A recent study published in JAMA Network Open reveals alarming disparities in breast cancer incidence rates among different racial and ethnic groups in the United States. Researchers from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center in Seattle found that Hispanic, non-Hispanic American Indian or Alaska Native, and non-Hispanic Asian or Pacific Islander women face disproportionately higher increases in breast cancer rates compared to white women.
The study, which analyzed data from 1,123,658 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 2010 and 2019, uncovered significant variations in the incidence of molecular subtypes across different populations. Of particular concern is the rising incidence of triple-negative breast cancer, an aggressive and hard-to-treat subtype, among older Asian or Pacific Islander, Black, and Hispanic women.
Lead researcher Noelani Li expressed surprise at these findings, noting, “While there has been a focus on increasing rates of breast cancer in young women, less has been reported on older women.” The study revealed that Asian or Pacific Islander women aged 50 to 64 experienced a 2% annual increase in triple-negative breast cancer incidence from 2010 to 2019. Even more striking, Asian or Pacific Islander women 65 years or older saw a 5.5% annual increase from 2015 to 2019.
Hispanic women aged 65 years or older experienced a 2.3% annual increase in triple-negative breast cancer rates from 2010 to 2019. Black women faced a 1.4% annual increase from 2010 to 2016, which then jumped to 4.3% from 2016 to 2019. In contrast, the incidence remained unchanged among non-Hispanic white women.
These findings underscore the critical need for continued research into how breast cancer affects different demographic groups. Li emphasized the importance of offering appropriate screening and treatment to all who need them, recognizing that rates are rising more quickly among certain racial and ethnic groups.
As researchers plan to monitor these trends with new data, the study highlights the urgent need for targeted interventions and equitable healthcare strategies to address these growing disparities in breast cancer incidence and outcomes.
See: “Triple-negative breast cancers impact female populations differently” (January 24, 2025)
