on sociodemographics, professional training, clinical practices, and perspectives on the treatment decision-making processes.

Results

The most important factors identified by physicians in the BCT/MRM decision were clinical in nature, including presence of multifocal disease (86% identified this as being an important factor for selecting MRM), tumor size (71% for MRM, 78% for BCT), cosmetic result (74% for BCT), and breast size (50% for MRM, 55% for BCT). The most important reasons cited for the Asian treatment patterns were patient attitudes toward not needing to preserve the breast (53%), smaller breast sizes (25%), and fear and cultural beliefs (12%).

Conclusion

These survey results suggest that physicians perceive major roles of both clinical and cultural factors in the BCT/MRM decision, but cultural factors may be more relevant in explaining surgical treatment patterns among Asians.

Breast biopsy patterns and outcomes in Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare data

BACKGROUND

Despite known benefits to needle biopsy for suspicious breast lesions, variability in the use of this technique has been documented in practice. We sought to study the use of needle biopsy and open surgical biopsy in women with breast cancer, predictors of needle biopsy use, and the effect of biopsy choice on overall number of surgical procedures needed to treat breast cancer.

METHODS

We analyzed Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER)-Medicare data for 45,542 women diagnosed between 1991 and 1999 with ductal carcinoma in situ and stage I-II breast cancer. By using diagnosis and procedure codes from 3 months before to 6 months after the SEER diagnosis, we classified the initial biopsy as needle or surgical. By using multivariate logistic regression, we identified patient and tumor characteristics associated with needle biopsy use, and estimated the association between initial biopsy type and likelihood for multiple breast surgeries.

RESULTS

Needle biopsy was the initial procedure for 11,073 (24.3%) women. In multivariate analyses, needle biopsy use varied significantly by race, year of diagnosis, and tumor size. After controlling for patient and tumor characteristics, needle biopsy use was associated with a reduced likelihood of multiple breast surgeries (odds ratio, 0.35; 95% confidence interval, 0.34-0.37).

CONCLUSIONS

Use of needle biopsy as the initial breast cancer procedure was more common among black women and those with larger tumors, and increased significantly over time. Providers should consider needle biopsy when clinically feasible as the initial breast procedure, because it may reduce the number of surgeries needed to treat breast cancer.

African-American and low-socioeconomic status patients have a worse prognosis for invasive ductal and lobular breast carcinoma: do screening criteria need to change?

BACKGROUND

Determine the effect of race, socioeconomic status (SES) and other demographic variables on outcomes of patients with invasive ductal and lobular breast cancer.

STUDY DESIGN

Florida cancer registry and inpatient hospital data were queried for patients diagnosed with invasive breast cancer from 1998 to 2002.

RESULTS

A total of 63,472 patients with breast cancer were identified. Overall, 90.5% of patients were Caucasian, 7.6% African American, and 8.7% Hispanic. African-American patients presented at a younger age and with more-advanced disease, 10.5% presented with breast cancer before the age of 40 years, and 22.4% before 45 years of age. African-American patients were less likely to undergo operations. Similarly, low-SES patients were less likely to have operations and presented more often with larger tumors. Stepwise multivariate analysis revealed a substantial drop in the hazard ratio for African-American patients once correction for stage of presentation was made, suggesting that disparities in breast cancer outcomes are, in part, a result of advanced stage at presentation. Race and low SES were independent predictors of worse prognosis when controlling for patient comorbidities and treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Dramatic disparities by patient race and SES exist in breast cancer. Our study integrates previous smaller studies, providing comprehensive insight into African-American patients and their outcomes for breast cancer. Earlier screening programs and greater access to cancer care for the poor and African Americans are needed. Successful institution of such programs will not completely erase disparities in outcomes for breast cancer in African-American patients.

