Associations among ancestry, geography and breast cancer incidence, mortality, and survival in Trinidad and Tobago

Wayne A. Warner, Robert L. Morrison, Tammy Y. Lee, Tanisha M. Williams, Shelina Ramnarine, Veronica Roach, Simeon Slovacek, Ravi Maharaj, Nigel Bascombe, Melissa L. Bondy, Matthew J. Ellis, Adetunji T. Toriola, Allana Roach, Adana A.M. Llanos

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

15 Scopus citations

Abstract

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common newly diagnosed cancer among women in Trinidad and Tobago (TT) and BC mortality rates are among the highest in the world. Globally, racial/ethnic trends in BC incidence, mortality and survival have been reported. However, such investigations have not been conducted in TT, which has been noted for its rich diversity. In this study, we investigated associations among ancestry, geography and BC incidence, mortality and survival in TT. Data on 3767 incident BC cases, reported to the National Cancer Registry of TT, from 1995 to 2007, were analyzed in this study. Women of African ancestry had significantly higher BC incidence and mortality rates (Incidence: 66.96; Mortality: 30.82 per 100,000) compared to women of East Indian (Incidence: 41.04, Mortality: 14.19 per 100,000) or mixed ancestry (Incidence: 36.72, Mortality: 13.80 per 100,000). Geographically, women residing in the North West Regional Health Authority (RHA) catchment area followed by the North Central RHA exhibited the highest incidence and mortality rates. Notable ancestral differences in survival were also observed. Women of East Indian and mixed ancestry experienced significantly longer survival than those of African ancestry. Differences in survival by geography were not observed. In TT, ancestry and geographical residence seem to be strong predictors of BC incidence and mortality rates. Additionally, disparities in survival by ancestry were found. These data should be considered in the design and implementation of strategies to reduce BC incidence and mortality rates in TT. Trinidad and Tobago (TT) has among the highest breast cancer (BC) mortality rates in the world. Globally, racial/ethnic trends in BC incidence, mortality, and survival have been reported. Limited epidemiologic data on these trends in BC are available for TT. Findings from this study suggest that ancestry and geographical residence are associated with BC incidence and mortality rates and ancestry is associated with BC survival in TT.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)1742-1753
Number of pages12
JournalCancer medicine
Volume4
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2015

Keywords

  • Ancestry
  • Breast cancer
  • Caribbean
  • Geography
  • Incidence
  • Mortality
  • Survival
  • Trinidad and Tobago

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