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Heng YJ, Baker GM, Fein-Zachary VJ, Guzman-Arocho YD, Bret-Mounet VC, Massicott ES, Torous VF, Schnitt SJ, Gitin S, Russo P, Tobias AM, Bartlett RA, Varma G, Kontos D, Yaghjyan L, Irwig MS, Potter JE, Wulf GM. Effect of testosterone therapy on breast tissue composition and mammographic breast density in trans masculine individuals. Breast Cancer Res 2024; 26:109. [PMID: 38956693 PMCID: PMC11221014 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-024-01867-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The effect of gender-affirming testosterone therapy (TT) on breast cancer risk is unclear. This study investigated the association between TT and breast tissue composition and breast tissue density in trans masculine individuals (TMIs). METHODS Of the 444 TMIs who underwent chest-contouring surgeries between 2013 and 2019, breast tissue composition was assessed in 425 TMIs by the pathologists (categories of lobular atrophy and stromal composition) and using our automated deep-learning algorithm (% epithelium, % fibrous stroma, and % fat). Forty-two out of 444 TMIs had mammography prior to surgery and their breast tissue density was read by a radiologist. Mammography digital files, available for 25/42 TMIs, were analyzed using the LIBRA software to obtain percent density, absolute dense area, and absolute non-dense area. Linear regression was used to describe the associations between duration of TT use and breast tissue composition or breast tissue density measures, while adjusting for potential confounders. Analyses stratified by body mass index were also conducted. RESULTS Longer duration of TT use was associated with increasing degrees of lobular atrophy (p < 0.001) but not fibrous content (p = 0.82). Every 6 months of TT was associated with decreasing amounts of epithelium (exp(β) = 0.97, 95% CI 0.95,0.98, adj p = 0.005) and fibrous stroma (exp(β) = 0.99, 95% CI 0.98,1.00, adj p = 0.05), but not fat (exp(β) = 1.01, 95%CI 0.98,1.05, adj p = 0.39). The effect of TT on breast epithelium was attenuated in overweight/obese TMIs (exp(β) = 0.98, 95% CI 0.95,1.01, adj p = 0.14). When comparing TT users versus non-users, TT users had 28% less epithelium (exp(β) = 0.72, 95% CI 0.58,0.90, adj p = 0.003). There was no association between TT and radiologist's breast density assessment (p = 0.58) or LIBRA measurements (p > 0.05). CONCLUSIONS TT decreases breast epithelium, but this effect is attenuated in overweight/obese TMIs. TT has the potential to affect the breast cancer risk of TMIs. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the effect of TT on breast density and breast cancer risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yujing J Heng
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave, Dana 517B, Boston, MA, 02115, USA.
| | - Gabrielle M Baker
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave, Dana 517B, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Valerie J Fein-Zachary
- Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Yaileen D Guzman-Arocho
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave, Dana 517B, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Vanessa C Bret-Mounet
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave, Dana 517B, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Erica S Massicott
- Department of Pathology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, 330 Brookline Ave, Dana 517B, Boston, MA, 02115, USA
| | - Vanda F Torous
- Department of Pathology, Massachusetts General Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Stuart J Schnitt
- Dana-Farber/Brigham and Women's Cancer Center, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute-Brigham and Women's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Sy Gitin
- The Fenway Institute, Boston, MA, USA
| | | | - Adam M Tobias
- Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Richard A Bartlett
- Department of Surgery, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gopal Varma
- Department of Radiology, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Despina Kontos
- Departments of Radiology, Biomedical Informatics, and Biomedical Engineering, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA
| | - Lusine Yaghjyan
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, FL, USA
| | - Michael S Irwig
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Jennifer E Potter
- The Fenway Institute, Boston, MA, USA
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Gerburg M Wulf
- Department of Medicine, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA, USA
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Oh H, Yaghjyan L, Heng YJ, Rosner B, Mahoney MB, Murthy D, Baker GM, Tamimi RM. Associations of Early-Life and Adult Anthropometric Measures with the Expression of Stem Cell Markers CD44, CD24, and ALDH1A1 in Women with Benign Breast Biopsies. