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Abstract
A hospital-based case-control study of the association between tobacco smoking, alcohol drinking and several relevant dietary items and prostate cancer was carried out in the National Cancer Institute of Uruguay between January 1988 and December 1994. The sample included 156 patients with histologically proven prostatic cancer and 302 controls with a variety of neoplastic and non-neoplastic diseases. The results showed increased risks of prostate cancer associated with beer drinking, meat, milk and fruit consumption, after adjusting for major confounders. The possible role of N-nitroso compounds from beer in prostatic carcinogenesis is discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
- E De Stefani
- Registro Nacional de Cancer, Montevideo, Uruguay
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2
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Yedjou CG, Tchounwou PB, Payton M, Miele L, Fonseca DD, Lowe L, Alo RA. Assessing the Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Breast Cancer Mortality in the United States. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:E486. [PMID: 28475137 PMCID: PMC5451937 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14050486] [Citation(s) in RCA: 100] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/28/2016] [Revised: 04/22/2017] [Accepted: 04/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is the second leading cause of cancer related deaths among women aged 40-55 in the United States and currently affects more than one in ten women worldwide. It is also one of the most diagnosed cancers in women both in wealthy and poor countries. Fortunately, the mortality rate from breast cancer has decreased in recent years due to increased emphasis on early detection and more effective treatments in White population. Although the mortality rates have declined in some ethnic populations, the overall cancer incidence among African American and Hispanic populations has continued to grow. The goal of the present review article was to highlight similarities and differences in breast cancer morbidity and mortality rates primarily among African American women compared to White women in the United States. To reach our goal, we conducted a search of articles in journals with a primary focus on minority health, and authors who had published articles on racial/ethnic disparity related to breast cancer patients. A systematic search of original research was conducted using MEDLINE, PUBMED and Google Scholar databases. We found that racial/ethnic disparities in breast cancer may be attributed to a large number of clinical and non-clinical risk factors including lack of medical coverage, barriers to early detection and screening, more advanced stage of disease at diagnosis among minorities, and unequal access to improvements in cancer treatment. Many African American women have frequent unknown or unstaged breast cancers than White women. These risk factors may explain the differences in breast cancer treatment and survival rate between African American women and White women. New strategies and approaches are needed to promote breast cancer prevention, improve survival rate, reduce breast cancer mortality, and ultimately improve the health outcomes of racial/ethnic minorities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clement G Yedjou
- Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Laboratory, Research Centers in Minority Institutio (RCMI)-Center for Environmental Health, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Jackson State University, 1400 Lynch Street, Box 18750, Jackson, MS 39217, USA.
| | - Paul B Tchounwou
- Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Laboratory, Research Centers in Minority Institutio (RCMI)-Center for Environmental Health, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Jackson State University, 1400 Lynch Street, Box 18750, Jackson, MS 39217, USA.
| | - Marinelle Payton
- Center of Excellence in Minority Health and Health Disparities, School of Public Health, Jackson State University, Jackson Medical Mall-Thad Cochran Center, 350 West Woodrow Wilson Avenue, Jackson, MS 39213, USA.
| | - Lucio Miele
- Department of Genetics, LSU Health Sciences Center, School of Medicine, 533 Bolivar Street, Room 657, New Orleans, LA 70112, USA.
| | - Duber D Fonseca
- Natural Chemotherapeutics Research Laboratory, Research Centers in Minority Institutio (RCMI)-Center for Environmental Health, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Jackson State University, 1400 Lynch Street, Box 18750, Jackson, MS 39217, USA.
| | - Leroy Lowe
- Lancaster Environment Centre, Lancaster University, Bailrigg, Lancaster LA1 4YW, UK.
| | - Richard A Alo
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, College of Science, Engineering and Technology, Jackson State University, 1400 Lynch Street, Box 18750, Jackson, MS 39217, USA.
