Association between dietary factors and breast cancer risk among Chinese females: systematic review and meta-analysis

Dietary patterns associated with benign breast nodules by subtypes: a cross-sectional study in southeast China

Background

Dietary patterns influence women's risk of breast cancer, but few studies have investigated the association with benign breast nodules, a well-established risk factor for breast cancer, especially by subtypes of the disease.

Methods

A cross-sectional study of 3,483 women enrolled in the Fuqing Cohort Study in southeast China was conducted from 2020 to 2021. Dietary patterns were identified from food frequency questionnaires using principal component analysis, and the scores for these patterns were divided into quartiles. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association between dietary patterns and benign breast nodules.

Results

We found four dietary patterns among the women: animal-based dietary pattern, plant-based dietary pattern, fried food/dessert pattern, and nuts pattern. Compared with the lowest quartile, women in the highest quartile of the scores for the animal-based dietary pattern were more likely to have cystic breast nodules (OR = 1.61, 95% CI = 1.12-2.32, and the P-value for trend test = 0.007), especially in postmenopausal women. In addition, women with a high score for fried food/dessert pattern also had higher odds of breast cystic nodules (P-value for trend test = 0.012), with an OR (95% CI) of 1.46 (1.01-2.09) for the fourth quartile group. However, there were no associations between these dietary patterns and solid breast nodules.

Conclusion

Animal-based dietary pattern and fried food/dessert pattern were positively associated with cystic breast nodules. These findings suggested the role of unhealthy dietary habits in the development of breast nodules.

Dietary factors associated with breast cancer among women in Ethiopia: a systematic review and meta-analysis of case-control studies

Background

Diet is the primary and largely modifiable factor associated with breast cancer risk. However, inconsistent findings were evidenced in many epidemiological studies and resulted in a lack of conclusiveness. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to explore dietary risk factors that may predict breast cancer among Ethiopian women.

Design data source and eligibility criteria

A systematic review and meta-analysis was carried out. The articles were retrieved through electronic databases searching, including PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, Science Direct, EMBASE and Google Scholar. The Joanna Briggs Institute Meta-Analysis of Statistics Assessment and Review Instrument was applied for the critical appraisal. All case-control studies conducted in Ethiopia and reporting dietary factors of breast cancer in women were included in the final analysis.

Data extraction

Two independent reviewers extracted the data using a standardized data extraction format in Excel software. Stata version 17 software was used for the data analysis. Cochran's Q statistic with inverse variance (I2) was used to assess the presence of heterogeneity. A random effect model was used to estimate the odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval.

Results

Overall, eight eligible articles with 2,774 women were included to explore the dietary predictors of breast cancer in Ethiopia. As a result, alcohol consumption (OR: 1.26, 95% CI: 1.01, 1.57), packed food intake (OR: 6.83; 95% CI: 4.56, 10.24), saturated fat/oil intake (OR: 1.51; 95% CI: 1.13, 2.02), meat consumption (OR: 6.08, 95% CI: 3.62, 10.22), and vegetable consumption (OR: 0.75, 95% CI: 0.49, 0.89) were identified as significant predictors of breast cancer among women in Ethiopia.

Conclusion

The current study revealed a significant relationship between dietary factors and breast cancer. Avoiding the consumption of alcohol, saturated fats/oils, packed foods, and meat, coupled with promotion of vegetable consumption, could substantially contribute to reduce the burden of breast cancer among women in Ethiopia. Therefore, policymakers and other concerned bodies should provide routine community-based nutrition education to raise public awareness about the contribution of women's dietary practices on their breast cancer risk.

