Ethnic Sensitivity Could Improve Breast Cancer Treatment

Researchers in Southwest Sydney are calling for greater ethnic sensitivity when diagnosing and treating breast cancer following new research into differences in biological features and treatment patterns across major ethnic groups.

The results suggest major differences in both diagnosis and treatment across Sydney’s White Anglo-Saxon, White European and Asian populations.

The study will be presented by lead researcher Dr Eunji Hwang at the 67th Annual Scientific Meeting of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists (RANZCR) held on the Gold Coast today.

The research took place in Southwest Sydney, Australia’s most ethnically diverse healthcare network. It examined the major differences between breast cancer patients of Anglo-Saxon Caucasian, white European, and Asian ethnicities (mainly those of Southeast-Asian decent).

Major findings included:

• White Europeans were more likely to undergo breast conserving surgery compared to other cultures surveyed, and experienced the most breast cancer recurrence
• Asians were more likely to be diagnosed in the younger age bracket of 40-50, and more likely to receive chemotherapy
• Asians were also less likely to be diagnosed with the lobular type of breast cancer
• White Anglo-Saxons were less likely to receive radiation therapy

The research was inspired by similar studies conducted in America and England, where researchers investigated the differences in breast cancer biology and treatment outcomes across a number of dominant cultural groups in each country. Results from the United States suggest that African Americans are more likely to suffer from the more aggressive triple negative breast cancer type, as was similarly demonstrated in the South Asian population in London in the UK.

Dr Eunji Hwang says the results are an important indication that ethnic variation may exist in breast cancer and could therefore play an important role in personalising appropriate treatment for patients. Additional research is needed to understand exactly why these differences exist and what sensitivities should be considered in improving outcomes.

Elsewhere at the conference delegates heard from Dr Karin Steinke, who discussed her research into thermal ablation, an innovative treatment option for patients with lung cancer.

Thermal ablation for lung tumours is an innovative, minimally-invasive treatment that can be used as an alternative to traditional surgery and radiation therapy.

The heat producing treatment, which uses electromagnetic waves to destroy cancerous tumours, is a simple, single therapy session taking a few minutes only.

Thermal ablation not only limits time spent in hospital (allowing patients to return home the following day), but targets the tumour directly sparing healthy lung tissue, which is often sacrificed during surgery.

While thermal ablation is essentially a valid ‘cure’ for cancerous tumours of the lung which have not spread to the lymph nodes or distant organs, awareness of the procedure is low and suitable candidates are often referred to more invasive surgical interventions or radiation therapy regimes which often last for several weeks.

Lung cancer is the number one cancer killer worldwide1 and accounts for around 9000 (18.8%) cancer deaths in Australia each year2, tendency increasing.

Brisbane-based researcher Karin Steinke says, “Nearly 15% of patients with early stage lung cancer are not eligible for surgery; this figure doubles in the age group 75 years and above and thermal ablation offers them a minimally-invasive alternative treatment option. The big advantage of this treatment modality over other treatment options, especially radiation therapy, is that it can be repeated should the lung cancer come back or new cancerous deposits develop – a common occurrence with secondary lung cancer.

“It’s important that we continue to develop new and innovative approaches to targeting and destroying primary and secondary lung tumours in a safe and efficient way.”

For more information on the The Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Radiologists 67th Annual Scientific Meeting or to review the scientific program visit http://www.ranzcr2016.com/.

References:
1. WHO Fact Sheet. The top 10 causes of death. Accessed 26 September 2016: http://www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets/fs310/en/
2. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) Lung Cancer in Australia. Accessed 26 September 2016: http://www.aihw.gov.au/cancer/lung/