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3
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Burger M, Brönstrup A, Pietrzik K. Derivation of tolerable upper alcohol intake levels in Germany: a systematic review of risks and benefits of moderate alcohol consumption. Prev Med 2004; 39:111-27. [PMID: 15207992 DOI: 10.1016/j.ypmed.2003.11.011] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The objective of this study is to weigh the risks of moderate alcohol consumption against its benefits and, as a result, to derive tolerable upper alcohol intake levels (TUALs) for the German adult population. METHODS Human studies assessing the effects of moderate alcohol consumption (< or = 40 g/day) on coronary heart disease, stroke, blood pressure, diseases of the liver, gallbladder, bile duct, and pancreas, cancer of the mouth/pharynx/larynx/oesophagus, stomach, colon/rectum, and breast, foetal alcohol syndrome/foetal alcohol effects, as well as all-cause mortality, published in the 10-15 years before 1999, have been systematically reviewed. The quality of studies has been evaluated using a self-constructed evaluation scheme. As a result of comparing the critical endpoints of alcohol intake related to morbidity and mortality, the TUALs have been derived. RESULTS The TUALs have been set at 10-12 g/day for healthy women and 20-24 g/day for healthy men of the adult population (18 years and older). Additional guidelines on alcohol use have been defined, taking into account further important aspects like alcohol consumption patterns and high-risk groups. CONCLUSIONS The TUALs are not intended to be recommended intake levels. However, if the TUALs and the additional guidelines are followed, a relation of alcohol consumption to an increased risk of alcohol-associated diseases is unlikely for the majority of the population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martina Burger
- Department of Epidemiology and Health Reporting, Robert Koch-Institute, D-13353 Berlin, Germany.
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Hamajima N, Hirose K, Tajima K, Rohan T, Calle EE, Heath CW, Coates RJ, Liff JM, Talamini R, Chantarakul N, Koetsawang S, Rachawat D, Morabia A, Schuman L, Stewart W, Szklo M, Bain C, Schofield F, Siskind V, Band P, Coldman AJ, Gallagher RP, Hislop TG, Yang P, Kolonel LM, Nomura AMY, Hu J, Johnson KC, Mao Y, De Sanjosé S, Lee N, Marchbanks P, Ory HW, Peterson HB, Wilson HG, Wingo PA, Ebeling K, Kunde D, Nishan P, Hopper JL, Colditz G, Gajalanski V, Martin N, Pardthaisong T, Silpisornkosol S, Theetranont C, Boosiri B, Chutivongse S, Jimakorn P, Virutamasen P, Wongsrichanalai C, Ewertz M, Adami HO, Bergkvist L, Magnusson C, Persson I, Chang-Claude J, Paul C, Skegg DCG, Spears GFS, Boyle P, Evstifeeva T, Daling JR, Hutchinson WB, Malone K, Noonan EA, Stanford JL, Thomas DB, Weiss NS, White E, Andrieu N, Brêmond A, Clavel F, Gairard B, Lansac J, Piana L, Renaud R, Izquierdo A, Viladiu P, Cuevas HR, Ontiveros P, Palet A, Salazar SB, Aristizabel N, Cuadros A, Tryggvadottir L, Tulinius H, Bachelot A, Lê MG, Peto J, Franceschi S, Lubin F, Modan B, Ron E, Wax Y, Friedman GD, Hiatt RA, Levi F, Bishop T, Kosmelj K, Primic-Zakelj M, Ravnihar B, Stare J, Beeson WL, Fraser G, Bullbrook RD, Cuzick J, Duffy SW, Fentiman IS, Hayward JL, Wang DY, McMichael AJ, McPherson K, Hanson RL, Leske MC, Mahoney MC, Nasca PC, Varma AO, Weinstein AL, Moller TR, Olsson H, Ranstam J, Goldbohm RA, van den Brandt PA, Apelo RA, Baens J, de la Cruz JR, Javier B, Lacaya LB, Ngelangel CA, La Vecchia C, Negri E, Marubini E, Ferraroni M, Gerber M, Richardson S, Segala C, Gatei D, Kenya P, Kungu A, Mati JG, Brinton LA, Hoover R, Schairer C, Spirtas R, Lee HP, Rookus MA, van Leeuwen FE, Schoenberg JA, McCredie M, Gammon MD, Clarke EA, Jones L, Neil A, Vessey M, Yeates D, Appleby P, Banks E, Beral V, Bull D, Crossley B, Goodill A, Green