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Breast Cancer Research
Published in: Breast Cancer Research 1/2020

Open Access 01-12-2020 | Breast Cancer | Research article

Aspirin use and risk of breast cancer in African American women

Authors: Kimberly A. Bertrand, Traci N. Bethea, Hanna Gerlovin, Patricia F. Coogan, Lauren Barber, Lynn Rosenberg, Julie R. Palmer

Published in: Breast Cancer Research | Issue 1/2020

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Abstract

Background

Use of aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been hypothesized to be associated with reduced risk of breast cancer; however, results of epidemiological studies have been mixed. Few studies have investigated these associations among African American women.

Methods

To assess the relation of aspirin use to risk of breast cancer in African American women, we conducted a prospective analysis within the Black Women’s Health Study, an ongoing nationwide cohort study of 59,000 African American women. On baseline and follow-up questionnaires, women reported regular use of aspirin (defined as use at least 3 days per week) and years of use. During follow-up from 1995 through 2017, 1919 invasive breast cancers occurred, including 1112 ER+, 569 ER−, and 284 triple-negative (TN) tumors. We used age-stratified Cox proportional hazards regression models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations of aspirin use with risk of ER+, ER−, and TN breast cancer, adjusted for established breast cancer risk factors.

Results

Overall, the HR for current regular use of aspirin relative to non-use was 0.92 (95% CI 0.81, 1.04). For ER+, ER−, and TN breast cancer, corresponding HRs were 0.98 (0.84, 1.15), 0.81 (0.64, 1.04), and 0.70 (0.49, 0.99), respectively.

Conclusions

Our findings with regard to ER− and TN breast cancer are consistent with hypothesized inflammatory mechanisms of ER− and TN breast cancer, rather than hormone-dependent pathways. Aspirin may represent a potential opportunity for chemoprevention of ER− and TN breast cancer.
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Metadata
Title
Aspirin use and risk of breast cancer in African American women
Authors
Kimberly A. Bertrand
Traci N. Bethea
Hanna Gerlovin
Patricia F. Coogan
Lauren Barber
Lynn Rosenberg
Julie R. Palmer
Publication date
01-12-2020
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Breast Cancer Research / Issue 1/2020
Electronic ISSN: 1465-542X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13058-020-01335-1

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