Environment and Breast Cancer: Science Review
About
An association between the allele coding for a low activity variant of catechol-O-methyltransferase and the risk for breast cancer
Lavigne, J. A., Helzlsouer, K. J., Huang, H. Y., Strickland, P. T., Bell, D. A., Selmin, O., Watson, M. A., Hoffman, S., Comstock, G. W., Yager, J. D. Cancer Research. 1997. 57:24, 5493-7.
Topic area
Body size - Genetic variability
Body size - Genetic variability
Study design
Population based case-control study
Population based case-control study
Funding agency
NIH, DOD
NIH, DOD
Study Participants
Number of Cases
112
112
Menopausal Status
Post meopausal
The menopausal status of women included in this study is listed here.
Pre menopausalPost meopausal
Participant selection: Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Criteria used to select participants in the study.
Incident cases of the Washington County Maryland Research Specimen Bank identified via linkage through Washington County Cancer Registry. Disease-free specimen bank members matched 1:1 with controls based on age, race, time of blood donation, and menopausal status.
Exposures investigated
BMI, COMT allele frequencies, used PCR-RFLP
BMI, COMT allele frequencies, used PCR-RFLP
How exposure was measured
Biological Questionnaire, self-administered
Biological Questionnaire, self-administered
Breast cancer outcome investigated
Primary breast cancer
Primary breast cancer
Ethnic groups with separate analysis
If this study provided a separate analysis by ethnic or racial group, the groups are listed here.
No
Confounders considered
Other breast cancer risk factors, such as family history, age at first birth, and hormone replacement therapy use, that were taken into account in the study.
Adequately controlled
Genetic characterization included
If the study analyzed relationships between environmental factors and inherited genetic variations, this field will be marked “Yes.” “No”, if not.
Yes
Description of major analysis
Logistic regression analysis of COMT genotype and breast cancer, including effect modification by BMI
Logistic regression analysis of COMT genotype and breast cancer, including effect modification by BMI
Strength of associations reported
Low activity COMT allele in postmenopausal women associated with increased risk in heterozygotes (OR=1.7, CI: 0.77-3.75) and homozygotes (OR=2.18, CI: 0.93-5.11)
Postmenopausal women with BMI >24.47 showed significant increased risk for homozygotes (OR=3.58, CI:1.07-11.98)
There was a statistically significant trend for increased risk with allele dose
Low activity COMT allele in postmenopausal women associated with increased risk in heterozygotes (OR=1.7, CI: 0.77-3.75) and homozygotes (OR=2.18, CI: 0.93-5.11)
Postmenopausal women with BMI >24.47 showed significant increased risk for homozygotes (OR=3.58, CI:1.07-11.98)
There was a statistically significant trend for increased risk with allele dose
Controls participation rate
Greater than 70%
Greater than 70%