Preoperative breast MRI and mortality in older women with breast cancer

Purpose

The survival benefit from detecting additional breast cancers by preoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) continues to be controversial.

Methods

We followed a cohort of 4454 women diagnosed with non-metastatic breast cancer (stage I–III) from 2/2005–6/2010 in five registries of the breast cancer surveillance consortium (BCSC). BCSC clinical and registry data were linked to Medicare claims and enrollment data. We estimated the cumulative probability of breast cancer-specific and all-cause mortality. We tested the association of preoperative MRI with all-cause mortality using a Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

917 (20.6%) women underwent preoperative MRI. No significant difference in the cumulative probability of breast cancer-specific mortality was found. We observed no significant difference in the hazard of all-cause mortality during the follow-up period after adjusting for sociodemographic and clinical factors among women with MRI (HR 0.90; 95% CI 0.72–1.12) compared to those without MRI.

Conclusion

Our findings of no breast cancer-specific or all-cause mortality benefit supplement prior results that indicate a lack of improvement in surgical outcomes associated with use of preoperative MRI. In combination with other reports, the results of this analysis highlight the importance of exploring the benefit of preoperative MRI in patient-reported outcomes such as women’s decision quality and confidence levels with decisions involving treatment choices.

     

Trastuzumab uptake and its relation to efficacy in an animal model of HER2-positive breast cancer brain metastasis

Purpose

To examine whether baseline sleep duration or changes in sleep duration are associated with breast cancer prognosis among early-stage breast cancer survivors in the multi-center Women’s Healthy Eating and Living Study.

Methods

Data were collected from 1995 to 2010. Analysis included 3047 women. Sleep duration was self-reported at baseline and follow-up intervals. Cox proportional hazard models were used to investigate whether baseline sleep duration was associated with breast cancer recurrence, breast cancer-specific mortality, and all-cause mortality. Time-varying models investigated whether changes in sleep duration were associated with breast cancer prognosis.

Results

Compared to women who slept 7–8 h/night at baseline, sleeping ≥9 h/night was associated with a 48% increased risk of breast cancer recurrence (Hazard ratio [HR] 1.48, 95% Confidence interval [CI] 1.01, 2.00), a 52% increased risk of breast cancer-specific mortality (HR 1.52, 95% CI 1.09, 2.13), and a 43% greater risk of all-cause mortality (HR 1.43, 95% CI 1.07, 1.92). Time-varying models showed analogous increased risk in those who inconsistently slept ≥9 h/night (all P < 0.05), but not in those who consistently slept ≥9 h/night.

Conclusions

Consistent long or short sleep, which may reflect inter-individual variability in the need for sleep, does not appear to influence prognosis among early-stage breast cancer survivors.

     

Aspirin use and the incidence of breast,colon, ovarian,and pancreatic cancers in elderly women in the Iowa Women’s Health Study

Purpose

Few studies have evaluated the chemopreventive effect of aspirin on the cancer risk in elderly women. We examined associations between frequency, dose, and duration of aspirin use with incidence of 719 aspirin-sensitive cancers (cancers of colon, pancreas, breast, and ovaries) in the Iowa Women’s Health Study (IWHS), a prospective cohort of women over 70 years old.

Methods

Aspirin frequency, dose, and duration were self-reported in the 2004 IWHS questionnaire. Women were followed-up to 2011. Cancer cases were ascertained by linkage to the Iowa State Health Registry. Cox proportional hazard models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI).

Results

Among the 14,386 women, 30 % were nonusers of aspirin; 34 % used low-dose aspirin, and 36 % used regular- or high-dose aspirin. Compared with nonuse of aspirin, the HRs (95 % CI) for incidence of aspirin-sensitive cancers were 0.87 (0.72–1.06) for regular to high doses of aspirin use, 0.95 (0.80–1.13) for aspirin use 6+ times per week, and 0.93 (0.74–1.17) for aspirin use for 10+ years. For cumulative aspirin use, HR (95 % CI) was 0.87 (0.70–1.09) for >60,000 mg of aspirin per year and 0.95 (0.75–1.21) for >280,000 mg of aspirin in their lifetime, versus nonuse of aspirin. Results were similar for the all-cause cancer death as an endpoint, with a significant inverse association observed between lifetime aspirin dose and cancer mortality [<95,000 mg vs nonuser HR 0.76 (0.61–0.95)].