J, Hermon C, Key T, Langston N, Lewis C, Reeves G, Collins R, Doll R, Peto R, Mabuchi K, Preston D, Hannaford P, Kay C, Rosero-Bixby L, Gao YT, Jin F, Yuan JM, Wei HY, Yun T, Zhiheng C, Berry G, Cooper Booth J, Jelihovsky T, MacLennan R, Shearman R, Wang QS, Baines CJ, Miller AB, Wall C, Lund E, Stalsberg H, Shu XO, Zheng W, Katsouyanni K, Trichopoulou A, Trichopoulos D, Dabancens A, Martinez L, Molina R, Salas O, Alexander FE, Anderson K, Folsom AR, Hulka BS, Bernstein L, Enger S, Haile RW, Paganini-Hill A, Pike MC, Ross RK, Ursin G, Yu MC, Longnecker MP, Newcomb P, Bergkvist L, Kalache A, Farley TMM, Holck S, Meirik O. Alcohol, tobacco and breast cancer--collaborative reanalysis of individual data from 53 epidemiological studies, including 58,515 women with breast cancer and 95,067 women without the disease. Br J Cancer 2002; 87:1234-45. [PMID: 12439712 PMCID: PMC2562507 DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6600596] [Citation(s) in RCA: 681] [Impact Index Per Article: 31.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/12/2002] [Revised: 08/08/2002] [Accepted: 08/23/2002] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
Alcohol and tobacco consumption are closely correlated and published results on their association with breast cancer have not always allowed adequately for confounding between these exposures. Over 80% of the relevant information worldwide on alcohol and tobacco consumption and breast cancer were collated, checked and analysed centrally. Analyses included 58,515 women with invasive breast cancer and 95,067 controls from 53 studies. Relative risks of breast cancer were estimated, after stratifying by study, age, parity and, where appropriate, women's age when their first child was born and consumption of alcohol and tobacco. The average consumption of alcohol reported by controls from developed countries was 6.0 g per day, i.e. about half a unit/drink of alcohol per day, and was greater in ever-smokers than never-smokers, (8.4 g per day and 5.0 g per day, respectively). Compared with women who reported drinking no alcohol, the relative risk of breast cancer was 1.32 (1.19-1.45, P<0.00001) for an intake of 35-44 g per day alcohol, and 1.46 (1.33-1.61, P<0.00001) for >/=45 g per day alcohol. The relative risk of breast cancer increased by 7.1% (95% CI 5.5-8.7%; P<0.00001) for each additional 10 g per day intake of alcohol, i.e. for each extra unit or drink of alcohol consumed on a daily basis. This increase was the same in ever-smokers and never-smokers (7.1% per 10 g per day, P<0.00001, in each group). By contrast, the relationship between smoking and breast cancer was substantially confounded by the effect of alcohol. When analyses were restricted to 22 255 women with breast cancer and 40 832 controls who reported drinking no alcohol, smoking was not associated with breast cancer (compared to never-smokers, relative risk for ever-smokers=1.03, 95% CI 0.98-1.07, and for current smokers=0.99, 0.92-1.05). The results for alcohol and for tobacco did not vary substantially across studies, study designs, or according to 15 personal characteristics of the women; nor were the findings materially confounded by any of these factors. If the observed relationship for alcohol is causal, these results suggest that about 4% of the breast cancers in developed countries are attributable to alcohol. In developing countries, where alcohol consumption among controls averaged only 0.4 g per day, alcohol would have a negligible effect on the incidence of breast cancer. In conclusion, smoking has little or no independent effect on the risk of developing breast cancer; the effect of alcohol on breast cancer needs to be interpreted in the context of its beneficial effects, in moderation, on cardiovascular disease and its harmful effects on cirrhosis and cancers of the mouth, larynx, oesophagus and liver.
