Environment and Breast Cancer: Science Review
About
Catechol-O-methyltransferase and breast cancer risk
Millikan, R. C., Pittman, G. S., Tse, C. K., Duell, E., Newman, B., Savitz, D., Moorman, P. G., Boissy, R. J., Bell, D. A. Carcinogenesis. 1998. 19:11, 1943-7.
Topic area
Body size - Genetic variability
Body size - Genetic variability
Study design
Population based case-control
Population based case-control
Funding agency
NCI, NIEHS, DWH
NCI, NIEHS, DWH
Study Participants
Number of Cases
654
654
Menopausal Status
Post menopausal
The menopausal status of women included in this study is listed here.
Pre menopausalPost menopausal
Participant selection: Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Criteria used to select participants in the study.
Participants of the Carolina Breast Cancer Study. Histologically confirmed cases were identified through North Carolina cancer registry. Controls were frequency matched to cases by 5-year age interval and race, selected from North Carolina DMV and US Health Care Financing Administration.
Comment about participation selection
Comparable numbers of White and Black participants
Comparable numbers of White and Black participants
Exposures investigated
BMI, COMT allele frequencies, used PCR-RFLP
BMI, COMT allele frequencies, used PCR-RFLP
How exposure was measured
Biological Questionnaire, in-person
Biological Questionnaire, in-person
Statistical Analysis
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.
Sample included comparable numbers of White and African American women
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 cancer risk, including effect modification by BMI and physical activity
Logistic regression analysis of COMT genotype and cancer risk, including effect modification by BMI and physical activity
Strength of associations reported
Overall adjusted RR (CI) were 0.8 (0.6-1.1) for HL type and 0.8 (0.6-1.1) for LL type (the same)
No difference by Black and White women.
Using median of BMI of 27.8 as cutpoint, no association between BMI and genotype on BC risk stratified by menopausal status (i.e., no increased risk for postmenopausal women with >median BMI)
Physically inactive women with LL type showed decreased BC risk (premenopausal OR=0.5 (CI: 0.2-0.9) and postmenopausal OR=0.5 (CI: 0.3-0.9) compared to HH type, either active or inactive
Overall adjusted RR (CI) were 0.8 (0.6-1.1) for HL type and 0.8 (0.6-1.1) for LL type (the same)
No difference by Black and White women.
Using median of BMI of 27.8 as cutpoint, no association between BMI and genotype on BC risk stratified by menopausal status (i.e., no increased risk for postmenopausal women with >median BMI)
Physically inactive women with LL type showed decreased BC risk (premenopausal OR=0.5 (CI: 0.2-0.9) and postmenopausal OR=0.5 (CI: 0.3-0.9) compared to HH type, either active or inactive
Results Comments
Assessment of physical activity based on one question asking about regular activities in the last 3 months
Assessment of physical activity based on one question asking about regular activities in the last 3 months
Controls participation rate
Less than 70%
Less than 70%