Increased Expression of Tumor Proliferation Genes in Hispanic Women with Early-Stage Breast Cancer

Abstract

Hispanic women have higher breast cancer mortality compared to non-Hispanic whites. We evaluated for Proliferation Axis Score differences, as determined by Oncotype Dx, in Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women with newly diagnosed breast cancer. We matched 219 women, based upon age, stage, and nodal status. Compared to non-Hispanic whites, Hispanic women with hormone-sensitive, HER2-negative early-stage breast cancer had a higher Proliferation Axis Score. No differences were seen in Recurrence Score, ER, PR, or HER2 by Oncotype DX. CCNB1 and AURKA were significantly higher in Hispanic women. These tumor differences may help explain breast cancer outcome differences between the two ethnicities.

Keywords: :

• Breast cancer
• Oncotype DX
• Hispanic
• Non-Hispanic white
• Tumor proliferation
• Proliferation axis score

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The authors would like to acknowledge Genomic Health Incorporated for their collaboration in collecting the Oncotype DX data. In particular, the authors would like to thank Lauren Intagliata, Amy Sing, and Deborah Davison for their assistance and contributions to this project.

Ethical Standards

All experiments in this manuscript comply with the current laws in the United States.

Financial Support

This publication was supported by the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, National Institutes of Health, through Grant Number KL2 TR000081 and the Witten Breast Cancer Research Fund. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and does not necessarily represent the official views of the National Institutes of Health.