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Affiliation(s)
- N Hamajima
- Cancer Research UK Epidemiology Unit, Gibson Building, Radcliffe Infirmary, Woodstock Road, Oxford OX2 6HE, UK
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5
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Yu H, Berkel J. Do insulin-like growth factors mediate the effect of alcohol on breast cancer risk? Med Hypotheses 1999; 52:491-6. [PMID: 10459827 DOI: 10.1054/mehy.1998.0828] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Despite a large number of epidemiologic studies demonstrating an increased risk of breast cancer in association with alcohol consumption, a causal relationship between alcohol intake and breast cancer risk remains to be determined. Several biological mechanisms have been proposed, but none of them explains well the features of the association, i.e. a modest increase in risk, a limited range of dose-response relationship and no further increase in risk among heavy drinkers. A new mechanism underlying a possible biological role of alcohol in breast cancer is proposed in this paper. Moderate consumption of alcohol increases the production of insulin-like growth factors (IGFs) by the liver and elevated IGFs via circulation stimulate or promote the development and/or growth of breast cancer. The effect of alcohol on IGF production declines among heavy drinkers as alcohol-caused liver-function damage results in no further increase in IGF production. Therefore, compared to moderate drinkers, heavy alcohol users do not have a higher risk of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- H Yu
- Section of Cancer Prevention and Control, Feist-Weiller Cancer Center, Louisiana State University Medical Center, Shreveport 71130-3932, USA.
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6
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Ferraroni M, Decarli A, Franceschi S, La Vecchia C. Alcohol consumption and risk of breast cancer: a multicentre Italian case-control study. Eur J Cancer 1998; 34:1403-9. [PMID: 9849424 DOI: 10.1016/s0959-8049(98)00163-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The relationship between alcohol consumption and breast cancer risk was investigated using data from a co-operative case-control study conducted in Italy between 1991 and 1994 on 2569 incident, histologically confirmed breast cancer cases and 2588 controls in hospital for acute, non-neoplastic, non-hormone related conditions. Overall, 915 (38%) cases and 1048 (43%) controls were abstainers. Compared with them, the odds ratio (OR), adjusted only for age, was 1.31 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.13-1.53) for drinkers and became 1.39 (95% CI 1.(1)21-1.60) after correction for measurement error. The multivariate OR was 1.21 for drinkers of < or = 5.87 g/day and 1.23, 1.19, 1.21, 1.41 for drinkers of 5.88-13.40, 13.41-24.55, 24.56-27.60, > 27.60 g/day, respectively. The trend in risk was significant (chi 2 = 12.28, P < 0.0005). The association was apparently stronger in premenopausal women (OR = 1.80 for > 27.60 g/day). Considering the different types of alcoholic beverages (wine, beer, digestives, grappa and other spirits), a significant direct trend in breast cancer risk was seen for wine with an OR of 1.27 (95% CI 1.06-1.53) for the category > 26.34 g/day. The ORs were also above unity for beer, grappa, digestives and spirits drinkers. No appreciable interaction was observed between alcohol drinking and body mass index, smoking, or any other covariate considered. Thus, the present data, based on a validated alcohol consumption questionnaire and on a population characterised by a relatively high alcohol consumption in women, confirmed that alcohol drinking is moderately related to breast cancer risk. If causal, this association could explain 12% (95% CI, 5-19%) of breast cancers in Italy, thus representing one of the major avoidable risk factor for breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ferraroni
- Istituto di Statistica Medica e Biometria, Università degli Studi di Milano, Milan, Italy
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7
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Abstract