Conclusions

These findings suggest that aspirin use may prevent incident breast, colon, pancreatic, and ovarian cancer in elderly women.

     

Obesity and mortality after locoregional breast cancer diagnosis

Purpose

Higher mortality after a breast cancer diagnosis has been observed among women who are obese. We investigated the relationships between body mass index (BMI) and all-cause or breast cancer-specific mortality after a diagnosis of locoregional breast cancer.

Methods

Women diagnosed in 2004 with AJCC Stage I, II, or III breast cancer (n?=?5394) were identified from a population-based National Program of Cancer Registries (NPCR) patterns of care study (POC-BP) drawing from registries in seven U.S. states. Differences in overall and breast cancer-specific mortality were investigated using Cox proportional hazards regression models adjusting for demographic and clinical covariates, including age- and stage-based subgroup analyses.

Results

In women 70 or older, higher BMI was associated with lower overall mortality (HR for a 5 kg/m² difference in BMI?=?0.85, 95% CI 0.75–0.95). There was no significant association between BMI and overall mortality for women under 70. BMI was not associated with breast cancer death in the full sample, but among women with Stage I disease; those in the highest BMI category had significantly higher breast cancer mortality (HR for BMI?≥?35 kg/m² vs. 18.5–24.9 kg/m²?=?4.74, 95% CI 1.78–12.59).

Conclusions

Contrary to our hypothesis, greater BMI was not associated with higher overall mortality. Among older women, BMI was inversely related to overall mortality, with a null association among younger women. Higher BMI was associated with breast cancer mortality among women with Stage I disease, but not among women with more advanced disease.

     

Racial differences in the effects of comorbidity on breast cancer-specific survival

Purpose

In an effort to explain racial disparities in breast cancer survival, this study aimed to investigate how comorbidity affects breast cancer-specific mortality by race.

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using the Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results—Medicare linked data including 68,090 women 66+ years, who were diagnosed with stage I–III breast cancer in the United States from 1994 to 2004. Hospital and outpatient claims from the year prior to breast cancer diagnosis were used to identify comorbid conditions and patients were followed for survival through 2010.

Results

Competing risk survival analysis failed to demonstrate any negative comorbidity effects on breast cancer-specific survival for black women. An increased breast cancer-specific mortality hazard was observed for white women who had diabetes without complication relative to white women without this condition after adjusting for age and year of diagnosis (hazard ratio: 1.22, 95% confidence interval 1.13, 1.30). The Cochran–Armitage Test showed diabetes was associated with a later stage of diagnosis (p < 0.01) and a more aggressive tumor grade (p < 0.01) among white women in the study population.

Conclusion

Race specific comorbidity effects do not explain breast cancer-specific survival disparities. However, the relationship between diabetes and breast cancer, including the role of aggressive tumor characteristics, warrants special attention.

     

Frailty and long-term mortality of older breast cancer patients: CALGB 369901 (Alliance)

Purpose

Breast cancer patients aged 65+ (“older”) vary in frailty status. We tested whether a deficits accumulation frailty index predicted long-term mortality.

Methods

Older patients (n = 1280) with non-metastatic, invasive breast cancer were recruited from 78 Alliance sites from 2004 to 2011, with follow-up to 2015. Frailty categories (robust, pre-frail, and frail) were based on 35 baseline illness and function items. Cox proportional hazards and competing risk models were used to calculate all-cause and breast cancer-specific mortality for up to 7 years, respectively. Potential covariates included demographic, psychosocial, and clinical factors, diagnosis year, and care setting.

Results

Patients were 65–91 years old. Most (76.6%) were robust; 18.3% were pre-frail, and 5.1% frail. Robust patients tended to receive more chemotherapy ± hormonal therapy (vs. hormonal) than pre-frail or frail patients (45% vs. 37 and 36%, p = 0.06), and had the highest adherence to hormonal therapy. The adjusted hazard ratios for all-cause mortality (n = 209 deaths) were 1.7 (95% CI 1.2–2.4) and 2.4 (95% CI 1.5–4.0) for pre-frail and frail versus robust women, respectively, with an absolute mortality difference of 23.5%. The adjusted hazard of breast cancer death (n?99) was 3.1 (95% CI 1.6–5.8) times higher for frail versus robust patients (absolute difference of 14%). Treatment differences did not account for the relationships between frailty and mortality.

