Reproductive factors, hormone use, estrogen receptor expression and risk of non small-cell lung cancer in women.
OBJECTIVE
Estrogen receptor (ER) expression in lung tumors suggests that estrogens may play a role in the development of lung cancer. We evaluated the role of hormone-related factors in determining risk of non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in women. We also evaluated whether risk factors were differentially associated with cytoplasmic ER-alpha and/or nuclear ER-beta expression-defined NSCLC in postmenopausal women.


METHODS
Population-based participants included women aged 18 to 74 years diagnosed with NSCLC in metropolitan Detroit between November 1, 2001 and October 31, 2005. Population-based controls were identified through random digit dialing, matched to patient cases on race and 5-year age group. Interview data were analyzed for 488 patient cases (241 with tumor ER results) and 498 controls.


RESULTS
Increased duration of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use in quartiles was associated with decreased risk of NSCLC in postmenopausal women (odds ratio = 0.88; 95% CI, 0.78 to 1.00; P = .04), adjusting for age, race, pack-years, education, family history of lung cancer, current body mass index, years exposed to second-hand smoke in the workplace, and obstructive lung disease history. Among postmenopausal women, ever using HRT, increasing HRT duration of use in quartiles, and increasing quartiles of estrogen use were significant predictors of reduced risk of NSCLC characterized as ER-alpha and/or ER-beta positive. None of the hormone-related variables were associated with nuclear ER-alpha- or ER-beta-negative NSCLC.


CONCLUSIONS
These findings suggest that postmenopausal hormone exposures are associated with reduced risk of ER-alpha- and ER-beta-expressing NSCLC. Understanding tumor characteristics may direct development of targeted treatment for this disease.
Schwartz
Ann G
AG
Population Studies and Prevention Program, Karmanos Cancer Institute, 110 E Warren Ave, Detroit, MI 48201, USA. schwarta@karmanos.org
Wenzlaff
Angela S
AS
Prysak
Geoffrey M
GM
Murphy
Valerie
V
Cote
Michele L
ML
Brooks
Sam C
SC
Skafar
Debra F
DF
Lonardo
Fulvio
F
D002289:Carcinoma, Non-Small-Cell Lung / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha / Q000096:biosynthesis; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta / Q000096:biosynthesis; D015914:Estrogen Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D005260:Female; D020249:Hormone Replacement Therapy / Q000009:adverse effects; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000378:metabolism*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017698:Postmenopause; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D012098:Reproduction; D012307:Risk Factors
D047628:Estrogen Receptor alpha; D047629:Estrogen Receptor beta; D011960:Receptors, Estrogen