Reproductive factors and risk of primary brain tumors in women.
Gender-specific incidence patterns and the presence of hormonal receptors on tumor cells suggest that sex hormones may play a role in the onset of primary brain tumors. However, epidemiological studies on the relation of hormonal risk factors to the risk of brain tumors have been inconsistent. We examined the role of reproductive factors in the onset of glioma and meningioma in a case-control study conducted in the Southeastern US that included 507 glioma cases, 247 meningioma cases, and 695 community-based and friend controls. Unconditional logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) adjusting for age, race, US state of residence, and education. An older age at menarche was associated with an increased risk of glioma (≥ 15 vs. ≤ 12 years: OR 1.65; 95% CI 1.11-2.45), with a stronger association observed in pre-menopausal (OR 2.22; 95% CI 1.12-4.39) than post-menopausal (OR 1.55; 95% CI 0.93-2.58) women. When compared to controls, meningioma cases were more likely to have undergone natural menopause (OR 1.52; 95% CI 1.04-2.21) whereas glioma cases were less likely to be long term users of oral contraceptives (OR 0.47; 95% CI 0.33-0.68). Increasing parity was not related to the risk of either tumor. Current findings are consistent with a limited role for hormones in the onset of brain tumors in women. Results contribute to a growing body of evidence that a later age at menarche increases the risk of glioma in women.
Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
Gabriella M
GM
Anic
Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
Melissa H
MH
Madden
Neuro-oncology Program, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35294, USA.
L Burton
LB
Nabors
Department of Neurosurgery, Emory School of Medicine, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
Jeffrey J
JJ
Olson
Norton Cancer Institute, Louisville, KY, 40202, USA.
Renato V
RV
LaRocca
Biostatistics and Bioinformatics Department, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
Zachary J
ZJ
Thompson
Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
Shitaldas J
SJ
Pamnani
Department of Neurooncology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA.
Peter A
PA
Forsyth
Department of Neurological Surgery, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, TN, 37232, USA.
Reid C
RC
Thompson
Department of Cancer Epidemiology, H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute, 12902 Magnolia Drive, Tampa, FL, 33612, USA. kathleen.egan@moffitt.org.
Kathleen M
KM
Egan
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005260:Female; D005910:Glioma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008572:Menarche; D008579:Meningioma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008593:Menopause; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D010298:Parity; D055703:Reproductive Physiological Phenomena; D012306:Risk; D015144:Southeastern United States / Q000453:epidemiology; D055815:Young Adult
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral