Women of Hispanic descent may have lower breast cancer risk
During October, all eyes are focused on breast cancer awareness. From the NFL to the everyday products we buy in grocery stores, pink ribbons have become a mainstay in our culture. While awareness is key to encouraging women to go in for mammograms and to do self-exams, bringing attention to what we can do to treat the disease is just as important.
All of the awareness generates a great deal of funding for breast cancer research, and because of that, each day new advances and discoveries associated with the disease are made. One example is a recent study out of the University of California found that a genetic variant that is particularly common among Hispanic women could dramatically lower their risk of developing breast cancer.
About 1-in-5 Hispanic women in the US carry this variant gene, and while the function of the gene is not completely clear, women who have it show breast tissue that is less dense than those without it. The density of breast tissue is a known factor for breast cancer risk, so this could explain why Hispanic women have a lower rate of breast cancer than other American women.
The study acknowledges that some behavioral factors contribute to lower breast cancer rates in Hispanic women, however, women who carried one copy of the variant were about 40 percent less likely to have breast cancer, while those with two copies doubled their level of protection against the disease.
It’s important to note that even women with the genetic variant develop breast cancer in some cases, though if that’s the case it’s likely that an environmental or behavioral factor essentially nullify the protection provided by the gene. Experts believe this study could be an important step in determining the most effective courses of treatment for the disease, and additional studies are in the works to support these initial findings.
By understanding some of the scientific advances within breast cancer research, we can begin to put together the puzzle of both the future of breast cancer treatment and the potential for cures and preventive measures.
TapGenes Takeaway: A new study reveals that Latina women may be at less risk for developing breast cancer and this finding could influence new treatment methods.
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