Environment and Breast Cancer: Science Review
About
1,1-Dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene and polychlorinated biphenyls and breast cancer: combined analysis of five U.S. studies
Laden, F., Collman, G., Iwamoto, K., Alberg, A. J., Berkowitz, G. S., Freudenheim, J. L., Hankinson, S. E., Helzlsouer, K. J., Holford, T. R., Huang, H. Y., Moysich, K. B., Tessari, J. D., Wolff, M. S., Zheng, T., Hunter, D. J. Journal of the National Cancer Institute. 2001. 93:10, 768-76.
Topic area
Environmental pollutant - Organochlorine, pesticide, PCB, DDE
Environmental pollutant - Organochlorine, pesticide, PCB, DDE
Study design
Other: Meta analysis
Other: Meta analysis
Study Participants
Number of Cases
1400
1400
Menopausal Status
Post menopausal
The menopausal status of women included in this study is listed here.
Pre menopausalPost menopausal
Number of Controls
Controls: 1642
Controls: 1642
Participant selection: Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Criteria used to select participants in the study.
Participants in five previous studies (meta analysis)
Exposure Investigated
Exposures investigated
Total PCBs (different studies include different congeners), DDE lipid-adjusted serum level in study-specific quintiles
Total PCBs (different studies include different congeners), DDE lipid-adjusted serum level in study-specific quintiles
How exposure was measured
Biological
Biological
Exposure assessment comment
PCB congeners may not have the same effects, so analysis of total PCBs may be problematic. Blood levels near diagnosis, particularly in a population years after the chemicals were banned, may not be representative of etiologically relevant exposure.
PCB congeners may not have the same effects, so analysis of total PCBs may be problematic. Blood levels near diagnosis, particularly in a population years after the chemicals were banned, may not be representative of etiologically relevant exposure.
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.
Race, menopausal status, age, age squared. Also considered, body mass index, hormone replacement therapy, parity, and lactation.
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
Conditional logistic regression; unconditional logistic regression. Analyses stratified by parity and lactation, body mass index.
Conditional logistic regression; unconditional logistic regression. Analyses stratified by parity and lactation, body mass index.
Strength of associations reported
Total lipid-adjusted PCBs multivariate pooled fifth compared with first quintile OR 0.94 (95% CI 0.73-1.21); DDE pooled OR 0.99 (95% CI 0.77-1.27). No evidence of association
Total lipid-adjusted PCBs multivariate pooled fifth compared with first quintile OR 0.94 (95% CI 0.73-1.21); DDE pooled OR 0.99 (95% CI 0.77-1.27). No evidence of association
Author address
Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. francine.laden@channing.harvard.edu
Channing Laboratory, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA. francine.laden@channing.harvard.edu