be at higher risk. Only an extremely small percentage of women worldwide carry such mutations, and researchers say additional studies are needed to develop precise estimates of that number. PALB2 was first linked to breast cancer in 2007, and researchers know that it interacts with both BRCA1 and BRCA2. Study results have indicated that women with PALB2 mutations who were born more recently tended to have a higher risk of developing breast cancer compared with those who were born earlier. Although scientists do not know why, they speculated that factors such as later age at first childbirth, smaller families, and better surveillance may play a role in the earlier age at diagnosis.
The authors recommend that women who are found to carry this mutation should receive genetic counseling and additional surveillance, such as breast screening with magnetic resonance imaging. There is evidence that cells carrying the PALB2 mutation are sensitive to poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, which currently are being tested in
Immigration Associated With an Increase in Smoking Among Latinos, Asians
A
new study published in the journal Social Science and Medicine focused on how gender differences in smoking behavior among Asian and Latino immigrants to the United States are affected by acculturation as well as the decision to immigrate.1 Researchers already know that the length of time immigrants live in the United States affects their health behavior and status. The authors (sociologists at Rice University in Houston, Texas; Duke University in Durham, North Carolina; and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles) gathered data from a group of 3249 Asian and Latino immigrant adults aged 18 years
patients with BRCA1 and BRCA2 breast cancers. Researchers at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, part of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, have developed a clinical test for PALB2. Clinical testing for the mutation also will be available at other diagnostic laboratories worldwide.
Reference 1. Antoniou AC, Casadei S, Heikkinen T, et al. Breast-cancer risk in families with mutations in PALB2. N Engl J Med. 2014;371:497-506. DOI: 10.1002/cncr.29185
and older. They found that smoking prevalence among Asian immigrant men was more than 4 times that of Asian immigrant women (30.4% and 7.1%, respectively). Meanwhile, the smoking prevalence among Latino immigrant men was more than twice that of women (29.5% and 12.6%, respectively.) Asian men smoked an average of 2.5 more cigarettes per day than Asian women, whereas Latino men smoked 1.5 more cigarettes per day than Latino women. The findings also demonstrated that smoking increases in both prevalence and frequency with the duration of US residence among Asian immigrants. Among Latino immigrants, smoking only increased in frequency. Furthermore, the researchers found that, regardless of the amount of time spent in the United States, immigrants who form strong connections, such as English language proficiency and citizenship acquisition, benefit from reduced smoking. They noted that the reason may be because these immigrants are less stressed and have higher socioeconomic standing. Latino and Asian women who immigrate to the United States tend to experience a higher increase in smoking after immigration compared with their male counterparts, possibly due to the fact that smoking stigmas for women still exist in Latin America and, more particularly, in Asia.
Reference 1. Gorman BK, Lariscy JT, Kaushik C. Gender, acculturation, and smoking behavior among US Asian and Latino immigrants. Soc Sci Med. 2014;106:110-118. DOI: 10.1002/cncr.29186
© JPC-PROD, CHARNSITR | SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
Women who carried rare mutations in PALB2 were found to have, on average, a 35% chance of developing breast cancer by the age of 70.
Content in this section does not reflect any official policy or medical opinion of the American Cancer Society or of the publisher unless otherwise noted. © American Cancer Society, 2015.
Cancer
January 1, 2015
3
The authors recommend that women who are found to carry this mutation should receive genetic counseling and additional surveillance, such as breast screening with magnetic resonance imaging. There is evidence that cells carrying the PALB2 mutation are sensitive to poly ADP ribose polymerase (PARP) inhibitors, which currently are being tested in
Immigration Associated With an Increase in Smoking Among Latinos, Asians
A
new study published in the journal Social Science and Medicine focused on how gender differences in smoking behavior among Asian and Latino immigrants to the United States are affected by acculturation as well as the decision to immigrate.1 Researchers already know that the length of time immigrants live in the United States affects their health behavior and status. The authors (sociologists at Rice University in Houston, Texas; Duke University in Durham, North Carolina; and the University of Southern California in Los Angeles) gathered data from a group of 3249 Asian and Latino immigrant adults aged 18 years
patients with BRCA1 and BRCA2 breast cancers. Researchers at Addenbrooke’s Hospital, part of Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust, have developed a clinical test for PALB2. Clinical testing for the mutation also will be available at other diagnostic laboratories worldwide.
Reference 1. Antoniou AC, Casadei S, Heikkinen T, et al. Breast-cancer risk in families with mutations in PALB2. N Engl J Med. 2014;371:497-506. DOI: 10.1002/cncr.29185
and older. They found that smoking prevalence among Asian immigrant men was more than 4 times that of Asian immigrant women (30.4% and 7.1%, respectively). Meanwhile, the smoking prevalence among Latino immigrant men was more than twice that of women (29.5% and 12.6%, respectively.) Asian men smoked an average of 2.5 more cigarettes per day than Asian women, whereas Latino men smoked 1.5 more cigarettes per day than Latino women. The findings also demonstrated that smoking increases in both prevalence and frequency with the duration of US residence among Asian immigrants. Among Latino immigrants, smoking only increased in frequency. Furthermore, the researchers found that, regardless of the amount of time spent in the United States, immigrants who form strong connections, such as English language proficiency and citizenship acquisition, benefit from reduced smoking. They noted that the reason may be because these immigrants are less stressed and have higher socioeconomic standing. Latino and Asian women who immigrate to the United States tend to experience a higher increase in smoking after immigration compared with their male counterparts, possibly due to the fact that smoking stigmas for women still exist in Latin America and, more particularly, in Asia.
Reference 1. Gorman BK, Lariscy JT, Kaushik C. Gender, acculturation, and smoking behavior among US Asian and Latino immigrants. Soc Sci Med. 2014;106:110-118. DOI: 10.1002/cncr.29186
© JPC-PROD, CHARNSITR | SHUTTERSTOCK.COM
Women who carried rare mutations in PALB2 were found to have, on average, a 35% chance of developing breast cancer by the age of 70.
Content in this section does not reflect any official policy or medical opinion of the American Cancer Society or of the publisher unless otherwise noted. © American Cancer Society, 2015.
Cancer
January 1, 2015
3