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2024; 33:933-943. [PMID: 38652503 PMCID: PMC11216865 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-23-1567] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2023] [Revised: 03/06/2024] [Accepted: 04/17/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND According to the stem cell hypothesis, breast carcinogenesis may be related to the breast stem cell pool size. However, little is known about associations of breast cancer risk factors, such as anthropometric measures, with the expression of stem cell markers in noncancerous breast tissue. METHODS The analysis included 414 women with biopsy-confirmed benign breast disease in the Nurses' Health Study and Nurses' Health Study II. Birthweight, weight at age 18, current weight, and current height were reported via self-administered questionnaires. IHC staining of stem cell markers (CD44, CD24, and aldehyde dehydrogenase family 1 member A1) in histopathologically normal epithelial and stromal breast tissue was quantified using an automated computational image analysis system. Linear regression was used to examine the associations of early-life and adult anthropometric measures with log-transformed stem cell marker expression, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS Birthweight [≥10.0 vs. <5.5 lbs: β (95% confidence interval) = 4.29 (1.02, 7.56); P trend = 0.001 in the stroma] and adult height [≥67.0 vs. <63.0 inch: 0.86 (0.14, 1.58); P trend = 0.02 in the epithelium and stroma combined] were positively associated with CD44 expression. Childhood body fatness was inversely associated (P trend = 0.03) whereas adult height was positively associated with CD24 expression in combined stroma and epithelium (P trend = 0.03). CONCLUSIONS Our data suggest that anthropometric measures, such as birthweight, adult height, and childhood body fatness, may be associated with the stem cell expression among women with benign breast disease. IMPACT Anthropometric measures, such as birthweight, height, and childhood body fatness, may have long-term impacts on stem cell population in the breast.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hannah Oh
- Department of Health Policy and Management, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
- Interdisciplinary Program in Precision Public Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, South Korea
| | - Lusine Yaghjyan
- Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health and Health Professions and College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida
| | - Yujing J Heng
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Bernard Rosner
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Matt B Mahoney
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Divya Murthy
- Channing Division of Network Medicine, Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Gabrielle M Baker
- Department of Pathology, Harvard Medical School, Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, Boston, Massachusetts
| | - Rulla M Tamimi
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, New York
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Heng YJ, Baker GM, Fein-Zachary VJ, Guzman-Arocho YD, Bret-Mounet VC, Massicott ES, Gitin S, Russo P, Tobias AM, Bartlett RA, Varma G, Kontos D, Yaghjyan L, Irwig MS, Potter JE, Wulf GM. Effect of testosterone therapy on breast tissue composition and mammographic breast density in trans masculine individuals. MEDRXIV : THE PREPRINT SERVER FOR HEALTH SCIENCES 2024:2024.01.09.24300987. [PMID: 38260574 PMCID: PMC10802634 DOI: 10.1101/2024.01.09.24300987] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Objective Determine the association between TT and breast tissue composition and breast tissue density in trans masculine individuals (TMIs). Design This is a cross-sectional study. Setting TMIs (n=444) underwent chest-contouring surgeries to treat their gender dysphoria between 2013 and 2019 at an urban medical center. Participants Of the 444 TMIs, 425 had pathology images analyzed by our deep-learning algorithm to extract breast tissue composition. A subset of 42/444 TMIs had mammography prior to surgery; mammography files were available for 25/42 TMIs and analyzed using a breast density software, LIBRA. Main Outcomes and Measures The first outcome was the association of duration of TT and breast tissue composition assessed by pathologists (categories of lobular atrophy and stromal composition) or by our algorithm (% epithelium, % fibrous stroma, and % fat). The second outcome is the association of TT and breast density as assessed by a radiologist (categorical variable) or by LIBRA (percent density, absolute dense area, and absolute non-dense area). Results Length of TT was associated with increasing degrees of lobular atrophy ( p <0.001) but not fibrous content ( p =0.821) when assessed by the pathologists. Every six months of TT was associated with decreased amounts of both epithelium (exp(β)=0.97, 95% CI 0.95-0.98, adj p =0.005) and stroma (exp(β)=0.99, 95% CI 0.98-1.00, adj p =0.051), but not fat (exp(β)=1.01, 95%CI 0.98-1.05, p =0.394) in fully adjusted models. There was no association between TT and radiologist's breast density assessment ( p =0.575) or LIBRA measurements ( p >0.05). Conclusions TT decreases breast epithelium and fibrous stroma, thus potentially reducing the breast cancer risk of TMIs. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the effect of TT on breast density and breast cancer risk. Summary Box Very little is known about the effect of gender-affirming testosterone therapy on cancer risks, such as breast cancer.Epidemiological studies had different conclusions about the association between testosterone and breast cancer in cisgender women (positive association) and trans masculine individuals (inverse association).More laboratory-based research are needed to understand the effect of testosterone on breast cancer risk in the understudied trans masculine population.Our study provides quantitative histological evidence to support prior epidemiological reports that testosterone may reduce breast cancer risk in trans masculine individuals.