Conclusions

Most older breast cancer patients are robust and could consider chemotherapy where otherwise indicated. Patients who are frail or pre-frail have elevated long-term all-cause and breast cancer mortality. Frailty indices could be useful for treatment decision-making and care planning with older patients.

     

Healthy lifestyle impact on breast cancer-specific and all-cause mortality

Purpose

While several studies have evaluated the association of combined lifestyle factors on breast cancer-specific mortality, few have included Hispanic women. We constructed a “healthy behavior index” (HBI) and evaluated its associations with mortality in non-Hispanic White (NHW) and Hispanic women diagnosed with breast cancer from the southwestern U.S.

Methods

Diet and lifestyle questionnaires were analyzed for 837 women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer (1999–2004) in New Mexico as part of the 4-Corners Women’s Health Study. An HBI score ranging from 0 to 12 was based on dietary pattern, physical activity, smoking, alcohol consumption, and body size and shape, with increasing scores representing less healthy characteristics. Hazard ratios for mortality over 14 years of follow-up were estimated for HBI quartiles using Cox proportional hazards models adjusting for education and stratified by ethnicity and stage at diagnosis.

Results

A significant increasing trend was observed across HBI quartiles among all women, NHW women, and those diagnosed with localized or regional/distant stage of disease for all-cause (AC) mortality (p-trend = 0.006, 0.002, 0.03, respectively). AC mortality was increased >2-fold for all women and NHW women in HBI Q4 versus Q1 (HR = 2.18, 2.65, respectively). The association was stronger in women with regional/distant than localized stage of disease (HR = 2.62, 1.94, respectively). Associations for Hispanics or breast cancer-specific mortality were not significant.

Conclusions

These findings indicate the associations between the HBI and AC mortality, which appear to differ by ethnicity and stage at diagnosis. Interventions for breast cancer survivors should address the combination of lifestyle factors on prognosis.

     

Postdiagnostic use of β-blockers and other antihypertensive drugs and the risk of recurrence and mortality in head and neck cancer patients: an observational study of 10,414 person–years of follow-up

Introduction

Growing evidence indicates that norepinephrine promotes cancer growth and metastasis whereas β-blockers decrease these risks. This study aimed to examine the clinical impact of β-blockers and other hypertensive drugs on disease recurrence and survival in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).

Materials and methods

This study analyzed a cohort of 1274 consecutive patients who received definitive treatments for previously untreated HNSCC at our tertiary referral center between January 2001 and December 2012. Antihypertensive use was considered positive if patients were on medication from HNSCC diagnosis to at least 1 year after treatment initiation. Cox proportional hazard models were utilized to determine associations between antihypertensive drugs and recurrence, survival, and second primary cancer (SPC) occurrence.

Results

Hypertension itself was not a significant variable of recurrence and survival and no antihypertensive drug use affected SPC occurrence (all P > 0.1). After controlling for clinical factors, calcium-channel blocker use remained an independent variable for index cancer recurrence, and β-blocker use was significantly associated with poor cancer-specific mortality, competing mortality, and all-cause mortality (all P < 0.05). β-blocker use significantly affected competing and all-cause mortalities in normotensive patients, and calcium-channel blocker use affected index cancer recurrence in normotensive patients (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions

Our data show that β-blocker use is associated with decreased survival and calcium-channel blockers is associated with increased cancer recurrence in patients of HNSCC.

     

Swedish prospective multicenter trial evaluating sentinel lymph node biopsy after neoadjuvant systemic therapy in clinically node-positive breast cancer

Purpose

The clinical significance of nodal micrometastasis is debated. Our primary objective was to determine whether, among women with early-stage breast cancer, regional lymph node micrometastasis is an independent risk factor for mortality. The secondary objective was to identify subgroups of women who have the highest risk of death from early-stage breast cancer with micrometastases.

Methods

206,625 women diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer (IA, IB, and IIA) from 2004 to 2012 were identified in the Surveillance, epidemiology, and end results database. Nodal status was classified as node-negative, isolated-tumor cells, micrometastases, and macrometastases. Women were classified into eight ethnic groups. Logistic regression was performed to estimate the odds ratio of being diagnosed with micrometastases. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to estimate the hazard ratio (HR) of breast cancer-specific death associated with micrometastases for each ethnic group.

