Disparities in Metabolic Conditions and Cancer Characteristics among Hispanic Women with Breast Cancer: A Multi-Institutional Study

Simple Summary This multi-institutional analysis suggests associations of common metabolic conditions with ethnicity among Hispanic patients with breast cancer. Hispanic individuals with breast cancer are diverse and have been historically lumped under one category in research protocols without distinction or reference to their country of origin. This study highlights differences in tumor characteristics and their associations with metabolic conditions among the various Hispanic patients with breast cancer based on their ethnic origins, which should be considered when referencing race and ethnicity. This study supports a more focused approach to addressing obesity and other metabolic conditions in patients with breast cancer within the Hispanic population. In addition, the authors aim to increase awareness regarding the prevalence of common metabolic conditions in the Hispanic population and recommend measures to improve overall health and breast cancer care, including prioritizing lifestyle modifications for Hispanics and other minorities. While the associations of common metabolic conditions with ethnicity have been previously described, disparity among Hispanic individuals based on country of origin is understudied. This multi-institutional analysis explored the prevalence of metabolic conditions and their association with cancer subtypes among Mexican and non-Mexican Hispanics. After IRB approval, we conducted a cross-sectional study at two academic medical centers with a significant Hispanic patient population (Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center, El Paso, TX (TTUHSC-EP) and Cleveland Clinic Florida in Weston, FL (CCF)). A total of n = 1020 self-identified Hispanic patients with breast cancer consecutively diagnosed between 2005 and 2014 were selected from the two institutional databases. Comparisons between Mexican and Non-Mexican Hispanics revealed variations in tumor types and metabolic conditions. Mexican Hispanics were found to have a higher prevalence of diabetes mellitus (27.8% vs. 14.2%, p < 0.001), obesity (51.0% vs. 32.5%, p < 0.001), and ductal carcinoma type (86.6 vs. 73.4%, p < 0.001). On the other hand, hormone-receptor-positive breast cancer was more common in non-Mexicans, while Mexicans had more triple-negative breast cancer, especially in premenopausal women. In addition to highlighting these variations among Hispanic patients with breast cancer, this study supports a more focused approach to addressing obesity and other metabolic conditions prevalent in the Hispanic population with breast cancer. Moreover, Hispanic individuals with breast cancer are diverse and should not be lumped under one category without reference to their country of origin regarding the impact of race and ethnicity.