Environment and Breast Cancer: Science Review
About
Serum carotenoids and breast cancer
Toniolo, P., Van Kappel, A. L., Akhmedkhanov, A., Ferrari, P., Kato, I., Shore, R. E., Riboli, E. Am J Epidemiol. 2001. 153:12, 1142-7.
Topic area
Diet
Diet
Study design
Nested case-control
Nested case-control
Funding agency
NCI
NCI
Study Participants
Number of Cases
270
270
Menopausal Status
Pre menopausal
The menopausal status of women included in this study is listed here.
Post menopausalPre menopausal
Number in Cohort
Controls: 270/ cohort: 14,275
Controls: 270/ cohort: 14,275
Cohort participation rate
Not available
Not available
Participant selection: Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Criteria used to select participants in the study.
In: Volunteer women participating to the New York University Women's Health Study, ages 35-65 at recruitment in 1985-1991
Ex:: Cancer diagnosis 6 months or less after cohort enrollment
Exposure Investigated
Exposures investigated
Beta-carotenoid
Beta-carotenoid
How exposure was measured
Biological
Biological
Exposure assessment comment
Only one serum sample measure, storage length between 6 months and 11.2 years, transatlantic tranportation of serum samples
Only one serum sample measure, storage length between 6 months and 11.2 years, transatlantic tranportation of serum samples
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.
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.
Not considered: BMI, parity, race, alcohol consumption
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
OR with 95% CI, lowest versus highest quintile of serum level, follow-up 4-10 years
OR with 95% CI, lowest versus highest quintile of serum level, follow-up 4-10 years
Strength of associations reported
OR 2.21 (1.29-3.79)
OR 2.21 (1.29-3.79)
Results Comments
Evident increase in the risk of breast cancer with decreasing serum concentration of beta-carotene.
Evident increase in the risk of breast cancer with decreasing serum concentration of beta-carotene.
Author address
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA. paolo.toniolo@med.nyu.edu
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, New York University School of Medicine, New York, NY 10016, USA. paolo.toniolo@med.nyu.edu