Results

The 8-year breast cancer-specific survival was 96.6 % for women with node-negative breast cancers and was 94.6 % for women with micrometastases (adjusted HR 1.49; 95 % CI 1.31–1.69; P < .001). Among women with micrometastases, the 8-year breast cancer-specific survival was 95.1 % for white women and was 90.6 % for black women (HR 1.80; 95 % CI 1.29–2.52; P = .0006).

Conclusion(s)

Nodal micrometastasis is an independent risk factor for breast cancer mortality among women with early-stage breast cancer. Black women are more likely to die from breast cancer with micrometastases than white women.

     

21-Gene recurrence score and locoregional recurrence in lymph node-negative,estrogen receptor-positive breast cancer

Purpose

To examine the clinical outcomes of postmenopausal African American (AA) women treated with strut-adjusted volume implant brachytherapy-based accelerated partial breast irradiation for early-stage node-negative breast cancer.

Methods

From January 2011 through April 2015, a total of 50 AA patients, meeting criteria to receive APBI as defined by the National Surgical Adjuvant Breast and Bowel Project B-39 (NASBP B-39), completed treatment with the SAVI breast brachytherapy device at Howard University Hospital.

Results

4% ipsilateral breast tumor recurrence and 2% breast cancer-specific mortality was observed. Median follow-up has been 3.8 years with a range of 0.29–4.69 years. Dosimetry parameters yielded a median V90 of 96.22% (range 77.86–105.00%), a median V150 of 31.27 cm³ (range 23.30–49.15 mL), and a median V200 of 14.53 cm³ (range 5.92–19.38 mL). Cosmesis was excellent. There were no infections, persistent seromas, fat necrosis, or telangiectasias observed to date.

Conclusions

This study is the first study to describe the use of SAVI as APBI in an exclusively AA population. This study has demonstrated excellent local control in appropriately selected patients, similar clinical outcomes to the general population, and good to excellent cosmesis in AA women to date.

     

Limited influence of germline genetic variation on all-cause mortality in women with early onset breast cancer: evidence from gene-based tests,single-marker regression,and whole-genome prediction

Purpose

Women diagnosed with breast cancer have heterogeneous survival outcomes that cannot be fully explained by known prognostic factors, and germline variation is a plausible but unconfirmed risk factor.

Methods

We used three approaches to test the hypothesis that germline variation drives some differences in survival: mortality loci identification, tumor aggressiveness loci identification, and whole-genome prediction. The 2954 study participants were women diagnosed with breast cancer before age 50, with a median follow-up of 15 years who were genotyped on an exome array. We first searched for loci in gene regions that were associated with all-cause mortality. We next searched for loci in gene regions associated with five histopathological characteristics related to tumor aggressiveness. Last, we also predicted 10-year all-cause mortality on a subset of 1903 participants (3,245,343 variants after imputation) using whole-genome prediction methods.

Results

No risk loci for mortality or tumor aggressiveness were identified. This null result persisted when restricting to women with estrogen receptor-positive tumors, when examining suggestive loci in an independent study, and when restricting to previously published risk loci. Additionally, the whole-genome prediction model also found no evidence to support an association.

Conclusion

Despite multiple complementary approaches, our study found no evidence that mortality in women with early onset breast cancer is influenced by germline variation.

     

Active smoking and survival following breast cancer among African American and non-African American women in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study

Purpose

To examine racial differences in smoking rates at the time of breast cancer diagnosis and subsequent survival among African American and non-African American women in the Carolina Breast Cancer Study (Phases I/II), a large population-based North Carolina study.

Methods

We interviewed 788 African American and 1,020 Caucasian/non-African American women diagnosed with invasive breast cancer from 1993 to 2000, to assess smoking history. After a median follow-up of 13.56 years, we identified 717 deaths using the National Death Index; 427 were breast cancer-related. We used Cox regression to examine associations between self-reported measures of smoking and breast cancer-specific survival within 5 years and up to 18 years after diagnosis conditional on 5-year survival. We examined race and estrogen receptor status as potential modifiers.

Results

Current (vs never) smoking was not associated with 5-year survival; however, risk of 13 year conditional breast cancer-specific mortality was elevated among women who were current smokers at diagnosis (HR 1.54, 95% CI 1.06–2.25), compared to never smokers. Although smoking rates were similar among African American (22.0%) and non-African American (22.1%) women, risk of breast cancer-specific mortality was elevated among African American (HR 1.69, 95% CI 1.00–2.85), but only weakly elevated among non-African American (HR 1.22, 95% CI 0.70–2.14) current (vs. never) smokers (P _Interaction = 0.30). Risk of breast cancer-specific mortality was also elevated among current (vs never) smokers diagnosed with ER^? (HR 2.58, 95% CI 1.35–4.93), but not ER⁺ (HR 1.11, 95% CI 0.69–1.78) tumors (P _Interaction = 0.17).

