Risk factors for HR- and HER2-defined breast cancer in Slovenian postmenopausal women.

Abstract

OBJECTIVE:

The study aimed to investigate the influence of some generally recognized risk factors for hormone receptor (HR)- and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-defined breast cancer among Slovenian postmenopausal women.

METHOD:

Eligible women diagnosed with breast cancer were compared with 709 controls of the same age and ethnicity. Immunohistochemistry and FISH analyses were used to classify cases into molecular subtypes: 454 HR(+), 106 HR(-), 81 HER2(+) and 603 HER2(-). Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS:

Overweight and obese women were at increased risk of HR(+), HER2(-) and of HR(+), HR(-), HER2(-) tumors, respectively. Women who started menstruating at the age of 11 years or earlier were at decreased risk of ER(-)PR(-) tumors. Users of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were negatively associated with HR(+) and HER2(-) tumors. The inverse effect was most pronounced with the use of estrogen-only HRT, and longer duration of HRT use did not result in a significant change in risk. In contrast, combined HRT decreased the risk of HER2(+) tumors. Having a first-degree relative with breast and/or ovarian cancer increased the risk of HR(+) and HER2(-) tumors.

CONCLUSION:

We conclude that certain breast cancer risk factors may vary by molecular subtypes. According to our results, HRT use may have a greater influence on HR (+) and HER2(-) breast cancers and the risk of HER2-defined breast cancer may differ with respect to the regimen of HRT.

• Authors: J-Z Cerne, P Ferk, S Frkovic-Grazio, B Leskosek, K Gersak
• Journal: Climacteric : the journal of the International Menopause Society (Climacteric) Vol. 15 Issue 1 Pg. 68-74 (Feb 2012) ISSN: 1473-0804 [Electronic] England
• PMID: 22132797 (Publication Type: Journal Article, Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't)

Chemical References

• Receptors, Estrogen
• Receptors, Progesterone
• Receptor, ErbB-2

Topics

• Age Factors
• Aged
• Breast Neoplasms (diagnosis, epidemiology, metabolism)
• Confidence Intervals
• Estrogen Replacement Therapy (adverse effects, methods, statistics & numerical data)
• Female
• Humans
• Immunohistochemistry
• In Situ Hybridization, Fluorescence
• Menarche
• Middle Aged
• Obesity (epidemiology)
• Odds Ratio
• Organs at Risk
• Ovarian Neoplasms (diagnosis, epidemiology, metabolism)
• Receptor, ErbB-2 (metabolism)
• Receptors, Estrogen (metabolism)
• Receptors, Progesterone (metabolism)
• Risk Factors
• Slovenia (epidemiology)
• Time