The alcohol-breast cancer hypothesis is important because (1) breast cancer is a major source of morbidity and mortality, (2) alcohol consumption is common, and (3) drinking is modifiable. Reports from more than 50 epidemiologic investigations of this hypothesis have now appeared. A recent metaanalysis of these studies indicates both a modest positive association between alcohol and breast cancer (an approximately 25% increase in risk with daily intake of the equivalent of two drinks) and a dose-response relation. Data suggest that risk increases with consumption of alcohol in general, regardless of beverage type. Several factors, including age, weight, and estrogen usage, have been shown to modify this relation in some studies. The authors discuss a series of methodologic issues in the study of alcohol and breast cancer. These include error in alcohol assessment, difficulties in evaluating small relative risks, and the potential for confounding. Several biologic mechanisms could account for an alcohol-breast cancer relation, with increasing attention being paid to a possible mediating effect of reproductive steroid hormones. Animal studies are a relatively recent development in this area; results have been mixed. Incorporation of more refined temporal, quantitative, and qualitative indicators of alcohol exposure in future epidemiologic studies would be valuable, as would further exploration of the endocrine and other metabolic effects of moderate alcohol consumption. The alcohol-breast cancer hypothesis remains intriguing, but causality has not been established.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Schatzkin
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Maryland 20892
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8
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Roth HD, Levy PS, Shi L, Post E. Alcoholic beverages and breast cancer: some observations on published case-control studies. J Clin Epidemiol 1994; 47:207-16. [PMID: 8113830 DOI: 10.1016/0895-4356(94)90026-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
We identified 38 case-control studies investigating possible associations between alcoholic beverage consumption and cancer of the female breast. Each study was characterized according to design features such as: control type (hospital or community based), risk factors controlled for, matching strategy, and statistical power. We examined the effect of these design variables on several outcome variables including identification of any significant elevation in odds ratio and characterization of any dose-response effect. The major finding of this study is that of a striking difference between hospital and community based controlled studies with respect to (1) the level of any estimated dose-response effect, and (2) the finding of statistically significant elevations in odds ratios at levels of consumption below 4 drinks per week. In summary, the generally weak associations reported in these case-control studies along with the measurement and/or selection biases implied by our findings would lead one to the conclusion that present evidence does not support a causal association. This conclusion seems to be in accord with results from cohort studies and with similar conclusions from several other reviews.
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Affiliation(s)
- H D Roth
- Roth Associates, Inc., Rockville, MD 20852
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9
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Dorgan JF, Reichman ME, Judd JT, Brown C, Longcope C, Schatzkin A, Campbell WS, Franz C, Kahle L, Taylor PR. The relation of reported alcohol ingestion to plasma levels of estrogens and androgens in premenopausal women (Maryland, United States). Cancer Causes Control 1994; 5:53-60. [PMID: 8123779 DOI: 10.1007/bf01830726] [Citation(s) in RCA: 72] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
We undertook a cross-sectional study in 107 premenopausal women in Maryland (United States) of alcohol intake and hormonal status in order to evaluate whether plasma hormone levels might mediate the reported positive relation between alcohol ingestion and breast cancer risk. Alcohol ingestion was estimated using a drinking pattern questionnaire, a food frequency questionnaire, and seven-day food records. Fasting blood specimens were collected on days 5-7, 12-15, and 21-23 of each participant's menstrual cycle and pooled to create follicular, midcycle, and luteal phase samples, respectively, for analysis. Estrone, estrone sulfate, estradiol, androstenedione, and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) in plasma were measured by radioimmunoassay, and sex-hormone binding globulin (SHBG) was measured by an immunoradiometric assay. After adjusting for age, weight, and total energy intake, alcohol ingestion was not associated with plasma estrogens in the follicular, midcycle, or luteal phases of the menstrual cycle, nor with the level of SHBG or DHEAS in plasma averaged from the three phases of the cycle. Alcohol, however, was significantly positively associated with the average level of plasma androstenedione. Based on these cross-sectional findings among premenopausal women, the increased risk of breast cancer related to alcohol ingestion does not appear to be mediated by elevated plasma estrogen levels. Androstenedione, however, may mediate the alcohol/breast cancer-association.
