Researchers seek breast tissue from Hispanics

Researchers seek breast tissue from Hispanics
Associated Press, August 2, 2009

INDIANAPOLIS - An Indiana University cancer center is launching a campaign to shed light on why breast cancer is often more aggressive in Hispanic women than in women of other races.

Researchers at the Susan Komen Tissue Bank at the IU Simon Cancer Center are encouraging women, particularly Hispanic women, to donate breast tissue and a blood sample for their effort.

The project will collect tissue samples Aug. 8 at the IU Simon Cancer Center.

The researchers hope that a collection of samples from women with and without breast cancer will highlight genetic differences and lead to a better understanding of the disease.

Cancer researcher Ivanesa Pardo says breast cancer develops and spreads differently in Latina women, who are 2.7 times more likely to have an advanced cancer than women of other races.