Dietary Interventions for Breast Cancer Prevention: Exploring the Role of Nutrition in Primary and Tertiary Prevention Strategies

Background: Breast cancer remains the most prevalent malignancy among women worldwide, necessitating effective prevention strategies. The current literature was scrutinized to investigate the impact of dietary factors, such as the consumption of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and dietary patterns such as the Mediterranean diet on reducing the risk of breast cancer. Additionally, the potential role of diet in diminishing the risk of disease recurrence and enhancing outcomes among breast cancer survivors was explored. Methods: A systematic literature search was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and EMBASE to identify relevant studies published between 2000 and 2024. Inclusion criteria were applied to select studies with robust methodologies, including randomized clinical trials, meta-analyses, and prospective cohort studies focusing on adult women. Only studies published in English were considered. Papers on animal studies, editorials, and case series were excluded. Results: Our findings show the critical interplay between diet and breast cancer prevention, crucial for the development of effective strategies to both primary and tertiary prevention. Challenges such as adherence to dietary recommendations, cultural and socioeconomic disparities, and limited high-quality evidence were identified. Conclusions: This review underscores the critical need to integrate nutrition into clinical practice and highlights avenues for future research, including personalized dietary interventions.

The interaction of diet, alcohol, genetic predisposition, and the risk of breast cancer: a cohort study from the UK Biobank

BACKGROUND

Dietary factors have consistently been associated with breast cancer risk. However, there is limited evidence regarding their associations in women with different genetic susceptibility to breast cancer, and their interaction with alcohol consumption is also not well understood.

METHODS

We analyzed data from 261,853 female participants in the UK Biobank. Multivariable adjusted Cox proportional hazards models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for associations between dietary factors and breast cancer risk. Additionally, we assessed the interaction of dietary factors with alcohol consumption and polygenic risk score (PRS) for breast cancer.

RESULTS

A moderately higher risk of breast cancer was associated with the consumption of processed meat (HR = 1.10, 95% CI 1.03, 1.18, p-trend = 0.016). Higher intake of raw vegetables and fresh fruits, and adherence to a healthy dietary pattern were inversely associated with breast cancer risk [HR (95% CI):0.93 (0.88-0.99), 0.87 (0.81, 0.93) and 0.93 (0.86-1.00), p for trend: 0.025, < 0.001, and 0.041, respectively]. Furthermore, a borderline significant interaction was found between alcohol consumption and the intake of processed meat with regard to breast cancer risk (P for interaction = 0.065). No multiplicative interaction was observed between dietary factors and PRS.

CONCLUSION

Processed meat was positively associated with breast cancer risk, and vegetables, fruits, and healthy dietary patterns were negatively associated with breast cancer risk. We found no strong interaction of dietary factors with alcohol consumption and genetic predisposition for risk of breast cancer.

Association of food groups and dietary pattern with breast cancer risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis

BACKGROUND & AIMS

We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis of current evidence for the association between food groups, dietary patterns, and breast cancer risk among the Asian population.

METHODS

This systematic review and meta-analysis followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. We performed a systematic literature search up to December 2022 in English in the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, and Cochrane databases. Risk ratios (RRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were extracted as effect sizes. Publication bias was estimated by two different funnel plot methods.

RESULTS

We collected the data from 15 cohort studies and 34 case-control studies meeting the search criteria. The meta-analysis found that the consumption of fruits and, likewise, vegetables were associated with a 29% lower risk of breast cancer, respectively [RR = 0.71 (0.55, 0.93); RR = 0.71 (0.53, 0.95)]. By contrast, no significance was found between meat, soy foods, and green tea consumption and breast cancer risk (P > 0.05). However, soy protein and isoflavone intake could lower breast cancer risk by 35% and 32%, respectively [RR = 0.65 (0.51, 0.83); RR = 0.68 (0.55, 0.82)]. As for the dietary pattern, high adherence to a healthy dietary pattern and, similarly, to a healthy eating index was associated with a 38% and 51% reduction in breast cancer risk, respectively [RR = 0.62 (0.44, 0.88; RR = 0.49 (0.27, 0.87)], while high adherence to an unhealthy dietary pattern was associated with a 44% increased risk [RR = 1.44 (1.06, 1.96)]. Considering alcohol consumption, a 75% increased risk of breast cancer was found [RR = 1.75 (1.33, 2.30)].

CONCLUSION

The present meta-analysis found that high intakes of fruits, vegetables, soy protein, and soy isoflavone significantly reduced the risk of breast cancer, while high intake of alcohol had a significantly increased risk. Meat, soy food, and green tea consumption were not significantly associated with breast cancer risk. Considering dietary patterns, high adherence to a healthy eating index and a healthy dietary pattern may reduce breast cancer risk. Conversely, adherence to unhealthy dietary patterns may increase breast cancer risk. However, further studies are needed to confirm the associations between dietary patterns and breast cancer in the Asian population.

