Contribution of Prediagnostic Host Factors to Shaping the Stromal Microenvironment of Breast Cancer among Sub-Saharan African Women.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The stromal microenvironment (SME) is integral to breast cancer biology, impacting metastatic proclivity and treatment response. Emerging data indicate that host factors may impact the SME, but the relationship between prediagnostic host factors and SME phenotype remains poorly characterized, particularly among women of African ancestry.

Methods

We conducted a case-only analysis involving 792 patients with breast cancer (17-84 years) from the Ghana Breast Health Study. High-accuracy machine-learning algorithms were applied to standard H&E-stained images to characterize SME phenotypes [including percent tumor-associated connective tissue stroma, Ta-CTS (%); tumor-associated stromal cellular density, Ta-SCD (%)]. Associations between prediagnostic host factors and S

SUBMITTER: Abubakar M 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11966112 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Apr

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature