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Mustafa M, Sarfraz S, Saleem G, Khan TA, Shahid D, Taj S, Amir N. Beyond Milk and Nurture: Breastfeeding's Powerful Impact on Breast Cancer. Geburtshilfe Frauenheilkd 2024; 84:541-554. [PMID: 38884025 PMCID: PMC11175834 DOI: 10.1055/a-2313-0637] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/29/2024] [Accepted: 04/21/2024] [Indexed: 06/18/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer (BC) stands as a global concern, given its high incidence and impact on women's mortality. This complex disease has roots in various risk factors, some modifiable and others not. Understanding and identifying these factors can be instrumental in both preventing BC and improving survival rates. Remarkably, women's reproductive behaviors have emerged as critical determinants of BC susceptibility. Numerous studies have shed light on how aspects including age of menarche, first pregnancy and menopause along with number of pregnancies, hormone replacement therapies, can influence one's risk of developing BC. Furthermore, the act of breastfeeding and its duration have shown an inverse relationship with BC risk. This review delves into the biological and molecular mechanisms associated with breastfeeding that contribute to BC protection. It highlights the role of endocrine processes triggered by suckling stimulation, the gradual onset of lactational amenorrhea, delayed weaning, reduced lifetime menstrual cycles, chromosomal repair mechanisms, and immunological events throughout the lactation cycle. These insights provide a potential explanation for the protective effects conferred by breastfeeding against breast carcinomas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Muhammad Mustafa
- Kauser Abdulla Malik School of Life Sciences, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Sadaf Sarfraz
- Kauser Abdulla Malik School of Life Sciences, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Gullelalah Saleem
- Kauser Abdulla Malik School of Life Sciences, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Touqeer Ahmad Khan
- Kauser Abdulla Malik School of Life Sciences, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Damiya Shahid
- Kauser Abdulla Malik School of Life Sciences, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Saba Taj
- Kauser Abdulla Malik School of Life Sciences, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), Lahore, Pakistan
| | - Noor Amir
- Kauser Abdulla Malik School of Life Sciences, Forman Christian College (A Chartered University), Lahore, Pakistan
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John EM, Koo J, Phipps AI, Longacre TA, Kurian AW, Ingles SA, Wu AH, Hines LM. Reproductive characteristics, menopausal status, race and ethnicity, and risk of breast cancer subtypes defined by ER, PR and HER2 status: the Breast Cancer Etiology in Minorities study. Breast Cancer Res 2024; 26:88. [PMID: 38822357 PMCID: PMC11143591 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-024-01834-5] [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: 05/30/2023] [Accepted: 05/03/2024] [Indexed: 06/02/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Associations between reproductive factors and risk of breast cancer differ by subtype defined by joint estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and HER2 expression status. Racial and ethnic differences in the incidence of breast cancer subtypes suggest etiologic heterogeneity, yet data are limited because most studies have included non-Hispanic White women only. METHODS We analyzed harmonized data for 2,794 breast cancer cases and 4,579 controls, of whom 90% self-identified as African American, Asian American or Hispanic. Questionnaire data were pooled from three population-based studies conducted in California and data on tumor characteristics were obtained from the California Cancer Registry. The study sample included 1,530 luminal A (ER-positive and/or PR-positive, HER2-negative), 442 luminal B (ER-positive and/or PR-positive, HER2-positive), 578 triple-negative (TN; ER-negative, PR-negative, HER2-negative), and 244 HER2-enriched (ER-negative, PR-negative, HER2-positive) cases. We used multivariable unconditional logistic regression models to estimate subtype-specific ORs and 95% confidence intervals associated with parity, breast-feeding, and other reproductive characteristics by menopausal status and race and ethnicity. RESULTS Subtype-specific associations with reproductive factors revealed some notable differences by menopausal status and race and ethnicity. Specifically, higher parity without breast-feeding was associated with higher risk of luminal A and TN subtypes among premenopausal African American women. In contrast, among Asian American and Hispanic women, regardless of menopausal status, higher parity with a breast-feeding history was associated with lower risk of luminal A subtype. Among premenopausal women only, luminal A subtype was associated with older age at first full-term pregnancy (FTP), longer interval between menarche and first FTP, and shorter interval since last FTP, with similar OR estimates across the three racial and ethnic groups. CONCLUSIONS Subtype-specific associations with reproductive factors overall and by menopausal status, and race and ethnicity, showed some differences, underscoring that understanding etiologic heterogeneity in racially and ethnically diverse study samples is essential. Breast-feeding is likely the only reproductive factor that is potentially modifiable. Targeted efforts to promote and facilitate breast-feeding could help mitigate the adverse effects of higher parity among premenopausal African American women.
