In a recent study published in Nature Medicine , researchers map the diverse cell types present in healthy breast tissue to elucidate the role of genetic ancestry in breast cancer risk. Study: Single-nucleus chromatin accessibility and transcriptomic map of breast tissues of women of diverse genetic ancestry. Image Credit: Motortion Films / Shutterstock.
com The role of genetic ancestry in breast cancer Various factors contribute to disparities in breast cancer outcomes, some of which include socioeconomic status, healthcare access, as well as genetic ancestry. Recent research suggests that genetic ancestry can affect the structure of the genome and patterns of genetic mutations in cancer. This may include variations in the types and frequencies of genetic mutations observed in cancer among individuals of different genetic ancestries, as well as chromatin accessibility during cancer development.
The researchers of the current study previously described 23 different epithelial states present in breast tissue biopsies obtained from health donors. Despite these advances, it remains unclear how genetic ancestry affects the state or condition of breast tissue cells and, subsequently, their influence on cancerous processes. About the study The Komen Tissue Bank was utilized to evaluate breast tissue samples obtained from 92 women with heterogeneous genetic origins.
Deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) was also isolated from donor blood for genetic ancestry mapping. Spatial transcriptomics al.