Hereditary breast and ovarian cancer syndrome : the impact of race on uptake of genetic counseling and testing

Breast cancer is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States. Although breast cancer is more common among White American (WA) women, incidence rates are higher among young African American (AA) women. Approximately 5-10% of all breast cancer can be accounted for by germline mutations in the breast cancer (BRCA)1 and BRCA2 genes responsible for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer (HBOC) syndrome. Although genetic counseling (GC) and genetic testing (GT) for HBOC have become widely accepted by the WA population, cancer genetic services are underused among AA. Many investigators have evaluated a wide spectrum of BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutations in the AA and African population with the possible identification of African founder mutations. Barriers to GC and GT include lack of knowledge and/or negative attitudes regarding genetics and genetics research, and concerns regarding the potential for racial discrimination. It is important for future research to focus on ways in which to eliminate barriers to GC and GT to alleviate disparity in the use of genetic services among high-risk AA women.

Long-term outcomes and clinicopathologic differences of African-American versus white patients treated with breast conservation therapy for early-stage breast cancer

BACKGROUND

African-American (AA) and white patients with early-stage disease who were treated with breast conservation therapy (BCT) were examined to detect differences in clinicopathologic features and outcomes as a function of race.

METHODS

Clinical data from the charts of 2164 white and 207 AA patients treated with BCT, and p53 expression status on 444 patients (from an existing tissue database), were analyzed to detect differences between the 2 cohorts.

RESULTS

The median follow-up was 7 years. There were no differences in the method of tumor detection, lymph nodes excised, surgical margin status, or chemotherapy/radiotherapy delivered, reflecting similar screening and treatment policies for AA women in the study community. Despite this, AA patient presented at a younger age, with higher T and N classifications, and more estrogen and progesterone negative and "triple negative" tumors (all P values < .016). Tumors in AA patients were p53 positive more often than tumors in white patients (P= .0003). At 10 years, AA patients had a higher rate of distant metastasis (20% vs 17%; P= .042), lymph node recurrence (6% vs 2%; P= .004), and breast recurrence (17% vs 13%; P= .036). There was no difference in overall survival between the 2 groups. On multivariate analysis, only lymph node recurrence (risk ratio of 3.140; 95% confidence interval, 1.396-7.063 [P= .0057]) remained significantly higher among AA women.

CONCLUSIONS

In this cohort of uniformly treated patients, the authors found the expected clinicopathologic differences, but race was not found to be an independent predictor of local recurrence for AA patients when other confounding variables were taken into account in the multivariate model. These findings suggest that BCT is a reasonable option for appropriately selected AA patients. To the authors' knowledge, this is the largest study addressing outcomes after BCT for AA women published to date.

Racial segregation and disparities in breast cancer care and mortality

BACKGROUND

Questions have existed as to whether residential segregation is a mediator of racial/ethnic disparities in breast cancer care and breast cancer mortality, or has a differential effect by race/ethnicity.

METHODS

Data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare database on white, black, and Hispanic women aged 66 to 85 years with breast cancer were examined for the receipt of adequate breast cancer care.

RESULTS

Blacks were less likely than whites to receive adequate breast cancer care (odds ratio [OR], 0.78; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71-0.86). Individuals, both black and white, who lived in areas with greater black segregation were less likely to receive adequate breast cancer care (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.64-0.82). Black segregation was a mediator of the black/white disparity in breast cancer care, explaining 8.9% of the difference. After adjustment, adequate care for Hispanics did not significantly differ from whites, but individuals, both Hispanic and white, who lived in areas with greater Hispanic segregation were less likely to receive adequate breast cancer care (OR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.61-0.89). Although Blacks experienced greater breast cancer mortality than whites, black segregation did not substantially mediate the black-white disparity in survival, and was not significantly associated with mortality (hazards ratio, 1.03; 95% CI, 0.87-1.21). Breast cancer mortality did not differ between Hispanics and whites.

CONCLUSIONS

Among seniors, segregation mediates some of the black-white disparity in breast cancer care, but not mortality. Individuals who live in more segregated areas are less likely to receive adequate breast cancer care.