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Affiliation(s)
- Esther M John
- Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA.
- Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94304, USA.
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94304, USA.
- Stanford University School of Medicine, 3145 Porter Drive, Suite E223, Palo Alto, CA, 94504, USA.
| | - Jocelyn Koo
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94304, USA
| | - Amanda I Phipps
- Department of Epidemiology, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, 98195, USA
- Epidemiology Program, Public Health Sciences Division, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle, WA, 98109, USA
| | - Teri A Longacre
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94304, USA
- Department of Pathology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
| | - Allison W Kurian
- Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA
- Department of Medicine, Division of Oncology, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94304, USA
- Stanford Cancer Institute, Stanford University School of Medicine, Stanford, CA, 94304, USA
| | - Sue A Ingles
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Anna H Wu
- Department of Population and Public Health Sciences, Keck School of Medicine of USC, Norris Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA, 90089, USA
| | - Lisa M Hines
- Department of Biology, University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, Colorado Springs, CO, 80918, USA
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Pan JW, Ragu M, Chan WQ, Hasan SN, Islam T, Teoh LY, Jamaris S, See MH, Yip CH, Rajadurai P, Looi LM, Taib NAM, Rueda OM, Caldas C, Chin SF, Lim J, Teo SH. Clustering of HR + /HER2- breast cancer in an Asian cohort is driven by immune phenotypes. Breast Cancer Res 2024; 26:67. [PMID: 38649964 PMCID: PMC11035138 DOI: 10.1186/s13058-024-01826-5] [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: 01/16/2024] [Accepted: 04/15/2024] [Indexed: 04/25/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer exhibits significant heterogeneity, manifesting in various subtypes that are critical in guiding treatment decisions. This study aimed to investigate the existence of distinct subtypes of breast cancer within the Asian population, by analysing the transcriptomic profiles of 934 breast cancer patients from a Malaysian cohort. Our findings reveal that the HR + /HER2- breast cancer samples display a distinct clustering pattern based on immune phenotypes, rather than conforming to the conventional luminal A-luminal B paradigm previously reported in breast cancers from women of European descent. This suggests that the activation of the immune system may play a more important role in Asian HR + /HER2- breast cancer than has been previously recognized. Analysis of somatic mutations by whole exome sequencing showed that counter-intuitively, the cluster of HR + /HER2- samples exhibiting higher immune scores was associated with lower tumour mutational burden, lower homologous recombination deficiency scores, and fewer copy number aberrations, implicating the involvement of non-canonical tumour immune pathways. Further investigations are warranted to determine the underlying mechanisms of these pathways, with the potential to develop innovative immunotherapeutic approaches tailored to this specific patient population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jia-Wern Pan
- Cancer Research Malaysia, No. 1, Jalan SS12/1A, 47500, Subang Jaya, Malaysia.
| | - Mohana Ragu
- Cancer Research Malaysia, No. 1, Jalan SS12/1A, 47500, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Wei-Qin Chan
- Cancer Research Malaysia, No. 1, Jalan SS12/1A, 47500, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | | | - Tania Islam
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Li-Ying Teoh
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Suniza Jamaris
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Mee-Hoong See
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Cheng-Har Yip
- Subang Jaya Medical Centre, No. 1, Jalan SS12/1A, 47500, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Pathmanathan Rajadurai
- Subang Jaya Medical Centre, No. 1, Jalan SS12/1A, 47500, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
- Jeffrey Cheah School of Medicine and Health Sciences, Monash University Malaysia, Jalan Lagoon Selatan, Bandar Sunway, 47500, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Lai-Meng Looi
- Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Nur Aishah Mohd Taib
- Department of Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Oscar M Rueda
- MRC Biostatistics Unit, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK
| | - Carlos Caldas
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
- NIHR Cambridge Biomedical Research Centre and Cambridge Experimental Cancer Medicine Centre, Cambridge University Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, Cambridge, UK
| | - Suet-Feung Chin
- Department of Oncology, Cancer Research UK Cambridge Institute, Li Ka Shing Centre, Robinson Way, Cambridge, CB2 0RE, UK
| | - Joanna Lim
- Cancer Research Malaysia, No. 1, Jalan SS12/1A, 47500, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
| | - Soo-Hwang Teo
- Cancer Research Malaysia, No. 1, Jalan SS12/1A, 47500, Subang Jaya, Malaysia
