Evidence that adult life risk factors influence the expression of familial propensity to breast cancer.
In the context of a study in Athens comprising 692 cases and 1,261 controls, we have evaluated the effect on breast cancer risk of the joint action of first-degree relative family history and established adult life risk factors. We created a risk score by assigning the value of 1 to women at high risk with respect to any of these risk factors and 0 otherwise, and summing these values, using weights equal to the excess odds ratio. The odds ratio for a tertile increment in the risk score was 1.5 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.3-1.8] among women without family history, and 2.3 (95% CI = 1.1-5.1) for women with family history. Our findings imply that women with a family history of breast cancer may benefit disproportionately by reduced exposure to adult life risk factors.
Katsouyanni
K
K
Department of Hygiene and Epidemiology, University of Athens Medical School, Goudi, Greece.
Signorello
L B
LB
Lagiou
P
P
Egan
K
K
Trichopoulos
D
D
D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015984:Causality; D003043:Cocarcinogenesis; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D006115:Greece; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications; D016017:Odds Ratio; D012098:Reproduction; D018570:Risk Assessment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014504:Urban Health