Impact of race and ethnicity on features and outcome of ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast

Abstract

Background: The impact of race and ethnicity on the biologic features and outcome variables of women who are diagnosed with preinvasive breast cancer - ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) - has not been addressed widely in the published literature. Methods: Patient demographic, clinical, and pathologic features and outcome variables were analyzed with respect to the patient's initial self-reported race/ethnicity among women who received treatment for a diagnosis of pure DCIS from 1996 to 2009. Results: Of 1902 patients, 1411 were white (74.2%), 214 were African American (11.3%), 175 were Hispanic (9.1%), and 102 were Asian/Pacific Islander (5.4%). The majority of patients were between ages 41 and 70 years (83%). Patients of Hispanic and Asian/Pacific Islander descent were significantly younger than white and African American patients (P 70 years and Hispanic patients aged <50 years were significantly more likely to have estrogen receptor-positive DCIS than patients of other races in the same age categories (P