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Aarestrup J, Jensen BW, Pedersen DC, Kroman N, Mellemkjær L, Baker JL, Bjerregaard LG. Early life body size, pubertal timing, and risks of benign breast disease in a large cohort of Danish female adolescents and women. Eur J Pediatr 2022; 181:3023-3030. [PMID: 35652986 DOI: 10.1007/s00431-021-04363-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/09/2021] [Revised: 12/21/2021] [Accepted: 12/24/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
A high childhood body mass index (BMI) may be protective against benign breast disease (BBD), but little is known about the effects of other early life body size measures. Thus, we examined associations between birthweight, childhood BMI, height, and pubertal timing and BBD risks. We included 171,272 girls, born from 1930 to 1996, from the Copenhagen School Health Records Register, which contains information on birthweight, childhood anthropometry (7-13 years), age at onset of the growth spurt (OGS), and peak height velocity (PHV). During follow-up, 9361 BBD cases (15-50 years) were registered in the Danish National Patient Register. Hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were estimated by Cox regressions. At all childhood ages, BMI was inversely but non-linearly associated with BBD. The association was slightly stronger in magnitude for BMI z-scores above 0 (HRage 7 = 0.86; 95%CI: 0.83-0.90 per z-score) than below 0 (HRage 7 = 0.95; 95%CI 0.91-0.99 per z-score). Associations between childhood height and BBD differed by age; at 7 years the association was an inverted U-shape, whereas at 13 years height was not associated with BBD. Ages at OGS and PHV were positively associated with BBD. Low and high birthweights were associated with lower BBD risks. Conclusion: A high childhood BMI, a short or tall stature at young childhood ages, an early pubertal onset, and low or high birthweights are associated with reduced risks of BBD. These complex associations suggest that the role of these factors in breast tissue development during early life warrants further investigation in relation to BBD etiology. What is Known: • Benign breast disease (BBD) is common and may be an intermediary marker of breast cancer risks. • Early life body size may relate to the development of BBD, but currently little is known. What is New: • Girls with a high body mass index at school ages or with an early pubertal timing have decreased risks of BBD. • Short and tall heights at young childhood ages and low and high birthweights are associated with lower BBD risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Aarestrup
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Britt W Jensen
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Dorthe C Pedersen
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Niels Kroman
- Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Copenhagen, Denmark.,Department of Breast Surgery, Herlev Hospital, Copenhagen University Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Jennifer L Baker
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Lise G Bjerregaard
- Center for Clinical Research and Prevention, Copenhagen University Hospital - Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Byun D, Hong S, Ryu S, Nam Y, Jang H, Cho Y, Keum N, Oh H. Early-life body mass index and risks of breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers: a dose-response meta-analysis of prospective studies. Br J Cancer 2022; 126:664-672. [PMID: 34773099 PMCID: PMC8854408 DOI: 10.1038/s41416-021-01625-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/03/2021] [Revised: 10/16/2021] [Accepted: 10/29/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The evidence for the associations between early-life adiposity and female cancer risks is mixed. Little is known about the exact shape of the relationships and whether the associations are independent of adult adiposity. METHODS We conducted dose-response meta-analyses of prospective studies to summarise the relationships of early-life body mass index (BMI) with breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancer risks. Pubmed and Embase were searched through June 2020 to identify relevant studies. Using random-effects models, the summary relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated per 5-kg/m2 increase in BMI at ages ≤ 25 years. A nonlinear dose-response meta-analysis was conducted