Family history and risk of breast cancer: nurses’ health study

Family history of cancer remains underused in general clinical practice. We assess age at diagnosis and the role of family history in risk of breast cancer. Prospective follow-up of nurses' health study participants from 1980 to 2006. Updated assessment of family history in mother and sister including age at diagnosis. We used youngest age at diagnosis for family member when classifying risk. We confirmed 4327 incident invasive breast cancers confirmed. Breast cancer incidence models fitted to women with and without family history to assess variation in the risk for established risk factors. Compared to women with no family history those whose mother was diagnosed before age 50 had an adjusted relative risk of 1.69 (95% CI 1.39-2.05) and those with mother diagnosed at 50 or older had a relative risk of 1.37 (1.22-1.53). Sister history was associated with increased relative risk; 1.66 (1.38-1.99) for those with sister history before age 50 and 1.52 (1.29-1.77) for those with sister diagnosed at age 50 or older. Women with either mother or sister diagnosed before age 50 had a relative risk of 1.70 (1.48-1.95) significantly higher than those with diagnosis at age 50 or older (RR = 1.30; (1.27-1.54), P = 0.016). The magnitude of risk associated with established reproductive and lifestyle risk factors did not differ significantly between women with and those without family history with the exception of risk after bilateral oophorectomy in which setting women with family history had greater reduction in risk of subsequent breast cancer. Women with a family member diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50 had increased risk of breast cancer compared to women with family members diagnosed at older ages. Consistent findings for risk factors regardless of family history adds to robust evidence for risk identification and risk stratification in clinical settings where prevention strategies will apply equally to women with and without family history.     

Local and distant recurrence after conservative management of “very low-risk” breast cancer are dependent events: a 10-year follow-up

Purpose: To determine the risk factors associated with recurrence after breast-conserving treatments, and the relationship between occurrence of a local recurrence and subsequent distant metastases.Methods and Materials: Among the 3697 patients with primary breast cancer treated at Institut Paoli-Calmettes Cancer Center, Marseille, between 1980 and 1995, we retrospectively analyzed 756 patients who had been treated with conservative surgery with uninvolved margins of excision, were node-negative, and had received uniform radiotherapy and no chemotherapy. One third of the patients received hormonal therapy via tamoxifen or surgical castration. The endpoints considered were local failures and distant metastases. All tumors were reviewed by our pathologists. The median follow-up for the 700 survivors was 62 months.Results: In the multivariate analysis, histological multifocality (p = 0.0076), peritumoral vessel invasion (p = 0.0215), and young age (p = 0.0245) were associated with an increased risk of local recurrences, whereas tumor size (p = 0.0013), young age (p = 0.003), and histological multifocality (p = 0.0414) were associated with an increased risk of distant metastases. Local recurrences and distant metastases had similar yearly-event probabilities. Median time to distant metastases was shorter after a local recurrence. Early timing of local recurrences did not mark a higher risk of distant metastases. Hazard of relapsing from distant metastases was 4.4 times higher after a local recurrence.Conclusion: our results support the hypothesis that, in this subset of patients, local recurrences favor further dissemination of cancer cells. We are unable to clearly identify a group who would benefit from more aggressive local therapy.     

Management of breast cancer after Hodgkin’s lymphoma and paediatric cancer

RationaleThe risk of women developing a breast cancer (BC) after receiving chest radiotherapy for paediatric cancers and Hodgkin lymphomas is well established. The aim of this study was to assess these patients’ clinical characteristics and clinical outcomes.MethodsThe study concerns women with a history of primary neoplasms treated with chest irradiation ± chemotherapy and subsequently diagnosed with BC.ResultsWe identified 78 women who developed BC (invasive in 68 cases, 87%). They were a median 18 and 38 years of age when their first neoplasm and BC were diagnosed, respectively. Breast-conserving surgery was performed in 39 patients, and 32 underwent breast irradiation. Twenty of the 41 patients (49%) treated with chemotherapy received an anthracycline-containing regimen.The 5- and 11-year event free survival (EFS) and overall survival (OS) rates were 69% and 42%, respectively. Nine patients (12%) developed a third cancer and 18 (23%) a cardiovascular event. Of the 68 women with invasive BC, the first event involved contralateral BC in 55% of cases: time to progression (TTP) rates were 70% and 47% at 5 and 11 years. The 5- and 11-year BC-specific survival rates (BCSS) were 84% and 68%, respectively.ConclusionsJudging from our experience, survival rates after BC developing in women previously given chest radiotherapy are not dissimilar to those observed in other women with primary BC. Given the far from negligible risk of subsequent cancers and cardiovascular events, it is mandatory to discuss the best choice of treatment for such patients in terms of their chances of cure and quality of life, and also the risks of late sequelae.     