Diets Differently Regulate Tumorigenesis in Young E0771 Syngeneic Breast Cancer Mouse Model

Breast cancer (BC) is the most diagnosed cancer type, accounting for one in eight cancer diagnoses worldwide. Epidemiological studies have shown that obesity is associated with increased risk of BC in post-menopausal women, whereas adiposity reduces the risk of BC in premenopausal women. The mechanistic link between obesity and BC has been examined by combining murine BC models with high-fat diet (HFD) induced obesity. However, the effect of adiposity (not obesity) induced by a short period of HFD consumption on BC pathogenesis is not well understood. In the current study, we examined the effects of different diet compositions on BC pathogenesis using a young E0771 syngeneic BC mouse model fed on either an HFD or regular diet (RD: a low-fat high-carbohydrate diet) for a short period (4 weeks) before implanting mammary tumors in mice. We analyzed the effect of diet composition on the onset of tumor growth, metastasis, and metabolic and immune status in the tumor microenvironment (TME) using various methods including in vivo bioluminescence imaging and immunoblotting analyses. We showed for the first time that a short-term HFD delays the onset of tumorigenesis by altering the immune and metabolic signaling and energy mechanism in the TME. However, RD may increase the risk of tumorigenesis and metastasis by increasing pro-inflammatory factors in the TME in young mice. Our data suggest that diet composition, adipogenesis, and loss of body fat likely regulate the pathogenesis of BC in a manner that differs between young and post-menopausal subjects.

Eating Habits, Risk of Breast Cancer, and Diet-Dependent Quality of Life in Postmenopausal Women after Mastectomy

The present study examined dietary risk factors for breast cancer, their association with quality of life, and changes in eating habits in postmenopausal women after mastectomy. The study included 210 women with histologically confirmed invasive breast cancer and 225 women without a cancer diagnosis. Questionnaire data on frequency of intake of 40 different foods, the Block Food Frequency Questionnaire, and SF-36 for evaluation of quality of life were used. All questionnaire data in the patient group were collected after diagnosis. Questions about eating habits covered two time points—before breast cancer diagnosis and after completion of treatment. Logistic regression was applied to calculate the odds ratios of breast cancer risk and 95% confidence intervals. A significant positive association was found between the risk of breast cancer and more frequent intake of red meat, smoked products, offal, animal fat, white bread, potatoes, and sweets, high intake of total fat, and low consumption of dietary fibre. Foods that were inversely associated with the risk of breast cancer included fish, vegetables, fruit, wholemeal bread, and groats. The relationship between quality of life and dietary habits according to the Block Eating Frequency Questionnaire was analysed using multiple regression. It was shown that high intake of total fat reduces the quality of life in its mental components. We observed a positive change in eating habits after cancer diagnosis, albeit not always to the level in the control group. As an important lifestyle component, the diet is of great significance for primary prevention of breast cancer as well as for improving the quality of life of breast cancer patients.

Impacts of nutritive and bioactive compounds on cancer development and therapy

For persons who survive with progressive cancer, nutritional therapy and exercise may be significant factors to improve the health condition and life quality of cancer patients. Nutritional therapy and medications are essential to managing progressive cancer. Cancer survivors, as well as cancer patients, are mostly extremely encouraged to search for knowledge about the selection of diet, exercise, and dietary supplements to recover as well as maintain their treatment consequences, living quality, and survival of patients. A healthy diet plays an important role in cancer treatment. Different articles are studied to collect information and knowledge about the use of nutrients in cancer treatment as well as cancer prevention. The report deliberates nutrition and exercise strategies during the range of cancer care, emphasizing significant concerns during treatment of cancer and for patients of advanced cancer, but concentrating mostly on the requirements of the population of persons who are healthy or who have constant disease following their repossession from management. It also deliberates choice nutrition and exercise problems such as dietary supplements, food care, food selections, and weight; problems interrelated to designated cancer sites, and common questions about diet, and cancer survival. Decrease the side effects of medicines both during and after treatment.