Conclusions

Smoking may negatively impact long-term survival following breast cancer. Racial differences in long-term survival, as related to smoking, may be driven by ER status, rather than by differences in smoking patterns.

     

Screening status,tumour subtype,and breast cancer survival: a national population-based analysis

Purpose

Nearly half of the 3.5 million female breast cancer survivors in the US are aged 65 years or older at diagnosis, yet little is known about associations of obesity and physical activity with breast cancer-specific mortality (BCSM) among older survivors.

Methods

Between 1992 and 2013, 5254 women in the Cancer Prevention Study-II Nutrition Cohort were diagnosed with local or regional breast cancer among whom 1771 deaths (505 breast cancer deaths) occurred. Multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to examine associations of pre- and post-diagnosis body mass index (BMI) and moderate–vigorous physical activity (MET-hours/week) with mortality outcomes stratified by age at diagnosis (<65, ≥65 years).

Results

Among women ≥65 years of age at diagnosis (n = 4226), pre- and post-diagnosis BMI (per 5 kg/m²) were associated with a higher risk of BCSM (pre-diagnosis, HR 1.27, 95% CI 1.14–1.41; post-diagnosis, HR 1.19, 95% CI 1.04, 1.36); neither pre- nor post-diagnosis physical activity was associated with BCSM. Among women <65 years of age at diagnosis (n = 1028), BMI at both time points were not significantly associated with BCSM; however, there was a significant inverse trend of post-diagnosis physical activity with BCSM (P-trend = 0.01). Among both age groups, BMI and physical activity, regardless of when assessed, were significantly associated with all-cause mortality.

Conclusions

Higher BMI, pre- or post-diagnosis, was associated with a higher risk of BCSM in older patients, independent of comorbidities and stage at diagnosis. Weight management should be discussed even with women aged 65 years or older to lower rates of BCSM.

     

No association between low-dose aspirin use and breast cancer outcomes overall: a Swedish population-based study

Background

Results from previous studies indicate that use of low-dose aspirin may improve breast cancer prognosis. We evaluated aspirin use and breast cancer outcomes in relation to clinical characteristics as well as dose and duration of aspirin use.

Methods

We used information from the Regional Breast Cancer Quality-of-Care Registries in three Swedish regions to identify 21,414 women diagnosed with a first stage I–III breast cancer between 1 April 2006 and 31 December 2012. The cohort was further linked to nationwide registers to retrieve information about dispensing low-dose aspirin before and after breast cancer diagnosis, comorbidity and causes of death. In a separate analysis, we investigated time to breast cancer death among 621 women with stage IV disease at diagnosis. Associations were evaluated using a multivariable Cox proportional hazards model.

Results

Among women with stage I–III breast cancer, 2660 (12.4%) used low-dose aspirin shortly before breast cancer diagnosis and 4091 (19.1%) were users during follow-up. Women were followed for a median of 3.8 years after diagnosis. There was no association between aspirin use and breast cancer-specific death in multivariable analyses (use before diagnosis: hazard ratio (HR) 0.93, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.77–1.12; use after diagnosis: HR 1.00, 95% CI 0.74–1.37). Similarly, aspirin use was not associated with risk of first recurrence/metastases in a subgroup of stage I–III breast cancer patients (HR 0.97, 95% CI 0.86–1.10). However, in analyses stratified by stage, an inverse association between low-dose aspirin use after diagnosis and breast cancer death was found for women with stage I tumors (HR 0.53, 95% CI 0.29–0.96). Among women with stage IV disease at diagnosis, aspirin use was not associated with time to breast cancer death (HR 0.91, 95% CI 0.67–1.23).

Conclusion

In this large population-based cohort study there was no evidence that low-dose aspirin use before or after breast cancer diagnosis is associated with a reduced risk of adverse outcomes overall in breast cancer. However, a potential benefit was noted among women with stage I tumors, warranting further investigation.

