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Current Research

Breast Cancer

Recent years have seen an improvement in overall breast cancer mortality rates, but disparities remain between African-American and white women, with African-American women experiencing higher breast cancer mortality rates despite lower incidence rates. Researchers have been studying biological, environmental, and socioeconomic factors, but the underlying cause of this disparity remains unclear. Additionally, researchers need to explore disparities in other ethnic populations, such as Asian and Hispanic women, who have differing rates of breast cancer, and in some instances, more favorable outcomes than African-American or white women.

Breast Cancer in Asian-American Women

  • A population-based case-control study of breast cancer among Asian-American women has investigated differences in risk by migration history, anthropometry, menstrual and reproductive factors, diet, alcohol, smoking, and endogenous hormones.
  • Childhood, adolescent, and adult exposures were assessed by interviewing both study participants and their mothers. Blood and urine samples and anthropometric measurements were also collected.
  • Researchers discovered a six-fold gradient in breast cancer risk by migration history within the study population, suggesting a heterogeneity in breast cancer risk and lifestyle in this migrant population comparable to the international differences in breast cancer incidence.
  • Findings suggest that aspects of Westernization and hormone metabolism play a role in population differences in breast cancer incidence.

CARE Model: Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool for African-American Women

  • The CARE Model, a new tool for calculating invasive breast cancer risk, has been found to give better estimates of the number of breast cancers that would develop in African-American women 50 to 79 years of age than the earlier Breast Cancer Risk Assessment Tool (BCRAT) which was based primarily on data from white women.
  • The Women's Contraceptive and Reproductive Experiences (CARE) Study provided basic data for the model. The factors used in the model were age at first menstrual period, number of first degree relatives (mother or sisters) who had breast cancer, and number of previous benign breast biopsy examinations.
  • The CARE Model has been incorporated into the BCRAT to serve as a more accurate tool for estimating breast cancer risk in African-American women.
  • CARE Model NCI Press Release.