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Affiliation(s)
- J F Dorgan
- Division of Cancer Prevention and Control, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD 20892
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10
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Miller AB, Berrino F, Hill M, Pietinen P, Riboli E, Wahrendorf J. Diet in the aetiology of cancer: a review. Eur J Cancer 1994; 30A:207-20; discussion 220-8. [PMID: 8155395 DOI: 10.1016/0959-8049(94)90088-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 51] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- A B Miller
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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11
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Longnecker MP. Alcoholic beverage consumption in relation to risk of breast cancer: meta-analysis and review. Cancer Causes Control 1994; 5:73-82. [PMID: 8123780 DOI: 10.1007/bf01830729] [Citation(s) in RCA: 199] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
Abstract
The objective was to evaluate the association between alcohol consumption and risk of breast cancer. Data from 38 epidemiologic studies on alcohol consumption in relation to risk of breast cancer in women were included in a meta-analysis. A qualitative literature review also was conducted. The results showed strong evidence of a dose-response relation; however, the slope of the dose-response curve was quite modest. For example, daily consumption of one alcoholic drink was associated with an 11 percent increase (95 percent confidence interval, seven to 16 percent) in the risk of breast cancer compared with nondrinkers. An explanation for the marked variation in results across studies was not found. The modest size of the association and variation in results across studies leave the causal role of alcohol in question. The evidence that alcohol consumption affects the risk of breast cancer, however, appears to be growing stronger.
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Affiliation(s)
- M P Longnecker
- Department of Epidemiology, UCLA School of Public Health 90024-1772
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12
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Giovannucci E, Stampfer MJ, Colditz GA, Manson JE, Rosner BA, Longnecker MP, Speizer FE, Willett WC. Recall and selection bias in reporting past alcohol consumption among breast cancer cases. Cancer Causes Control 1993; 4:441-8. [PMID: 8218876 DOI: 10.1007/bf00050863] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Recall and selection bias are well-recognized potential problems in case-control studies of alcohol and cancer, but few analyses have attempted to assess the direction and the magnitude of these potential biases. We thus examined alcohol consumption in relation to risk of breast cancer using dietary questionnaires administered both before and after the diagnosis of breast cancer in the Nurses' Health Study (United States). Among cohort members who completed a dietary questionnaire in 1986 and who were free of cancer, 616 were diagnosed with breast cancer during follow-up to December 1989. These cases and 1,277 controls (a random sample of cohort members who did not develop cancer up to 1990) then were sent another questionnaire inquiring about their diet in 1985. Four hundred and ninety-four cases (80.2 percent) and 999 controls (78.2 percent) responded to the second questionnaire. The analysis based on the prospective (1986) questionnaire demonstrated an elevated risk of breast cancer among women who drank 30 or more g of alcohol daily (about two drinks) relative to nondrinkers (odds ratio [OR] = 1.55, 95 percent confidence interval [CI] = 1.01-2.39). The analysis based on the retrospective questionnaire also indicated a similar but slightly attenuated elevation of risk of breast cancer among women who drank at least 30 g daily (OR = 1.42, CI = 0.85-2.40). In these data, bias due to selection and recall had only minor effects on reported intake of alcohol consumption.
