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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
Denise O'Connor, RN
Alemishket Kidane
Eva Patalas, MD
Michael Wertheimer, MD
Gerburg Wulf, MD
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