Researchers at the University of Wisconsin's Carbone Cancer Center, led by oncologist Dr. Amye Tevaarwerk, published a study in April in the Journal of the National Cancer Institute, suggesting that docetaxel, a common chemotherapy drug for early-stage breast cancer, may be less effective for Black women compared to white women. The study analyzed data from the TAILORx clinical trial, which enrolled over 10,000 women with early-stage, hormone-positive, HER2-negative breast cancer between 2006 and 2010, including more than 2,000 Black women and over 8,000 white women.
The analysis specifically focused on patients with an intermediate Oncotype DX recurrence score of 11-25 who received docetaxel-based chemotherapy, often combined with cyclophosphamide and doxorubicin. The study found that Black women in this group experienced worse invasive disease-free survival rates at five years, with 82.2% compared to 89.2% for white women. Additionally, Black women in this category showed poorer overall survival and distant recurrence-free survival. Researchers hypothesized that docetaxel might be metabolized differently in Black women, potentially due to variations in kidney function markers or genetics, leading to altered drug exposure or side effects.
Dr. Tevaarwerk stated that this finding provides 'a starting point to really understand what's happening and how we can better treat our patients'. The study's results underscore the critical need for further research into personalized medicine and a re-evaluation of current treatment strategies for Black women with intermediate-risk breast cancer. This research also highlights broader health disparities, as Black women are often diagnosed with more aggressive cancers, such as triple-negative breast cancer, and at later stages.