Family history of malignancies and risk of breast cancer: prospective data from the Shanghai women’s health study

A population-based cohort study was conducted in Shanghai, China, to investigate the relationship between family cancer history in first-degree relatives and risk of breast cancer. A total of 570 newly diagnosed breast cancer patients were identified from the cohort of 73,222 women during the follow-up period. Breast cancer risk was elevated (RR = 1.74, 95% CI: 1.10–2.73) for those with a family history of breast cancer and the risk was stronger for women who were younger than 55 years (RR = 2.07, 95% CI: 1.17–3.64). In addition, a significantly increased risk was observed for women with a family history of leukemia (RR = 2.06; 95% CI: 1.02–4.15) and among younger women, those who reported having a family history of any cancer (RR = 1.41, 95% CI: 1.10–1.82), lung cancer (RR = 1.72, 95% CI: 1.12–2.65), and esophageal cancer (RR = 2.99, 95% CI: 1.62–5.51). This cohort study suggests that, as previously observed in high risk populations, family history plays an important role in breast cancer also in a low risk population. The link between breast cancer risk and family history of cancers of the lung and esophagus, as well as leukemia, warrants further investigation.     

Breast cancer in postmenopausal women after non-melanomatous skin cancer: the Women’s Health Initiative observational study

An increased risk of breast cancer has been reported in patients with non-melanomatous skin cancer (NMSC), but this association has not been studied in a large, multi-geographic population. We utilized data from the Women’s Health Initiative observational study to assess whether history of NMSC is associated with breast cancer risk. This analysis included 70,246 postmenopausal White and Hispanic women aged 50–79, in which 4,247 breast cancer cases were identified over a mean (SD) of 11.3 (3.2) years. Baseline information was collected on demographics, medical history, sun exposure, and vitamin D intake. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to calculate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95 % confidence intervals (CIs). The relationship between NMSC and breast cancer was examined as a time-dependent exposure using updated information on NMSC gathered during follow-up visits. All statistical tests were two sided. There were 5,595 women diagnosed with NMSC at study entry. The annualized rate of breast cancer was 0.64 % among women with a history of NMSC and 0.55 % among women with no history of NMSC. The multivariable-adjusted HR for breast cancer among women with a history of NMSC versus no history of NMSC was 1.07 (95 % CI 0.95–1.20, P = 0.27). Further evaluation stratified by tumor characteristics showed an increased risk of lymph node-positive disease, HR = 1.30 (95 % CI 1.01–1.67, P = 0.04), and regional-stage disease, HR = 1.33 (95 % CI 1.05–1.70, P = 0.02), among women with NMSC. There was no significant overall association between NMSC and breast cancer; however, there was an increased risk of more advanced-stage breast cancer which needs further exploration.     

“This is a kind of betrayal”: a qualitative study of disability after breast cancer

Objective

We proposed to document the effect of arm morbidity and disability in 40 Canadian women who were 12–24 months post breast cancer surgery.

Methods

We completed 40 qualitative interviews as one component of a multidisciplinary national longitudinal study of arm morbidity after breast cancer (n = 745) involving four research sites (Fredericton/Saint John, Montreal, Winnipeg, Surrey). During semi-structured interviews, participants who had reported arm morbidity and disability in earlier surveys were asked to discuss the effects of these conditions on everyday life.

Results

The interviewees reported making major adjustments to paid and unpaid work, which often involved the assistance of family members, thus demonstrating the effect of disability. Interview data resulted in the creation of a model that addresses arm morbidity and disability, and that holds implications for health care professionals.

Conclusions

Based on the interview findings, we conclude that a robust measure of disability after breast cancer should be developed. In the absence of a validated measure of the effect of disability, evaluating qualitative responses to questions about everyday activities could provide the impetus for provision of physical therapy and emotional support.     

Lifestyle factors and risk of leukemia and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma: a case–control study

Purpose

Risk factors for leukemia and lymphomas in adults are largely unknown. This study was aimed at evaluating the association between lifestyle factors and the risk of hematological malignancies in an adult population.

Methods

Data were drawn from a population-based case–control study carried out in Italy and included 294 cases (199 lymphoid and 95 myeloid) and 279 controls. Analyses were performed using standard multivariable logistic regression.

Results

Hair dye use for at least 15 years was associated with a higher risk of lymphoid malignancies among females (OR 2.3, 95 % CI 1.0–4.9, p = 0.036, test for trend). Furthermore, a protective effect of a moderate to heavy tea consumption on the risk of myeloid malignancies was observed (OR 0.4, 95 % CI 0.2–0.9, p = 0.017). No association was found for the use of alcoholic beverages and tobacco smoking.

Conclusions

Our results confirm the potential carcinogenic effect of prolonged hair dye use observed in previous investigations. The excess risk could be explained by exposure to a higher concentration of toxic compounds in hair products used in the past. The protective effect of regular tea consumption observed in an area with a very high prevalence of black tea consumers deserves further investigation.