     

Pre- and postdiagnostic diet in relation to mortality among breast cancer survivors in the CPS-II Nutrition Cohort

Purpose

Due to the limited evidence on the role of diet and cause-specific mortality among breast cancer survivors, current nutrition guidelines for this population are consistent with those for cancer prevention. We evaluated whether diets consistent with the American Cancer Society recommendations for cancer prevention were associated with risk of death in breast cancer survivors.

Methods

Participants reported information on diet and other factors at baseline in 1992–1993 and twice during follow-up. A nine-point score reflecting concordance with diet recommendations was calculated. Multivariable-adjusted relative risks (RR) and 95 % confidence intervals (CI) for diet score in relation to overall and cause-specific mortality were computed using Cox proportional hazards regression methods.

Results

Among 4,452 women diagnosed with locally and regionally staged breast cancer after baseline and until 2011, 1,204 died during follow-up through 2012 (398 from breast cancer). Prediagnostic diet score was not associated with mortality from any cause. Postdiagnostic diet score was associated with neither breast cancer-specific mortality (RR 1.44, 95 % CI 0.90–2.30 for scores 6–9 vs 0–2) nor cardiovascular disease mortality (RR 0.81, 95 % CI 0.47–1.39), but compared to a score of 0–2, a score of 6–9 was associated with a borderline lower risk of other causes of death (RR 0.78, 95 % CI 0.56–1.07, p _trend = 0.03; per two-point increase in score RR 0.88, 95 % CI 0.79–0.99). Of diet score components, only limiting red and processed meat consumption was associated with statistically significantly lower risk of total, CVD, and other non-breast cancer mortality.

Conclusions

Diets consistent with guidelines for cancer prevention were not associated with breast cancer-specific mortality. However, their association with other causes of mortality underscores the importance of consuming a healthy diet in this population.

     

Physical Activity and Breast Cancer: an Opportunity to Improve Outcomes

Purpose of Review

To review current data regarding physical activity and breast cancer including cancer risk, cancer prognosis, treatment-related side effects, and patient-reported outcomes. We will summarize current physical activity guidelines for cancer survivors and discuss opportunities to study and implement physical activity programs in cancer survivors.

Recent Findings

Observational evidence suggests that physical activity is associated with a reduced risk of developing breast cancer, a reduced risk of breast cancer recurrence, and improved breast cancer-specific and all-cause mortality. Studies also show that physical activity improves factors important to quality of life such as chemotherapy-related fatigue and the aromatase inhibitor-induced musculoskeletal syndrome.

Summary

Physical activity is an important component of breast cancer survivorship. Challenges exist in conducting clinical trials of physical activity and implementing current guidelines, yet there are significant opportunities to advance the field through translational research efforts and utilization of available community resources.

     

Contribution of clinical and socioeconomic factors to differences in breast cancer subtype and mortality between Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women

Purpose

To assess tumor subtype distribution and the relative contribution of clinical and sociodemographic factors on breast cancer survival between Hispanic and non-Hispanic whites (NHWs).

Methods

We analyzed data from the California Cancer Registry, which included 29,626 Hispanic and 99,862 NHW female invasive breast cancer cases diagnosed from 2004 to 2014. Logistic regression was used to assess ethnic differences in tumor subtype, and Cox proportional hazard modeling to assess differences in breast cancer survival.

Results

Hispanics compared to NHWs had higher odds of having triple-negative (OR = 1.29; 95% CI 1.23–1.35) and HER2-overexpressing tumors (OR = 1.19; 95% CI 1.14–1.25 [HR?] and OR = 1.39; 95% CI 1.31–1.48 [HR+]). In adjusted models, Hispanic women had a higher risk of breast cancer mortality than NHW women (mortality rate ratio [MRR] = 1.24; 95% CI 1.19–1.28). Clinical factors accounted for most of the mortality difference (MRR = 1.05; 95% CI 1.01–1.09); however, neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) and health insurance together accounted for all of the mortality difference (MRR = 1.01; 95% CI 0.97–1.05).

Conclusions

Addressing SES disparities, including increasing access to health care, may be critical to overcoming poorer breast cancer outcomes in Hispanics.

     

Aspirin use is associated with lower mammographic density in a large screening cohort

Background

Observational and biologic studies suggest that aspirin is a promising prevention therapy for breast cancer. However, clinical trials to date have not corroborated this evidence, potentially due to study design. We evaluated the effect of aspirin on mammographic density (MD), an established modifiable risk factor for breast cancer.