- Faculty of Medicine, University Malaya Cancer Research Institute, University Malaya, 50603, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Nicolis O, De Los Angeles D, Taramasco C. A contemporary review of breast cancer risk factors and the role of artificial intelligence. Front Oncol 2024; 14:1356014. [PMID: 38699635 PMCID: PMC11063273 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2024.1356014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2023] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 05/05/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Breast cancer continues to be a significant global health issue, necessitating advancements in prevention and early detection strategies. This review aims to assess and synthesize research conducted from 2020 to the present, focusing on breast cancer risk factors, including genetic, lifestyle, and environmental aspects, as well as the innovative role of artificial intelligence (AI) in prediction and diagnostics. Methods A comprehensive literature search, covering studies from 2020 to the present, was conducted to evaluate the diversity of breast cancer risk factors and the latest advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) in this field. The review prioritized high-quality peer-reviewed research articles and meta-analyses. Results Our analysis reveals a complex interplay of genetic, lifestyle, and environmental risk factors for breast cancer, with significant variability across different populations. Furthermore, AI has emerged as a promising tool in enhancing the accuracy of breast cancer risk prediction and the personalization of prevention strategies. Conclusion The review highlights the necessity for personalized breast cancer prevention and detection approaches that account for individual risk factor profiles. It underscores the potential of AI to revolutionize these strategies, offering clear recommendations for future research directions and clinical practice improvements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Orietta Nicolis
- Engineering Faculty, Universidad Andres Bello, Viña del Mar, Chile
- Centro para la Prevención y Control del Cáncer (CECAN), Santiago, Chile
| | - Denisse De Los Angeles
- Engineering Faculty, Universidad Andres Bello, Viña del Mar, Chile
- Centro para la Prevención y Control del Cáncer (CECAN), Santiago, Chile
| | - Carla Taramasco
- Engineering Faculty, Universidad Andres Bello, Viña del Mar, Chile
- Centro para la Prevención y Control del Cáncer (CECAN), Santiago, Chile
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Chen CC, Lee TL, Tsai IT, Hsuan CF, Hsu CC, Wang CP, Lu YC, Lee CH, Chung FM, Lee YJ, Wei CT. Tissue Expression of Growth Differentiation Factor 11 in Patients with Breast Cancer. Diagnostics (Basel) 2024; 14:701. [PMID: 38611614 PMCID: PMC11011301 DOI: 10.3390/diagnostics14070701] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/14/2024] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/25/2024] [Indexed: 04/14/2024] Open
Abstract
Protein growth differentiation factor 11 (GDF11) plays crucial roles in cellular processes, including differentiation and development; however, its clinical relevance in breast cancer patients is poorly understood. We enrolled 68 breast cancer patients who underwent surgery at our hospital and assessed the expression of GDF11 in tumorous, ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), and non-tumorous tissues using immunohistochemical staining, with interpretation based on histochemical scoring (H-score). Our results indicated higher GDF11 expressions in DCIS and normal tissues compared to tumorous tissues. In addition, the GDF11 H-score was lower in the patients with a tumor size ≥ 2 cm, pathologic T3 + T4 stages, AJCC III-IV stages, Ki67 ≥ 14% status, HER2-negative, and specific molecular tumor subtypes. Notably, the patients with triple-negative breast cancer exhibited a loss of GDF11 expression. Spearman correlation analysis revealed associations between GDF11 expression and various clinicopathological characteristics, including tumor size, stage, Ki67, and molecular subtypes. Furthermore, GDF11 expression was positively correlated with mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration and negatively correlated with neutrophil count, as well as standard deviation and coefficient of variation of red cell distribution width. These findings suggest that a decreased GDF11 expression may play a role in breast cancer pathogenesis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chia-Chi Chen
- Department of Pathology, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan; (C.-C.C.); (C.-H.L.)
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan; (I.-T.T.); (C.-F.H.)
- Department of Physical Therapy, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan
- Department of Occupational Therapy, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan
| | - Thung-Lip Lee
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan; (T.-L.L.); (C.-P.W.); (F.-M.C.)
- School of Medicine for International Students, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan
| | - I-Ting Tsai
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan; (I.-T.T.); (C.-F.H.)
- Department of Emergency, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan
| | - Chin-Feng Hsuan
- School of Medicine, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan; (I.-T.T.); (C.-F.H.)
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan; (T.-L.L.); (C.-P.W.); (F.-M.C.)
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Dachang Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 80794, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Chang Hsu
- Division of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan;
- Health Examination Center, E-Da Dachang Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 80794, Taiwan
- The School of Chinese Medicine for Post Baccalaureate, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan
| | - Chao-Ping Wang
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan; (T.-L.L.); (C.-P.W.); (F.-M.C.)
