A recent study has highlighted the potential of advanced genetic testing to significantly reduce disparities in breast cancer survival rates between Black and White patients in the United States. Researchers found that more precise tumour profiling and personalised treatment strategies could help address long-standing gaps in outcomes.
Current statistics indicate that women of African descent in the US face mortality rates approximately 40% higher than White patients, despite having around 5% lower incidence of the disease. The findings suggest that differences in tumour biology—rather than race alone—may play a central role in these disparities.
Genomic Profiling and Risk Assessment
The study analysed tumour samples from more than 1,000 women in the early stages of breast cancer. Researchers discovered that Black patients are more likely to develop high-risk tumours that are not always detected through conventional biomarker testing, such as oestrogen receptor analysis. This may result in delayed or suboptimal treatment and poorer health outcomes.
To improve classification accuracy, researchers used the MammaPrint and BluePrint assays developed by Agendia. These tests categorise tumours across a spectrum ranging from “ultra-low risk” to “high risk 2”, helping clinicians predict the likelihood of disease progression and determine the need for chemotherapy.
Equal Outcomes with Appropriate Care
The results showed that three-year survival rates were closely linked to the tumour’s genomic subtype rather than the patient’s race. Black patients whose tumours were classified as low risk achieved “excellent” outcomes, with a recurrence-free survival rate of 97.7%—matching that observed among White patients.
These findings underscore the importance of making genetic tumour testing widely accessible, as it enables more informed treatment decisions and may ultimately reduce racial disparities in survival.
Refining Treatment Pathways
The study also found that nearly half of the patients initially classified as low risk based on standard assessments were later identified through genomic analysis as having more aggressive disease. Additionally, patients with high-risk tumours were found to be five to ten times more likely to experience cancer recurrence compared to those with low-risk profiles, regardless of race.
Researchers concluded that expanding the use of genomic testing could play a critical role in improving treatment accuracy and ensuring more equitable healthcare outcomes across diverse patient groups.
