Does race affect outcomes in triple negative breast cancer?

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Medical Statistics
• Health Disparities

Background:

• Studies on race and Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) outcomes show conflicting results.
• This study investigates survival differences between African American (AA) and Caucasian (CA) women with TNBC.
• The research was conducted at an urban cancer center with a predominantly AA patient population.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess and compare survival outcomes (Event-Free Survival and Breast Cancer-Specific Survival) for African American versus Caucasian women diagnosed with Stage I-III TNBC.
• To identify potential disparities in treatment and outcomes based on race within a specific patient cohort.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of Stage I-III TNBC patients from a breast cancer database.
• Utilized Cox proportional hazards models to evaluate Event-Free Survival (EFS) and Breast Cancer-Specific Survival (BCSS).
• Compared demographic factors, tumor stage, menopausal status, and treatment characteristics between racial groups.

Main Results:

• No significant difference in TNBC stage or menopausal status by race; AA women were diagnosed at a younger median age (49.5 vs. 55 years).
• Chemotherapy use was uniform; however, AA women experienced a higher event rate (28% vs. 19%) and trends towards lower 3-year EFS (64% vs. 77%) and BCSS (76% vs. 92%).
• Older AA women (≥50 years) showed significantly worse BCSS compared to older CA women (P=0.012).

Conclusions:

• Older African American women with TNBC exhibit significantly poorer breast cancer-specific survival compared to Caucasian women.
• A trend towards lower survival for AA women persists despite similar tumor characteristics and treatment regimens.
• The high rate of early events in TNBC, regardless of race, necessitates the development of more effective therapeutic strategies.