     

Pregnancy during breast cancer: does a mother’s parity status modify an offspring’s mortality risk?

To assess whether children born to primiparous women around the time of a breast cancer diagnosis have an increased mortality risk. From the merged Swedish Multi-Generation and Cancer Registers, we identified 49,750 eligible children whose mother was diagnosed with breast cancer between 1958 and 2010. Mortality rates in offspring were compared to the background population using standardized mortality ratios (SMR), adjusted for calendar year of birth, attained age, and sex, and calculated for each category of timing of delivery (before, around, or after mother’s diagnosis) and mother’s parity status. Hazard ratios were assessed using a Cox proportional hazards model and adjusted for socioeconomic status, year of birth and mother’s age at birth. Children born to a primiparous woman around a breast cancer diagnosis had a mortality rate five times greater than the background population (SMR 5.26, 95 % CI 1.93–11.5), whereas children born to a multiparous woman had a twofold increase (SMR 2.40, 95 % CI 1.10–4.55). Children of primiparous women born around diagnosis had an adjusted hazard ratio fourfold to that of children of primiparous women born before their mother’s diagnosis (HR 4.29, 95 % CI 1.68–8.91), whereas hazard ratios for children of primiparous or multiparous women born at other times were not statistically significant. Children born to primiparous women around a breast cancer diagnosis have an increased relative mortality risk. Although relative risk is increased, in absolute terms children born from a cancer complicated pregnancy do relatively well. Additional investigations are needed to elucidate the reason(s) underlying this observation before the information can be used to inform patient counseling and clinical care.     

Diabetes and risk of bladder cancer among postmenopausal women in the Iowa women’s health study

Purpose

Studies have indicated that diabetes is a risk factor for bladder cancer; however, many failed to adjust for confounding variables. An earlier publication from the Iowa Women’s Health Study reported a positive association of baseline diabetes with bladder cancer risk between 1986 and 1998, although the number of cases was small (n = 112). We re-examined the diabetes–bladder cancer risk association by accounting for 12 more years of follow-up and assessed whether the association varied by diabetes duration, body mass index, or waist-to-hip ratio (WHR).

Methods

Proportional hazards regression was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of bladder cancer (n = 277) in relation to diabetes (before enrollment and during follow-up) and diabetes duration using a time-dependent approach.

Results

In a multivariate time-dependent analysis, the HR for bladder cancer was 1.69 (95 % CI 1.40–2.41) in relation to diabetes among 37,327 postmenopausal women initially free of cancer. There was an interaction between diabetes and WHR (p = 0.01). Bladder cancer HR in diabetic women with WHR > 0.9 was 2.5 times higher than expected. There was no dose–response relation of bladder cancer risk with diabetes duration. Compared to no diabetes, HRs were 1.77, 2.03, and 1.55 for diabetes durations of ≤5, 6–10, and >10 years, respectively.

Conclusions

We confirmed a positive association between diabetes and bladder cancer risk among white postmenopausal women. We also observed a synergistic interaction between diabetes and high WHR in bladder cancer development that might be explained by increased insulin resistance and inflammation related to abdominal obesity.     

Fiber intake and pancreatic cancer risk: a case–control study

BackgroundScanty and inconsistent studies are available on the relation between dietary fiber intake and pancreatic cancer. A case–control study was carried out in northern Italy to further investigate the role of various types of dietary fibers in the etiology of pancreatic cancer.Patients and methodsCases were 326 patients with incident pancreatic cancer, excluding neuroendocrine tumors, admitted to major teaching and general hospitals during 1991–2008. Controls were 652 patients admitted for acute, nonneoplastic conditions to the same hospital network of cases. Information was elicited using a validated food frequency questionnaire. Odds ratios (ORs) and the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated for intake quintiles of different types of fiber after allowance for total energy intake and other potential confounding factors.ResultsTotal fiber intake was inversely related to risk of pancreatic cancer (OR = 0.4 for highest versus lowest quintile of intake; 95% CI 0.2–0.7). An inverse association emerged between pancreatic cancer and both soluble (OR = 0.4; 95% CI 0.2–0.7) and total insoluble fiber (OR = 0.5; 95% CI 0.3–0.8), particularly cellulose (OR = 0.4; 95% CI 0.3–0.7) and lignin (OR = 0.5; 95% CI 0.3–0.9). Fruit fiber intake was inversely associated with pancreatic cancer (OR = 0.5; 95% CI 0.3–0.8), whereas grain fiber was not (OR = 1.2; 95% CI 0.7–2.0).ConclusionsThis study suggests that selected types of fiber and total fiber are inversely related to pancreatic cancer.     

Statins and pancreatic cancer risk: a nested case–control study

Objective  

To investigate the relationship between statin use and pancreatic cancer risk.