- School of Medicine for International Students, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan
| | - Yung-Chuan Lu
- Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan;
| | - Chien-Hsun Lee
- Department of Pathology, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan; (C.-C.C.); (C.-H.L.)
| | - Fu-Mei Chung
- Division of Cardiology, Department of Internal Medicine, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan; (T.-L.L.); (C.-P.W.); (F.-M.C.)
| | - Yau-Jiunn Lee
- Lee’s Endocrinologic Clinic, Pingtung 90000, Taiwan;
| | - Ching-Ting Wei
- The School of Chinese Medicine for Post Baccalaureate, College of Medicine, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan
- Division of General Surgery, Department of Surgery, E-Da Hospital, I-Shou University, Kaohsiung 82445, Taiwan
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Bosompem K, Yorke J, Buckman TA, Brenu SG, Nyantakyi M, Aitpillah FSK, Kyei I, Adinku MO, Yorke DA, Obirikorang C, Acheampong E. Comparative analysis of breast cancer characteristics in young premenopausal and postmenopausal women in Ghana. Sci Rep 2024; 14:2704. [PMID: 38302488 PMCID: PMC10834954 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-024-52129-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/12/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is increasingly common among young women in Ghana. BCa is heterogeneous with unique traits that impact causes, prognostic, and predictive outcomes of patients before and after menopause. However, limited evidence exists on differences between young premenopausal (YPM) and postmenopausal cases in Ghana. This study compared breast tumour characteristics between YPM women (under 35 years) and postmenopausal women. We conducted a prospective cross-sectional study involving 140 BCa-diagnosed women at the Breast Care Clinic of Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH), Kumasi from November 2019 to June 2021. Thirty-one (22.1%) of participants were YPM and 109 (77.9%) were postmenopausal. The median ages for YPM and postmenopausal were 32.0 (range: 25.0-35.0) and 57.0 (48.0-86.0) respectively. Invasive carcinoma was the most common histological type (97.1%). Left tumour location was the most frequent in both groups (51.6% for YPM and 51.8% for postmenopausal). Lumps detected were frequently in the outer upper quadrant in both groups (61.3% and 56.0%). The majority of the YPM women (80.7%) and postmenopausal women (87.0%) had stage III and IV diseases. Most YPM (64.5%) and postmenopausal women (64.4%) exhibited triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). Both YPM 13 (56.6%) and postmenopausal participants 40 (56.3%) exhibited a predominantly partial response to neo-adjuvant chemotherapy but YPM women (21.7%) experienced disease progression than the postmenopausal women (12.7%). The study highlights consistent tumour characteristics and advanced clinical stages at diagnosis in both groups with a higher prevalence of TNBC. TNBC and HER2+ subtypes respond better to Anthracycline-based neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Establishing Breast Care Clinics in district and regional hospitals for early detection is crucial and further studies are warranted to understand the higher TNBC prevalence in black Africans and re-evaluate breast education programs to address the persistently late presentations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kingsley Bosompem
- Directorate of Surgery, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Joseph Yorke
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | | | - Michael Nyantakyi
- Department of Medical Diagnostics, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Francis Somiah-Kwaw Aitpillah
- Directorate of Surgery, Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, Kumasi, Ghana
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Ishmael Kyei
- Department of Surgery, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | | | - Christian Obirikorang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Emmanuel Acheampong
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana.
- Leicester Cancer Research Centre, Department of Genetic and Genome Biology, University of Leicester, Leicester, LE1 7RH, UK.
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Xu H, Xu B. Breast cancer: Epidemiology, risk factors and screening. Chin J Cancer Res 2023; 35:565-583. [PMID: 38204449 PMCID: PMC10774137 DOI: 10.21147/j.issn.1000-9604.2023.06.02] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/29/2023] [Accepted: 12/14/2023] [Indexed: 01/12/2024] Open
Abstract
Breast cancer is a global health concern with a significant impact on the well-being of women. Worldwide, the past several decades have witnessed changes in the incidence and mortality of breast cancer. Additionally, epidemiological data reveal distinct geographic and demographic disparities globally. A range of modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors are established as being associated with an increased risk of developing breast cancer. This review discusses genetic, hormonal, behavioral, environmental, and breast-related risk factors. Screening plays a critical role in the effective management of breast cancer. Various screening modalities, including mammography, ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and physical examination, have different applications, and a combination of these modalities is applied in practice. Current screening recommendations are based on factors including age and risk, with a significant emphasis on minimizing potential harms to achieve an optimal benefits-to-harms ratio. This review provides a comprehensive insight into the epidemiology, risk factors, and screening of breast cancer. Understanding these elements is crucial for improving breast cancer management and reducing its burden on affected individuals and healthcare systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hangcheng Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
| | - Binghe Xu
- Department of Medical Oncology, National Cancer Center/National Clinical Research Center for Cancer/Cancer Hospital, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing 100021, China
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