A large genetic study has uncovered new genes linked to breast cancer risk in women of African descent, potentially improving early detection and treatment for this underserved population.
Researchers analyzed genetic data from over 40,000 women of African ancestry, including 18,000 breast cancer patients, in what is believed to be the largest such study to date. The findings were published May 13 in Nature Genetics.
The study identified 12 genetic regions associated with breast cancer risk, including three linked to aggressive triple-negative breast cancer, which disproportionately affects Black women. Women carrying two copies of risk variants in all three regions were 4.2 times more likely to develop triple-negative breast cancer.
“We have worked with researchers from more than 15 institutions in the U.S. and Africa to establish this large genetic consortium,” said lead researcher Dr. Wei Zheng of Vanderbilt University.
The research highlights racial disparities in breast cancer. Black women tend to develop breast cancer younger than White women, face higher mortality rates, and are twice as likely to develop triple-negative breast cancer. Yet most large-scale genetic studies have focused on women of European ancestry.
The findings could lead to improved breast cancer detection and potential new treatment targets for Black women, an at-risk and historically underrepresented group in genetic research. The study also produced a new polygenic risk score that outperforms previous models in predicting breast cancer risk for women of African descent.
See “Gene Variants and Breast Cancer Risk in Black Women” (June 17, 2024)
