A recent study by Yale researchers has uncovered a significant genetic difference in cancers affecting Black patients, potentially explaining long-observed racial disparities in cancer outcomes. The research, published in Nature, reveals that tumors in Black individuals are more likely to exhibit whole-genome duplications (WGDs) compared to those in white patients.
Dr. Leanne Brown, a general surgery resident, and Dr. Jason Sheltzer, Ph.D., led the study, which examined over 1,800 cancer samples from self-reported Black patients in the United States. Their findings show that WGDs, which involve the complete duplication of an organism’s genome, are more prevalent across various cancer types in Black patients, including breast, endometrial, and lung cancers.
The implications of this discovery are significant. WGDs are associated with increased metastasis, more aggressive disease progression, and poorer patient prognosis. The higher frequency of WGDs in tumors from Black patients correlates with shorter survival rates, shedding new light on the biological factors contributing to racial disparities in cancer outcomes.
The study also explored environmental factors that might contribute to these disparities. Researchers found that exposure to combustion byproducts, such as those found in pollution and tobacco smoke, could induce WGDs in cultured cells. Tumors from Black patients exhibited mutational signatures suggesting that these environmental carcinogens may play a role in the higher frequency of WGDs observed in their cancers.
This research not only identifies a new genomic factor associated with cancer progression but also underscores the potential influence of environmental exposures on cancer biology, particularly in historically underserved populations. By highlighting the complex interplay between genetics, environment, and health disparities, the study opens new avenues for understanding and potentially addressing racial disparities in cancer outcomes.
See “Elevated Whole-Genome Duplications in Cancers from Black Patients: A New Insight into Racial Disparities in Cancer Outcomes” (December 11, 2024)
