Abstract B119: Receptiveness of metformin as a breast cancer prevention drug within the Hispanic community
Authors: Serrano Mayra , Sanchez Angelica , Thai Christine , Nerio Katty , Resto Cristal , Garcia Marisela , Chavez Tanya A. , Kruper Laura L. , Jones Veronica C. , Yee Lisa D. , Nuñez Alan , Rippberger Ellen J. , Wong Angela K. , Chávez Noé R. , Herold Karen , Kalu Chidimma M.K. , Alva-Ornelas Jackelyn A. , Tomsic Jerneja , Round Krista M. , Agulto Regina , Robles Margarita , Idassi Ombeni M. , Kennedy Kendall J. , Sistrunk Christopher , Seewaldt Victoria L. 
Published: August 2020

Despite cancer being the leading cause of death across most racial/ethnic groups, Hispanic women have the second highest mortality rate attributed to diabetes (4.7%) according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). While cancer and diabetes are two distinct diseases, previous studies have demonstrated that diabetic women have a poor chance of breast cancer survival when compared to nondiabetic women. Well-known key drivers of hyperinsulinemia and insulin resistance, such as insulin and AMPK, are also those involved in breast cancer. This link could possibly contribute to the increased mitogenic effects and risk for aggressive breast cancers in Hispanic women. Based on these findings, metformin, a drug standardly used to treat and prevent hyperglycemia, may be a possible alternative (other than tamoxifen) for breast cancer prevention. Eat, Move, Live (EML), a 5-week community-based program, focuses on targeting possible treatments of chronic diseases and risk reduction through attitude and lifestyle modifications. Exercise, nutritional and health awareness classes were implemented to change participants' perspectives regarding chronic diseases and their susceptibility to other morbidities. Questionnaires were given to the participants at baseline and at two follow-ups (5 weeks and 12 weeks) to assess any changes in their attitudes, behaviors, nutrition, lifestyle and beliefs around taking medication for preventative treatments. A total of 56 participants' pretreatment responses were collected via a five-point Likert scale (1-strongly disagree, 5-strongly agree). Demographic data showed that 69% of the respondents were Hispanic women, of whom 46% completed an education level of high school or less. A majority of the responses averaged a “neutral” response to taking medication for management and prevention of diabetes. We infer that their inability to select a stance in their responses may be associated with the lack of knowledge that the community has regarding chronic diseases and risk-prevention methods. Therefore, we anticipate that availability of proper education tools and resources is essential to potentially prevent future morbidities and mortalities. Ultimately, we aim to establish a pilot study that emphasizes the necessity and importance of interventional programs, like EML, to enhance chemoprevention using metformin and improve health outcomes in high-risk breast cancer populations.

Citation Format: Mayra Serrano, Angelica Sanchez, Christine Thai, Katty Nerio, Cristal Resto, Marisela Garcia, Tanya A. Chavez, Laura L. Kruper, Veronica C. Jones, Lisa D. Yee, Alan Nuñez, Ellen J. Rippberger, Angela K. Wong, Noé R. Chávez, Karen Herold, Chidimma M.K. Kalu, Jackelyn A. Alva-Ornelas, Jerneja Tomsic, Krista M. Round, Regina Agulto, Margarita Robles, Ombeni M. Idassi, Kendall J. Kennedy, Christopher Sistrunk, Victoria L. Seewaldt. Receptiveness of metformin as a breast cancer prevention drug within the Hispanic community [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the Eleventh AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2018 Nov 2-5; New Orleans, LA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2020;29(6 Suppl):Abstract nr B119.