Environment and Breast Cancer: Science Review
About
Postmenopausal obesity as a breast cancer risk factor according to estrogen and progesterone receptor status (Japan)
Yoo, K., Tajima, K., Park, S., Kang, D., Kim, S., Hirose, K., Takeuchi, T., Miura, S. Cancer Letters. 2001. 167:1, 57-63.
Topic area
Body size
Body size
Study design
Hospital based case-control
Hospital based case-control
Funding agency
Other: Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare
Other: Japanese Ministry of Health and Welfare
Study Participants
Number of Cases
1154 (invasive only)
1154 (invasive only)
Menopausal Status
Post menopausal
The menopausal status of women included in this study is listed here.
Pre menopausalPost menopausal
Number of Controls
Control: 21,714
Control: 21,714
Participant selection: Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Criteria used to select participants in the study.
In: diagnosed with invasive breast cancer at the Aichi Cancer Center Hospital between 1/88 and 12/92 (cases); outpatients of Aichi Cancer Center Hospital between 1/88 and 12/92; age 25 or older at baseline; completed a self-administered questionnaire
Ex: women with a past history of cancer; women with missing observations in three out of four reproductive variables
Comment about participation selection
Strengths: large case control study; analyzed pre and post menopausal breast cancer risk by estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor status Limitations: presence of ERs in the breast cancer tissue were determined using two different methods during the study; only 40% of the cases had receptor assays performed which leaves open the possibility of selection bias; insufficient cases when stratified by receptor status combined with menopausal status; questionnaire self-administered (method of obtaining anthropometric data was not reported)
Strengths: large case control study; analyzed pre and post menopausal breast cancer risk by estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor status Limitations: presence of ERs in the breast cancer tissue were determined using two different methods during the study; only 40% of the cases had receptor assays performed which leaves open the possibility of selection bias; insufficient cases when stratified by receptor status combined with menopausal status; questionnaire self-administered (method of obtaining anthropometric data was not reported)
Exposure Investigated
Exposures investigated
Height, weight and BMI
Height, weight and BMI
How exposure was measured
Questionnaire, self-administered
Questionnaire, self-administered
Exposure assessment comment
Method of obtaining anthropometric data was not reported
Method of obtaining anthropometric data was not reported
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.
Japanese 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, Confounders: age at interview, occupations, family history of breast cancer, age at menarche, menstrual regularity, age at menopause, age at first full term pregnancy, number of pregnancies, duration of breast feeding, alcohol consu
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 Modifiers: Estrogen and Progesterone receptor status ER+, ER-. PR+, PR-
Effect Modifiers: Estrogen and Progesterone receptor status ER+, ER-. PR+, PR-
Strength of associations reported
Association between breast cancer risk and weight, > 55 kg vs. < 49 kg, OR=1.46(1.24-1.72)
Association between breast cancer risk and BMI, >22 vs. <20, OR=1.57(1.30-1.89)
Association between PR+ breast cancer risk and weight, per 5 kg increments, OR=1.16(1.06-1.27)
Association between PR+ breast cancer risk and BMI, per 1 unit increments, OR=1.07(1.03-1.12)
Association between PR- breast cancer risk and weight, per 5 kg increments, OR=1.18(1.09-1.27)
Association between PR- breast cancer risk and BMI, per 1 unit increments, OR=1.07(1.03-1.11)
Association between breast cancer risk and weight, > 55 kg vs. < 49 kg, OR=1.46(1.24-1.72)
Association between breast cancer risk and BMI, >22 vs. <20, OR=1.57(1.30-1.89)
Association between PR+ breast cancer risk and weight, per 5 kg increments, OR=1.16(1.06-1.27)
Association between PR+ breast cancer risk and BMI, per 1 unit increments, OR=1.07(1.03-1.12)
Association between PR- breast cancer risk and weight, per 5 kg increments, OR=1.18(1.09-1.27)
Association between PR- breast cancer risk and BMI, per 1 unit increments, OR=1.07(1.03-1.11)
Results Comments
Association between breast cancer and anthropometric indices did not differ significantly according to ER status.
Association between breast cancer and anthropometric indices did not differ significantly according to ER status.
Author address
Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 28 Yongon-dong, Chongno-gu, 110-799, Seoul, South Korea. kyyoo@plaza.snu.ac.kr
Department of Preventive Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, 28 Yongon-dong, Chongno-gu, 110-799, Seoul, South Korea. kyyoo@plaza.snu.ac.kr
Controls participation rate
Not reported
Not reported