Black women experience disproportionately elevated risks of developing and dying from early-onset breast cancer. New research published by Wiley online in CANCER , a peer-reviewed journal of the American Cancer Society, reveals the genes that are most likely to be mutated to contribute to these increased risks.
In the study of 686 young Black women diagnosed in Florida and Tennessee with invasive breast cancer at age 50 or younger in 2005–2018, genetic testing showed that 15.3% of the women carried a gene variant with a suspected link to breast and/or ovarian cancer, with most occurring in the BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes and fewer in PALB2 , ATM , and other genes. A family history of breast cancer was common in women with mutations in BRCA1 , BRCA2 , and PALB2 . Triple-negative breast cancers (one of the most aggressive forms) were most often seen in women with BRCA1 mutations. Also, most of the women with BRCA1 mutations were diagnosed at or below age 40, whereas the age at diagnosis was more evenly distributed up to age 50 for women with variants in the other genes.
The study’s findings point to the importance of breast cancer genetic testing for young Black women, a group that is less likely to receive such screening compared with other racial and ethnic groups. Such tests could identify women most likely to benefit from more frequent screening and preventive measures to safeguard their health.
“We must test at-risk women across all populations—testing is essential to personalize treatment strategies and enable life-saving prevention for future cancers, and it may empower at-risk family members to get tested so they too can benefit from this information,” said senior author Tuya Pal, MD, of Vanderbilt University Medical Center. “Equitable access to inherited cancer testing ensures that all women, regardless of race, can benefit from precision medicine and take control of their genetic health.”
Additional information
NOTE: The information contained in this release is protected by copyright. Please include journal attribution in all coverage. A free abstract of this article will be available via the CANCER Newsroom upon online publication. For more information or to obtain a PDF of any study, please contact: Sara Henning-Stout, newsroom@wiley.com
Full Citation:
“Clinicopathologic Characteristics of Early-Onset Breast Cancer Among Unselected Young Black Women.” Heather K. Beasley, Tiana Shah, Rory J. Tinker, Anne Weidner, Lindsay Venton, Chunling Hu, Mya L. Roberson, Brian D. Lehmann, Fergus J. Couch, Sonya Reid, Kelly Metcalfe, and Tuya Pal. CANCER ; Published Online: June 8, 2026 (DOI: 10.1002/cncr.70402).
URL Upon Publication : http://doi.wiley.com/10.1002/cncr.70402
Author Contact: Yolanda James at yolanda.james@vumc.org
About the Journal
CANCER is a peer-reviewed publication of the American Cancer Society integrating scientific information from worldwide sources for all oncologic specialties. The objective of CANCER is to provide an interdisciplinary forum for the exchange of information among oncologic disciplines concerned with the etiology, course, and treatment of human cancer. CANCER is published on behalf of the American Cancer Society by Wiley and can be accessed online. Follow CANCER on X @JournalCancer , and stay up to date with the American Cancer Society Journals on Instagram , LinkedIn , and YouTube .
About Wiley
Wiley is a global leader in authoritative content and research intelligence for the advancement of scientific discovery, innovation, and learning. With more than 200 years at the center of the scholarly ecosystem, Wiley combines trusted publishing heritage with AI-powered platforms to transform how knowledge is discovered, accessed, and applied. From individual researchers and students to Fortune 500 R&D teams, Wiley enables the transformation of scientific breakthroughs into real-world impact. From knowledge to impact—Wiley is redefining what's possible in science and learning. Visit us at Wiley.com and Investors.Wiley.com . Follow us on Facebook , X , LinkedIn and Instagram .
Cancer
Clinicopathologic Characteristics of Early-Onset Breast Cancer Among Unselected Young Black Women
8-Jun-2026