Abstract 4897: Self-reported experiences of discrimination and inflammatory-related biomarkers among Black breast cancer survivors
Authors: Nur Zeinomar, Marley Perlstein, Bo Qin, Hari S. Iyer, Jesse J. Plascak, Tengteng Wang, Kitaw Demissie, Christine B. Ambrosone, Elisa V. Bandera, Chi-Chen Hong
Journal: Cancer Research (2025)

Abstract Purpose: Racial discrimination disproportionately affects Black individuals and is associated with adverse mental and physical health outcomes. Black individuals also exhibit higher levels of systemic inflammation compared to other racial and ethnic groups, which may contribute to disparities in cancer outcomes and comorbid conditions. Despite this, the relationship between racial discrimination and inflammatory biomarkers in cancer survivors remains understudied. This study examines the association between experiences of discrimination and inflammatory biomarker levels in a cohort of Black breast cancer survivors. Methods: We analyzed data from the Women’s Circle of Health Follow-up Study, a population-based longitudinal cohort of Black breast cancer survivors in New Jersey. Self-reported lifetime racial discrimination was assessed during baseline home visits (approximately 12 months post-diagnosis) using the validated “Experiences of Discrimination (EOD)” instrument, which captures experiences of interpersonal and institutional discrimination across nine domains, including work, education, health care, and public settings. Inflammatory biomarkers, including high sensitivity C-reactive protein, Interleukin-6 (IL-6), Tumor Necrosis Factor (TNF)-α, and IL-1β, were assayed in blood samples collected 24-36 months post-diagnosis. Multivariable linear regression models were used to evaluate the associations between EOD (ever vs. none) and biomarker concentrations, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: Among the 156 women included in this analysis, 74% reported experiencing any discrimination. Self-reported EOD was not significantly associated with inflammatory biomarker levels. However, women reporting discrimination had non-significant elevations in TNFα and IL-1β compared to those reporting no EOD. In age-adjusted models, the mean for TNFα among women reporting any EOD was 5.94 pg/mL (95% CI: 5.50, 6.42) compared to 5.57 pg/mL (95% CI: 4.91, 6.32) among those reporting no EOD. Similarly, the age-adjusted mean value for IL-1β was 1.37 pg/mL (95% CI: 1.21, 1.56) for women reporting any EOD versus 1.28 pg/mL (95% CI: 1.03, 1.58) for those reporting none. Fully adjusted models accounting for age at diagnosis, sociodemographic factors (marital status, income), lifestyle factors (smoking, alcohol use, physical activity, body mass index), and chemotherapy yielded comparable results. Conclusion: While we did not observe statistically significant associations, our findings suggest a potential link between EOD and elevated levels of inflammatory biomarkers in Black breast cancer survivors, pointing to a possible biological impact of discrimination-related stress. Future studies with greater statistical power are needed to better understand these relationships and their potential relevance to cancer prognosis and survivorship. Citation Format: Nur Zeinomar, Marley Perlstein, Bo Qin, Hari S. Iyer, Jesse J. Plascak, Tengteng Wang, Kitaw Demissie, Christine B. Ambrosone, Elisa V. Bandera, Chi-Chen Hong. Self-reported experiences of discrimination and inflammatory-related biomarkers among Black breast cancer survivors [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 4897.