Race, ethnic differences in cancer tumors

BETHESDA, Md., Nov. 30 (UPI) -- Racial and ethnic differences in tumor biology may help explain why African-American women fare worse than others with breast cancer, a U.S. study said.

Researchers at the National Cancer Institute in Bethesda, Md., found differences in how genes are activated in breast cancer tumors in African-Americans and whites. The researchers examined gene expression profiles -- an indicator of which genes are active -- in micro-dissected breast tumors from 35 patients with invasive breast cancer, including 18 African-Americans and 17 whites. They found genes related to immune responses and other aspects of tumor development are expressed differently.

The racial discrepancies in the gene profiles pointed to significant differences in several biological pathways, including how tumor cells interact with the immune system and the mechanisms for angiogenesis -- the development of blood vessels that feed tumors.

The researchers point out that many of these genes are also active in inflammatory diseases. Previous research has shown a link between inflammatory diseases, such as chronic colitis and cancer, said Damali Martin, of NCI's Center for Cancer Research.