Are There Regional Differences in Triple Negative Breast Cancer among Non-Hispanic Black Women?

Background: Non-Hispanic black women (NHB) are diagnosed with triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) more often than other ethnic or racial groups in the United States (US). This study describes regional differences in TNBC incidence among NHB women in the US from 2011 to 2015. Methods: We analyzed data from the United States Cancer Statistics (USCS) that includes incidence data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) and the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) programs. Results: Compared to the incidence rate for NHB women in the South, rates were significantly lower in the Northeast (22.6 per 100,000), higher in the Midwest (25.5 per 100,000) and similar in the West. These regional differences might be explained by genetic admixture among people with different geographic ancestral origins. Conclusions: Results from this study highlight the need to extend etiological research and evidence-based cancer prevention and control efforts to women at high risk of this disease in order to decrease cancer disparities.