using restricted cubic spline analysis. RESULTS After screening 33,948 publications, 37 prospective studies were included in this analysis. The summary RRs associated with every 5-kg/m2 increase in early-life BMI were 0.84 (95% CI = 0.81-0.87) for breast, 1.40 (95% CI = 1.25-1.57) for endometrial, and 1.15 (95% CI = 1.07-1.23) for ovarian cancers. For breast cancer, the association remained statistically significant after adjustment for adult BMI (RR = 0.80, 95% CI = 0.73-0.87). For premenopausal breast, endometrial, and ovarian cancers, the dose-response curves suggested evidence of nonlinearity. CONCLUSIONS With early-life adiposity, our data support an inverse association with breast cancer and positive associations with ovarian and endometrial cancer risks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Dohyun Byun
- grid.222754.40000 0001 0840 2678Interdisciplinary Program in Precision Public Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - SungEun Hong
- grid.255168.d0000 0001 0671 5021Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Dongguk University, Goyang, Republic of Korea
| | - Seaun Ryu
- grid.222754.40000 0001 0840 2678Interdisciplinary Program in Precision Public Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yeonju Nam
- grid.222754.40000 0001 0840 2678Division of Health Policy and Management, College of Health Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Hajin Jang
- grid.222754.40000 0001 0840 2678Interdisciplinary Program in Precision Public Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - Yoonkyoung Cho
- grid.222754.40000 0001 0840 2678Interdisciplinary Program in Precision Public Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea
| | - NaNa Keum
- Department of Food Science and Biotechnology, Dongguk University, Goyang, Republic of Korea. .,Department of Nutrition, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, BostonMA, USA.
| | - Hannah Oh
- Interdisciplinary Program in Precision Public Health, Department of Public Health Sciences, Graduate School of Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea. .,Division of Health Policy and Management, College of Health Sciences, Korea University, Seoul, Republic of Korea.
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Oskar S, Kehm R, Terry MB. Breast Tissue Composition-Why It Matters and How Can We Measure It More Accurately in Epidemiology Studies. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2021; 30:590-592. [PMID: 33811170 DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.epi-20-1807] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/22/2020] [Revised: 01/08/2021] [Accepted: 01/19/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Early-life body size has been consistently associated with breast cancer risk. The direction of the association changes over time, with high birth weight, smaller adolescent body size, and adult weight gain all increasing breast cancer risk. There is also a clear positive association between larger body size and increased breast adipose tissue measured by mammograms, but less is known about how body size changes across life stages affect stromal and epithelial breast tissue. Using breast tissue slides from women with benign breast disease, Oh and colleagues applied machine learning methods to evaluate body size across the life course and adipose, epithelial, and stromal tissue concentrations in adulthood. They found consistent patterns for higher adipose and lower stromal tissue concentrations with larger childhood and adult body size at age 18 years. They reported lower levels of epithelial tissue with larger body size at 18 years, but not at other time periods. Additional studies examining how body size at different life stages may affect breast tissue composition will be important. Noninvasive methods that can provide measures of breast tissue composition may offer potential ways forward to ensure generalizability, and repeated measurements by life stage.See related article by Oh et al., p. 608.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sabine Oskar
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
| | - Rebecca Kehm
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York
| | - Mary Beth Terry
- Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York. .,Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Medical Center, New York, New York
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