Methods

Electronic medical records from the University of Pennsylvania were evaluated for women who underwent screening mammography, saw their primary care provider, and had a confirmed list of medications during 2012–2013. Logistic regression was performed to test for associations between clinically recorded MD and aspirin use, after adjusting for age, body mass index (BMI), and ethnicity.

Results

We identified 26,000 eligible women. Mean age was 57.3, mean BMI was 28.9 kg/m², 41% were African American, and 19.7% reported current aspirin use. Aspirin users were significantly older and had higher BMI. There was an independent, inverse association between aspirin use and MD (P _trend < 0.001). Women with extremely dense breasts were less likely to be aspirin users than women with scattered fibroglandular density (OR 0.73; 95% CI 0.57–0.93). This association was stronger for younger women (P = 0.0002) and for African Americans (P = 0.011). The likelihood of having dense breasts decreased with aspirin dose (P _trend = 0.007), suggesting a dose response.

Conclusions

We demonstrate an independent association between aspirin use and lower MD in a large, diverse screening cohort. This association was stronger for younger and African American women: two groups at greater risk for ER? breast cancer. These results contribute to the importance of investigating aspirin for breast cancer prevention.

     

Health-related behaviors and mortality outcomes in women diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ

Purpose

Women diagnosed with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast are at greater risk of dying from cardiovascular disease and other causes than from breast cancer, yet associations between health-related behaviors and mortality outcomes after DCIS have not been well studied.

Methods

We examined the association of body mass index, physical activity, alcohol consumption, and smoking with mortality among 1925 women with DCIS in the Wisconsin In Situ Cohort study. Behaviors were self-reported through baseline interviews and up to three follow-up questionnaires. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for mortality after DCIS, with adjustment for patient sociodemographic, comorbidity, and treatment factors.

Results

Over a mean of 6.7 years of follow-up, 196 deaths occurred. All-cause mortality was elevated among women who were current smokers 1 year prior to diagnosis (HR?=?2.17 [95% CI 1.48, 3.18] vs. never smokers) and reduced among women with greater physical activity levels prior to diagnosis (HR?=?0.55 [95% CI: 0.35, 0.87] for ≥5 h per week vs. no activity). Moderate levels of post-diagnosis physical activity were associated with reduced all-cause mortality (HR?=?0.31 [95% CI 0.14, 0.68] for 2–5 h per week vs. no activity). Cancer-specific mortality was elevated among smokers and cardiovascular disease mortality decreased with increasing physical activity levels.

Conclusions

There are numerous associations between health-related behaviors and mortality outcomes after a DCIS diagnosis.

Implications for cancer survivors

Women diagnosed with DCIS should be aware that their health-related behaviors are associated with mortality outcomes.

     

Alcohol consumption and rates of cancer screening: Is cancer risk overestimated?

Purpose

Alcohol consumption in moderation has been associated with incident breast and colorectal cancer. Whether these associations may be overestimated by more intensive screening among moderate consumers is unknown. This study examines the associations of alcohol consumption with cancer screening.

Methods

In six iterations (2002–2012) of the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System, a telephone survey of US adults conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, participants reported their alcohol use and recent screening for several cancers. We assessed whether alcohol use was associated with breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening after sample-weighted adjustment for sociodemographic and healthcare utilization factors.

Results

Among 2,191,483 survey respondents, 80.5 % (weighted prevalence) of eligible individuals reported having an up-to-date mammogram, 87.7 % having a Pap test, and 56.8 % having a colonoscopy/sigmoidoscopy. For all breast, cervical, and colorectal cancers, moderate consumers were more likely to report screening (84.7, 91.2, 61.1 %) than non-consumers, even after multivariate adjustment (adjusted prevalence ratios 1.04, 1.04, 1.07; p < 0.001 for all). Among binge consumers, the weighted prevalence was lower than that in non-binge consumers (binge vs non-binge moderate consumers 80.5 vs 85.5 %, 89.9 vs 91.8 %, 52.8 vs 63.3 %) but still higher than non-consumers for breast and cervical cancer screening.

Conclusions

In the USA, moderate consumers consistently report a greater likelihood of breast, cervical, and colorectal cancer screening than do non-consumers. Given the likelihood of overdiagnosis, further study of alcohol consumption and cancer should include cancer-specific mortality, which is less sensitive to differences in screening and detection.