Lifetime tobacco smoke exposure and breast cancer incidence.
OBJECTIVE
We analyzed data from a case-control study to assess the association between lifetime tobacco smoke exposure and breast cancer incidence.


METHODS
Incident breast cancer cases were identified in the Massachusetts Cancer Registry and population controls were sampled from state Medicare lists and driver's license rosters. Demographic, lifestyle, medical history, reproductive history, and passive and active smoking exposure variables were assessed by telephone interview. We defined passive and active tobacco smoke exposure categories reflective of lifetime exposure patterns, and compared breast cancer risk among these groups while adjusting for age, body mass index, menopausal status, parity, alcohol consumption, and family history of breast cancer. We also adjusted passive smoking associations for active smoking status and vice versa.


RESULTS
We observed no association between ever being passively exposed to tobacco smoke and risk of incident breast cancer (adjusted OR: 1.2; 95% CI: 0.8, 1.8) nor between active smoking and breast cancer (adjusted OR for [23 pack-years compared to nonsmokers: 0.9; 95% CI: 0.7, 1.3). Null effects persisted in finer categorizations of active and passive exposure.


CONCLUSIONS
We observed no causal associations between active or passive tobacco smoke exposures and incident breast cancer, consistent with results from most prospective cohort studies.
Ahern
Thomas P
TP
Department of Epidemiology, Boston University School of Public Health, 715 Albany Street T3E, Boston, MA 02118, USA. tpa@bu.edu
Lash
Timothy L
TL
Egan
Kathleen M
KM
Baron
John A
JA
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015987:Effect Modifier, Epidemiologic; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008593:Menopause / Q000502:physiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution