[3052] High prevalence of triple negative breast cancers among black women in an urban cancer center. Lund MJB, Gabram SGA, Hatchett N, Bumpers HL, Okoli J, Rizzo M, Green VL, Brawley OW, Oprea-Ilies GM. Emory University, Atlanta, GA; Morehouse School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA; Emory University, Rollins School of Public Health, Atlanta, GA Background: Black women experience a higher incidence of earlier age breast cancer and worse survival, unexplained for decades. Recent gene expression profiling has shown the in-homogenous nature of breast cancers, dividing them into subgroups with distinct prognoses. The 'triple negative' (ER-PR-Her2-) subgroup precludes the use of available targeted treatments and may present at an earlier age, be associated with BRCA1 mutations, and forecast poorer outcome. A higher prevalence of triple negative tumors among black women may contribute to breast cancer disparities. We investigated the prevalence of triple negative breast cancers among patients in an urban cancer center serving a multi-racial low socio-economic population. Methods: This case series analyzed all primary female invasive breast cancers diagnosed and/or treated in years 2003-2004 in the Avon Comprehensive Breast Center at Grady Hospital, Atlanta GA. Data were obtained from the hospital tumor registry, augmented by the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) program, and review of pathology reports. Statistical analyses utilized frequency distributions, ÷2 tests of independence, and logistic regression. Results: A total of 204 invasive breast cancers were diagnosed/treated among women ages 27-96; 87% Black, 9% White, 2% Hispanic, and 2% other race. Triple negative prevalence was 31.2% overall and differed by race; 33.8% and 13.6% among black and non-black women respectively (p= 0.036). Racial differences persisted after age and stage adjustment (OR=3.3, 95% CI 0.9-11.9). The proportion of women diagnosed under age 50 was 35.6% for black and 36.4% for non-black women. While triple negative tumors were much more prevalent among women under age 50, prevalence differed by race, 46.3% and 24.3% (p=0.26) for black and non-black women. Among black women, triple negative tumors were inversely associated with age, representing 61.5 % of tumors in women under age 40. Triple negative tumors were significantly associated with larger size, but not nodal status, and accounted for the largest proportions of stage IV cancers (40.9%, p=0.077) and high grade disease (64.2%, p<0.001). Conclusion: Our public urban cancer center serves a multi-racial low socio-economic population which presented with similar proportions of early age disease. Despite similarity in age at diagnosis, black women were 2-3 fold more likely to present with triple negative disease. This suggests different etiologies and an inextricable connection to outcome. Future studies should search for implicated genetic and biologic mechanisms while considering socio-demographic factors. San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium, 12/06 Ann's NOTE: Some years ago at the SABCS I had the notion (from various bits of information, personal experience and chats with researchers), that Vit A might be able to change ER/PR- to positive. It did for me - oky anecdotal but a personal one. So I chatted with Dr. Kent Osborne, one of the organizers of that year's conference. He said he thought it could. Others agreed. In fact what I did not realize at the time (it was years ago:) was that retinols were actually derived from Vit A. So check this: http://annieappleseedproject.org/vitthermus.html Triple negative invasive breast ca: association w/ low body mass index & race Abstract #3051 SABCS, 12/06 Remember we are NOT Doctors and have NO medical training. This site is like an Encylopedia - there are many pages, many links on many topics. Support our work with any size DONATION - see left side of any page - for how to donate. You can help raise awareness of CAM.