A new study suggests that differences in tumor collagen structure could help explain why Black patients with breast or colon cancer often experience worse outcomes than white patients, even when receiving similar care. Researchers at the University of Rochester used second-harmonic generation imaging to analyze collagen fibers in tumor samples from over 300 patients.
They focused on two key features: the forward-to-backward (F/B) light scattering ratio and fiber angle variability (FAV). Among breast cancer patients, Black individuals had lower F/B ratios in the tumor-stroma interface—a region critical to cancer spread. This pattern has been linked in earlier research to a higher risk of metastasis. In colon cancer, Black patients tended to have higher F/B ratios, which may also indicate more aggressive tumor behavior.
Interestingly, FAV did not differ by race in either cancer type, suggesting that not all collagen-based markers are influenced by racial differences. The findings raise important questions about how biological factors—possibly shaped by genetics or environment—may affect cancer progression and the accuracy of diagnostic tools.
The researchers emphasized the need for more diverse representation in clinical studies. If predictive models are built primarily on data from white patients, they may fail to capture risks in other populations. Including underrepresented groups in research could improve the precision of cancer prognosis for all.
See: “Tumor collagen structure may help explain racial disparities in cancer outcomes” (June 15, 2025)
