Environment and Breast Cancer: Science Review
About
Puberty and genetic susceptibility to breast cancer in a case-control study in twins.[see comment]
Hamilton, A. S., Mack, T. M. New England Journal of Medicine. 2003. 348:23, 2313-22.
Topic area
Body size
Body size
Study design
Other: case-control study in twins
Other: case-control study in twins
Funding agency
ACS NCI DOD
ACS NCI DOD
Study Participants
Menopausal Status
Post menopausal
The menopausal status of women included in this study is listed here.
Pre menopausalPost menopausal
Number of Controls
1,811 pairs of female twins (one or both of whom had breast cancer)
1,811 pairs of female twins (one or both of whom had breast cancer)
Participant selection: Inclusion and exclusion criteria
Criteria used to select participants in the study.
In: female twin pairs who responded to an advertisement in North America seeking twins with cancer and other chronic diseases between 1980 and 1991; pairs of female twins of whom one or both had breast cancer
Ex: women with insufficient responses to questionnaires
Comment about participation selection
Strengths: analyzed association between breast cancer and anthropometric variables between female twins of whom one or both had breast cancer by zygosity and concordance; high participation rate Limitations: not a population based study; not a prospective study; twins were ascertained as case-control pairs, matched according to the level of motivation to participate in the study and other unmeasurable confounding factor; anthropometric data self-reported
Strengths: analyzed association between breast cancer and anthropometric variables between female twins of whom one or both had breast cancer by zygosity and concordance; high participation rate Limitations: not a population based study; not a prospective study; twins were ascertained as case-control pairs, matched according to the level of motivation to participate in the study and other unmeasurable confounding factor; anthropometric data self-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
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: parity, age at first full term pregnancy, age at first menarche
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: zygosity and concordance (evidence of genetic or familial risk of breast cancer)
Effect modifiers: zygosity and concordance (evidence of genetic or familial risk of breast cancer)
Strength of associations reported
Association between breast cancer and greater height at age 20 amongst monozygotic twins concordant (evidence of genetic or familial risk of breast cancer) for cancer, OR=1.0(0.7-1.6)
Association between breast cancer and greater weight at age 20 amongst monozygotic women concordant for cancer, OR=1.1(0.7-1.6)
Association between breast cancer and greater BMI at age 20 amongst monozygotic women concordant for cancer, OR=0.9(0.6-1.4)
Association between breast cancer and greater BMI at age 40 amongst monozygotic women concordant for cancer, OR=1.2(0.8-1.9)
Association between breast cancer and greater height at age 20 amongst monozygotic twins concordant (evidence of genetic or familial risk of breast cancer) for cancer, OR=1.0(0.7-1.6)
Association between breast cancer and greater weight at age 20 amongst monozygotic women concordant for cancer, OR=1.1(0.7-1.6)
Association between breast cancer and greater BMI at age 20 amongst monozygotic women concordant for cancer, OR=0.9(0.6-1.4)
Association between breast cancer and greater BMI at age 40 amongst monozygotic women concordant for cancer, OR=1.2(0.8-1.9)