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Breast Cancer Research
Published in: Breast Cancer Research 4/2006

Open Access 01-08-2006 | Research article

Hormone-related risk factors for breast cancer in women under age 50 years by estrogen and progesterone receptor status: results from a case–control and a case–case comparison

Authors: Huiyan Ma, Leslie Bernstein, Ronald K Ross, Giske Ursin

Published in: Breast Cancer Research | Issue 4/2006

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Abstract

Introduction

It has been suggested that hormonal risk factors act predominantly on estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor (ER/PR)-positive breast cancers. However, the data have been inconsistent, especially in younger women.

Methods

We evaluated the impact of age at menarche, pregnancy history, duration of breastfeeding, body mass index, combined oral contraceptive use, and alcohol consumption on breast cancer risk by ER/PR status in 1,725 population-based case patients and 440 control subjects aged 20 to 49 years identified within neighborhoods of case patients. We used multivariable unconditional logistic regression methods to conduct case–control comparisons overall as well as by ER/PR status of the cases, and to compare ER+PR+ with ER-PR- case patients.

Results

The number of full-term pregnancies was inversely associated with the risk of ER+PR+ breast cancer (p trend = 0.005), whereas recent average alcohol consumption was associated with an increased risk of ER+PR+ breast cancer (p trend = 0.03). Neither of these two factors was associated with the risk of ER- PR- breast cancer. Late age at menarche and a longer duration of breastfeeding were both associated with decreased breast cancer risk, irrespective of receptor status (all p trend≤ 0.03).

Conclusion

Our results suggest that the number of full-term pregnancies and recent alcohol consumption affect breast cancer risk in younger women predominantly through estrogen and progesterone mediated by their respective receptors. Late age at menarche and breastfeeding may act through different hormonal mechanisms.
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Metadata
Title
Hormone-related risk factors for breast cancer in women under age 50 years by estrogen and progesterone receptor status: results from a case–control and a case–case comparison
Authors
Huiyan Ma
Leslie Bernstein
Ronald K Ross
Giske Ursin
Publication date
01-08-2006
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
Breast Cancer Research / Issue 4/2006
Electronic ISSN: 1465-542X
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/bcr1514

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