Environment and Breast Cancer: Science Review

Limited association between a catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) polymorphism and breast cancer risk in Japan. [see comment]
Hamajima, N., Matsuo, K., Tajima, K., Mizutani, M., Iwata, H., Iwase, T., Miura, S., Oya, H., Obata, Y. International Journal of Clinical Oncology. 2001. 6:1, 13-8.

Topic area
Body size - Genetic variability
Body size - Genetic variability
Study design
Hospital-based case-control study
Hospital-based case-control study
Funding agency
Other: Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, and
Other: Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, and

Study Participants
Number of Cases
150
150
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.
Histopathologically confirmed prevalent cases recruited from cancer hospital. Controls were non-cancer outpatients at same hospital seen for annual health check up or during same period
Exposures investigated
BMI, COMT allele frequency, used PCR-RFLP
BMI, COMT allele frequency, 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
In the full sample, age-adjusted OR=1.46 (CI: 0.90-2.36) for heterozygotes and OR=0.99 (0.49-2.02) for the low activity homozygotes
In BMI<22, heterozygotes showed an OR=1.87 (CI: 0.92-3.78) and low activity homozygotes showed an OR=1.03 (CI:0.38-2.77)
In BMI >=22, heterzygotes showed an OR=1.29 (CI:0.62-2.70) and low activity homozygotes showed an OR=0.90 (CI: 0.28-2.85)
In the full sample, age-adjusted OR=1.46 (CI: 0.90-2.36) for heterozygotes and OR=0.99 (0.49-2.02) for the low activity homozygotes
In BMI<22, heterozygotes showed an OR=1.87 (CI: 0.92-3.78) and low activity homozygotes showed an OR=1.03 (CI:0.38-2.77)
In BMI >=22, heterzygotes showed an OR=1.29 (CI:0.62-2.70) and low activity homozygotes showed an OR=0.90 (CI: 0.28-2.85)

Controls participation rate
Not reported
Not reported