Environment and Breast Cancer: Science Review
About
Association of family history and other risk factors with breast cancer risk among Japanese premenopausal and postmenopausal women
Hirose, K., Tajima, K., Hamajima, N., Takezaki, T., Inoue, M., Kuroishi, T., Miura, S., Tokudome, S. Cancer Causes & Control. 2001. 12:4, 349-58.
Topic area
Body size - Physical Activity
Body size - Physical Activity
Study design
Other: case-referent
Other: case-referent
Funding agency
Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan
Ministry of Health and Welfare, Japan
Study Participants
Number of Cases
1584 (927 pre) (655 post)
1584 (927 pre) (655 post)
Menopausal Status
Post menopausal
The menopausal status of women included in this study is listed here.
Pre menopausalPost menopausal
Number of Controls
Referents: 15,331
Referents: 15,331
Participant selection: Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Criteria used to select participants in the study.
In: women in the Hospital-based Epidemiologic Research Program at Aichi Cancer Center (HERPACC) older than 30 at baseline; visited Aichi Cancer Center between 1/89 and 12/97 (cases and referents)
Ex: women with medical menopause; women investigated for suspicion of cancer by a physician at the center; women diagnosed with a previous cancer
Comment about participation selection
Strengths: large study with many cases and referents; analyzed physical activity; effect modification with family history; separated analysis by menopausal status; study was free of response information bias since data was collected prior to diagnosis; family history risk results were consistent with previous studies; compared lifestyle characteristics between outpatients and the general population and confirmed that they are not substantially different Limitations: possible bias caused by the use of hospital-based non-cancer patients as referents; anthropometric data self-reported; possible selection bias from the large number of candidates that were excluded;
Strengths: large study with many cases and referents; analyzed physical activity; effect modification with family history; separated analysis by menopausal status; study was free of response information bias since data was collected prior to diagnosis; family history risk results were consistent with previous studies; compared lifestyle characteristics between outpatients and the general population and confirmed that they are not substantially different Limitations: possible bias caused by the use of hospital-based non-cancer patients as referents; anthropometric data self-reported; possible selection bias from the large number of candidates that were excluded;
Exposure Investigated
Exposures investigated
Height, weight, weight at around 20 years, BMI, BMI at around 20, and change of BMI
Height, weight, weight at around 20 years, BMI, BMI at around 20, and change of BMI
How exposure was measured
Questionnaire, self-administered
Questionnaire, self-administered
Exposure assessment comment
Anthropometric data self-reported
Anthropometric data self-reported
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, Confounders: age, age at menarche, menstrual regularity in the 20s, age at first birth, parity, current BMI, BMI at around 20
Genetic characterization included
If the study analyzed relationships between environmental factors and inherited genetic variations, this field will be marked “Yes.” “No”, if not.
No
Description of major analysis
Effect modification: family history of breast cancer
Effect modification: family history of breast cancer
Strength of associations reported
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk in women without a family history of breast cancer and height, >159 cm vs. <150 cm, OR=1.47(1.1-2.0) trend p=0.005
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk in women without a family history of breast cancer and weight, >57 kg vs. <47 kg, OR=1.96(1.5-2.5) trend p<0.001
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk in women with a family history of breast cancer and weight, >57 kg vs. <47 kg, OR=5.24(1.6-17.0) trend p=0.02
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk in women without a family history of breast cancer and BMI, >25 vs. <20, OR= 2.17(1.6-2.9) trend p<0.001
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk in women without a family history of breast cancer and height, >159 cm vs. <150 cm, OR=1.47(1.1-2.0) trend p=0.005
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk in women without a family history of breast cancer and weight, >57 kg vs. <47 kg, OR=1.96(1.5-2.5) trend p<0.001
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk in women with a family history of breast cancer and weight, >57 kg vs. <47 kg, OR=5.24(1.6-17.0) trend p=0.02
Association between postmenopausal breast cancer risk in women without a family history of breast cancer and BMI, >25 vs. <20, OR= 2.17(1.6-2.9) trend p<0.001
Author address
Division of Epidemiology and Prevention, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute, Japan.
Division of Epidemiology and Prevention, Aichi Cancer Center Research Institute, Japan.
Controls participation rate
Greater than 70%
Greater than 70%