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13
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Hankin JH. Role of nutrition in women's health: diet and breast cancer. JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN DIETETIC ASSOCIATION 1993; 93:994-9. [PMID: 8395546 DOI: 10.1016/0002-8223(93)92036-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer, which is the most frequently diagnosed malignancy in women today, remains a major threat. As the incidence increases at 1% to 2% annually, breast cancer strikes about 182,000 US women each year and kills 46,000. Known risk factors, such as age, early menarche, late age of first pregnancy, late menopause, family history, and obesity, account for only 40% to 50% of breast cancer cases. Consequently, the etiology of 50% to 60% of cases is unknown. Perhaps no area is more controversial than the link between nutrition and cancer, in particular the association between dietary fat and the development of breast cancer. Findings from animal research and international correlation studies indicate a causal relationship between fat intake and breast cancer. A recent analysis of 12 case-control studies among postmenopausal women also showed a 50% increase in relative risk among women ingesting high intakes of saturated fat. Furthermore, analyses of postmenopausal women in Hawaii estimated that 10% to 20% of breast cancer could be prevented by notably decreasing saturated fat intake. Nevertheless, epidemiologic studies (case-control and cohort) give conflicting results regarding the causal relationship between fat intake and breast cancer. The fact that these studies have failed to consistently show a significant association between dietary fat and breast cancer risk may be attributable to the difficulty of collecting accurate dietary information and other methodologic limitations. Findings are also limited by the lack of data on the influence of a high-fat diet during childhood.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
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Affiliation(s)
- J H Hankin
- Epidemiology Program, Cancer Research Center of Hawaii, University of Hawaii, Honolulu 96813
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14
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Martin-Moreno JM, Boyle P, Gorgojo L, Willett WC, Gonzalez J, Villar F, Maisonneuve P. Alcoholic beverage consumption and risk of breast cancer in Spain. Cancer Causes Control 1993; 4:345-53. [PMID: 8347784 DOI: 10.1007/bf00051337] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
The relation between alcoholic beverage consumption and risk of breast cancer was examined. We used data from a population-based, case-control study that included almost all incident cases occurring in five Spanish regions from February 1990 to July 1991. A total of 762 women between 18 and 75 years of age, with a histologically confirmed, first diagnosis of breast cancer, were compared with 988 control women. Alcoholic beverage intake was measured by an interviewer-administered, semiquantitative food-frequency questionnaire. We used 'nondrinkers' as the reference category and divided the remainder into four categories according to alcohol intake. The multiple logistic analyses included not only alcohol intake but also possible confounding factors such as total caloric intake, age, socioeconomic status, and reproductive and medical histories. Even at moderate levels of alcohol intake (less than 8 g/day), a 50 percent increase in risk of breast cancer was found. The trend across categories of intake was statistically significant for wine and distilled drinks, as well as total alcohol intake. Consumption of 20 g or more of alcohol per day was associated with a 70 percent elevation in breast cancer risk compared with that of nondrinkers (adjusted relative risk (RR) = 1.7, 95 percent confidence interval = 1.3-2.3). Although the magnitude of the RR observed in our study was modest, our findings provide further support for a positive association between alcohol consumption and risk of breast cancer.
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Affiliation(s)
- J M Martin-Moreno
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Escuela Nacional de Sanidad, (National School of Public Health), Madrid, Spain
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Abstract
In Denmark, incidence of female breast cancer remained constant from 1943 to around 1960, whereafter a steady increase has occurred, the level today being about 50% higher than in 1960. No equivalent rise has been observed for breast cancer mortality. Influence of hormonal and dietary factors on breast cancer risk and survival was evaluated in a combined population-based case-control and follow-up study, including 2,445 women, aged less than 70 years, diagnosed with breast cancer in Denmark between 1 March 1983 and 31 August 1984, identified from the files of the nation-wide clinical trial of the Danish Breast Cancer Co-operative Group (DBCG) and the Danish Cancer Registry. The control group was an age-stratified random sample of the general female population, selected from the Central Population Register. Data on risk factors were collected by self-administered questionnaires. Clinical and pathological tumour characteristics derived from DBCG. The case-control analysis confirmed an overall increased risk of breast cancer associated with urban residence, high social status, nulliparity, early age at menarche, late age at natural menopause, hormonal replacement therapy, high dietary fat intake, and high alcohol consumption in a subgroup. It failed to detect an association with age at first childbirth, oral contraceptives, smoking, intake of vegetables, tea, coffee, and sweeteners. Survival was determined by tumour size, skin invasion, number of positive lymph nodes, and grade. There was no relation between survival and reproductive or hormonal factors, dietary variables, alcohol consumption, or smoking. However, a complex relationship may exist between survival and body mass index.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Ewertz
- Danish Cancer Society, Division for Cancer Epidemiology, Copenhagen
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