Abstract B108: Area deprivation and social determinants of health factors among African American women with breast cancer in the Detroit and New York metropolitan area

Abstract

Breast cancer remains the most frequently diagnosed cancer among women in the United States and a leading cause of cancer-related mortality. Increasing evidence suggests that social determinants of health (SDOH) and neighborhood socioeconomic disadvantage influence cancer outcomes. This study examined associations between neighborhood disadvantage, measured by the Area Deprivation Index (ADI), and molecular features of breast cancer while incorporating population-level SDOH data to characterize broader social and environmental factors contributing to disparities. Residential locations from 116 breast cancer patients in Detroit and New York City were linked to geographic identifiers and ADI rankings based on income, education, employment, and housing indicators. Tumor mutational signatures from whole-genome sequencing and circulating inflammatory biomarkers measured by multiplex plasma assays were evaluated for associations with ADI. Participants in the BRIDGEGEN study also completed an SDOH survey assessing financial barriers, transportation, healthcare access, work and family responsibilities, and health literacy. Although BRIDGEGEN participants were not the same individuals included in the molecular cohort, they represented the same geographic communities and were analyzed to characterize population-level social and environmental factors contributing to cancer disparities. No statistically significant associations were observed between ADI and tumor mutational signatures after multiple testing correction, although modest trends suggested neighborhood disadvantage may influence mutational processes. In the New York cohort, SBS18, associated with oxidative DNA damage, remained nominally significant after adjustment, suggesting a potential link between deprivation-related stress and DNA damage. Higher ADI was also associated with increased CXCL10/IP-10, IL-4, and CCL2/MCP-1 in unadjusted analyses, but these associations were no longer significant after clinical adjustment. In contrast, higher ADI in the Detroit cohort was significantly associated with decreased CCL3 (MIP-1α) after adjustment and multiple testing correction, suggesting a more immunosuppressive tumor environment. Overall, findings suggest neighborhood disadvantage may influence cancer biology through pathways involving chronic stress and immune dysregulation, with associations differing across populations. These findings underscore the importance of evaluating structural barriers alongside neighborhood deprivation to better understand cancer disparities among African American women. Integrating SDOH with cancer genomics may improve understanding of biologic mechanisms underlying disparities and inform more equitable prevention, treatment, and survivorship strategies. OpenAI's ChatGPT (GPT-5.5) was used to assist with language editing and clarity improvements for character count. All content was critically reviewed, revised, and approved by the authors. Gabrielle Ford, Tia Sadler, Desiree Rivers, Rachel Martini, Melissa Davis. Area deprivation and social determinants of health factors among African American women with breast cancer in the Detroit and New York metropolitan area [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 19th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities; 2026 Oct 18-21; Atlanta, GA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2026;35(10 Suppl):Abstract nr B108.