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01-05-2007 | Original Paper

Estimating age-specific breast cancer risks: a descriptive tool to identify age interactions

Authors: William F. Anderson, Rayna K. Matsuno, Mark E. Sherman, Jolanta Lissowska, Mitchell H. Gail, Louise A. Brinton, Xiaohong (Rose) Yang, Beata Peplonska, Bingshu E. Chen, Philip S. Rosenberg, Nilanjan Chatterjee, Neonila Szeszenia-Dąbrowska, Alicja Bardin-Mikolajczak, Witold Zatonski, Susan S. Devesa, Montserrat García-Closas

Published in: Cancer Causes & Control | Issue 4/2007

Abstract

Objective

Clarifying age-specific female breast cancer risks and interactions may provide important etiologic clues.

Method

Using a population-based case–control study in Poland (2000–2003) of 2,386 incident breast cancer cases and 2,502 control subjects aged 25–74 years, we estimated age-specific breast cancer incidence rates according to risk factors.

Results

Breast cancer risks were elevated among women with positive family history (FH), younger age at menarche, older age at first full-term birth, nulliparity, exogenous hormonal usage, and reduced physical activity (PA). Notwithstanding overall risks, we observed statistically significant quantitative (non-crossover) and qualitative (crossover) age interactions for all risk factors except for FH and PA. For example, nulliparity compared to parity reduced breast cancer risk among women ages 25–39 years then rates crossed or reversed, after which nulliparity increased relative risks among women ages 40–74 years.

Conclusion

Though quantitative age interactions could be expected, qualitative interactions were somewhat counterintuitive. If confirmed in other populations, qualitative interactions for a continuous covariate such as age will be difficult to reconcile in a sequential (multistep or monolithic) ‘stochastic’ breast cancer model. Alternatively, the reversal of relative risks among younger and older women suggests subgroup heterogeneity with different etiologic mechanisms for early-onset and late-onset breast cancer types.

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Title: Estimating age-specific breast cancer risks: a descriptive tool to identify age interactions
Authors: William F. Anderson
Rayna K. Matsuno
Mark E. Sherman
Jolanta Lissowska
Mitchell H. Gail
Louise A. Brinton
Xiaohong (Rose) Yang
Beata Peplonska
Bingshu E. Chen
Philip S. Rosenberg
Nilanjan Chatterjee
Neonila Szeszenia-Dąbrowska
Alicja Bardin-Mikolajczak
Witold Zatonski
Susan S. Devesa
Montserrat García-Closas
Publication date: 01-05-2007
Publisher: Kluwer Academic Publishers
Published in: Cancer Causes & Control / Issue 4/2007
Print ISSN: 0957-5243
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7225
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-006-0092-9

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Abstract

Objective

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