Women of African ancestry are more likely to develop aggressive and lethal forms of breast cancer, new research suggests.
The more aggressive types of cancer, called triple negative, are difficult-to-treat and often deadly, researchers say.
"In technical terms: Triple negative breast cancer is negative for three markers used to determine treatment: the estrogen receptor, the progesterone receptor and HER-2/neu."
"Recent advances in breast cancer treatments target each of the receptors, but targeting all three is a major problem," study’s lead researcher, Dr. Lisa A. Newman, director of the Breast Care Center at the University of Michigan Comprehensive Cancer Center averred.
