FBXW7 as a Factor of the African American and White Breast Cancer Racial Disparity

African American women have a breast cancer mortality rate 40% higher than Caucasian women. Many contributing factors account for this racial disparity, such as socioeconomic status and the age when women give birth, but even after considering such factors, studies have found that the racial disparity persists, suggesting that genetic factors may play a crucial role in this breast cancer racial inequality.

This study utilizes the All of Us database, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA), and an array of bioinformatics tools to integrate differential mutation and gene expression analyses, aiming to identify genes potentially associated with this racial disparity. Although previous studies have identified genes associated with this breast cancer racial disparity through mutation or gene expression analysis, no studies have considered both simultaneously. Ultimately, this study considers both mutation and gene expression to discover novel genes linked to this racial disparity.

After mutation analysis, this study identified FBXW7, a gene involved in the destruction of oncogenic proteins, as being associated with this racial inequality. FBXW7  was the only gene that presented differences in both mutation frequency and gene expression between African Americans and Caucasians. The other four candidate genes, such as COL12A1, whose upregulation plays a critical role in tumor progression, may also be linked to this racial inequality.

By combining both mutation and gene expression analysis, this research offers a unique perspective into this issue. Furthermore, the identification of FBXW7 provides insight into this racial disparity, which can contribute to the pursuit of more effective or personalized treatment for both Caucasian and African American breast cancer patients. Finally, the multi-level method presented could possibly apply to other racial disparities, providing a distinctive perspective that cannot be found with other methods.