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INCIDENCE AND GENETICS OF BREAST CANCER IN AFRICAN
IMMIGRANTS
This research effort is investigating whether increased
incidence of early-onset breast cancer in African women is caused
by a genetic predisposition. An additional focus is an analysis
of breast cancer prevalence and breast cancer risk factors among
African immigrants in the Greater Boston area.
We are looking for women and men of African descent
who may have a personal or family history of breast or ovarian cancer,
including native African immigrants, and first generation offspring
18 or older. This research study is approved by the CHA Institutional
Review Board (IRB).
Background:
Young African-American women are at particular risk for early-onset
breast cancer and for poorer outcomes from breast cancer. Although
the literature is scarce, studies have shown that African women
diagnosed with breast cancer tend to be younger than their Western
counterparts, and the disease is most often advanced to stages III
and IV at the time of diagnosis.
Study Details:
Study participants will be invited to the CHA Cambridge hospital
campus and will undergo a family history intake, a clinical breast
exam (if indicated and wanted), and recommendations for screening
as appropriate under normal oncology standards. Genetic counseling
and testing will also take place at the CHA Cancer Genetics and
Prevention Clinic if appropriate.
In a third step, we plan to obtain blood samples
for genetic investigation from those African women and their first
degree relatives who qualified for a clinic visit based on the information
entered on survey questionnaires. We will also obtain tissue for
genetic investigation from those who are subsequently diagnosed
with breast cancer.
Please note that clinic visits are reimbursable
under most insurance plans. There is no extra charge related to
being in the study.
Methods:
We hope to identify families with multiple cases of early-onset
breast cancer for genome-wide linkage analysis. Using SNP array
analysis, we aim to identify chromosomal regions and eventually
susceptibility genes that contribute to the high rate of early-onset
breast cancer in Africans.
Conclusion:
By studying this genetically more homogenous group of African immigrants
we may identify genetic risk factors that are potentially also relevant
for early-onset breast cancer in African-Americans. We also hope
to better access immigrant and culturally diverse underserved populations
through establishing a new model of community outreach based on
interpreters and use of community volunteers working as a team with
physicians and nurses who commit to interacting with and within
the community.
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Contact Info:
Prudence Lam, MD
617-665-1552
PLam@challiance.org
Study Investigators:
Prudence Lam, MD (PI)
Erin Hofstatter, MD
Alemishket Kidane
Tejpreet Nakai, MD
Denise O'Connor, RN
Eva Patalas, MD
Michael Wertheimer, MD
Gerburg Wulf, MD
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