VCOM View Vol 9-1

RESEARCH

VCOM Researchers studying the human

genome are (left) Harold “Skip” Garner, PhD, and (right) Nick Kinney, PhD.

Why Are African American Women More Likely to Die from Breast Cancer?

I n 2014, African American Caucasian women. Researchers at VCOM-Virginia have found a genetic link explaining why this has happened. The team used computer programs to go through large amounts of microsatellites, DNA that repeats itself, to discover genes that have not previously been linked to breast cancer—one of which was ZDHHC3. “Studies about a decade ago where able to find that there was something going on with breast cancer in this part of the chromosome. But they weren’t able to identify the gene before we had all of the computing power we do now,” said Nick Kinney, PhD, first author of the paper published in Cancer Informatics, post-doctoral research fellow and assistant professor at VCOM. women were 43% more likely to die from breast cancer than

that has reduced cancer deaths is early detection – much more significantly than chemotherapy, radiation or anything else,” said Harold “Skip” Garner, PhD, Executive Director for Primary Care Research Network and The Center for Bioinformatics and Genetics at VCOM, and Senior Research Member at the Gibbs Cancer Center.

Currently, the most powerful and often used tests to determine genetic risks of getting breast cancer, are the BRCA1 and BRCA2 tests. These gene mutations are found in approximately five percent of breast cancer patients, while the newly discovered ZDHHC3 variant is found in about 10 percent of breast cancer patients making it stronger. These findings are important to women as a whole for knowing if one has a genetic pre-disposition to getting breast cancer. Late-stage

This research is part of VCOM’s mission to promote research to improve human health and will— quite literally—change lives. ■ “ The thing that has reduced cancer deaths is early detection–much more significantly than chemotherapy, radiation or anything else.” Harold “Skip” Garner, PhD

chemotherapy on average only extends the life of someone with cancer for weeks to months, but finding cancer sooner greatly improves survival odds. “The thing

winter 2018 | VCOM V iew M agazine 37