Anticancer properties of medicinal plants and their bioactive compounds against breast cancer: a review on recent investigations

Breast cancer (BC) is one of the most common and recurring diseases and the second leading cause of death in women. Despite prevention, diagnostics, and therapeutic options such as radiation therapy and chemotherapy, the number of occurrences increases every year. Therefore, novel therapeutic drugs targeting specifically different checkpoints should be developed against breast cancer. Among drugs that can be developed to treat breast cancer, natural products, such as plant-derived compounds, showed significant anti-breast cancer properties. These substances belong to different chemical classes such as flavonoids, terpenoids, phenolic acids, and alkaloids. They exert their in vitro and in vivo cytotoxic activities against breast cancer cell lines via different mechanisms, including the inhibition of extrinsic and intrinsic apoptotic pathways, the arrest of the cell cycle, and the activation of autophagy. Moreover, they also exhibit anti-angiogenesis and antimetastatic action. Moreover, chemoprevention effects of these bioactive compounds were signaled only for certain drugs. Therefore, the aim of this review is to highlight the pharmacological actions of medicinal plants and their bioactive compounds on breast cancer. Moreover, the role of these substances in breast cancer chemoprevention was also discussed.

Dietary changes and food habits: social and clinical determinants in a cohort of women diagnosed with breast cancer in Barcelona (DAMA cohort)

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of social determinants on changes in dietary habits before and after diagnosis of breast cancer in women (Barcelona, 2003-2013).

METHODS

We performed a cohort study with 2,235 women diagnosed with breast cancer. The information was obtained from an ad hoc questionnaire based on recommendations from the Spanish Society of Community Nutrition. We conducted a descriptive bivariate analysis and fit logistic regression models. The dependent variable was the change in dietary habits (food groups) and the independent variables were a selection of social and clinical variables (age, social class, cohabitation, years since diagnosis, history of replaces, and treatment with chemotherapy).

RESULTS

While 5.8% of women followed a healthy diet (consumption of vegetables, fruits, farinaceous, lean meat, and seafood) before diagnosis, 9.5% did so after diagnosis. We observed statistically significant changes in consumption of all food groups (p < 0.001) after diagnosis. The greatest change in consumption patterns was observed in women aged < 50 years and those from non-manual classes (high classes) [e.g., legume consumption: OR_{<50 years/>65 years} = 2.9 (95% CI 1.78-4.81); OR_{non-manual/manual} = 2.5 (95% CI 1.38-4.36)]. The occurrence of relapses and chemotherapy was associated with greater changes in dietary habits.

CONCLUSION

Women with breast cancer change their eating habits after diagnosis, and these changes are conditioned by social and clinical determinants.

Dietary fat and obesity as modulators of breast cancer risk: Focus on DNA methylation

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer and second leading cause of cancer mortality in women worldwide. Validated biomarkers enhance efforts for early detection and treatment, which reduce the risk of mortality. Epigenetic signatures have been suggested as good biomarkers for early detection, prognosis and targeted therapy of BC. Here, we highlight studies documenting the modifying effects of dietary fatty acids and obesity on BC biomarkers associated with DNA methylation. We focus our analysis on changes elicited in writers of DNA methylation (i.e., DNA methyltransferases), global DNA methylation and gene-specific DNA methylation. To provide context, we precede this discussion with a review of the available evidence for an association between BC incidence and both dietary fat consumption and obesity. We also include a review of well-vetted BC biomarkers related to cytosine-guanine dinucleotides methylation and how they influence BC risk, prognosis, tumour characteristics and response to treatment. LINKED ARTICLES: This article is part of a themed section on The Pharmacology of Nutraceuticals. To view the other articles in this section visit http://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/bph.v177.6/issuetoc.

Epigenetic Activation of BRCA1 by Genistein In Vivo and Triple Negative Breast Cancer Cells Linked to Antagonism toward Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor

Triple negative breast cancers (TNBC) are the most aggressive and lethal breast cancers (BC). The aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) is often overexpressed in TNBC, and its activation results in the epigenetic silencing of BRCA1, which is a necessary factor for the transcriptional activation of estrogen receptor (ER)α. The dietary isoflavone genistein (GEN) modulates BRCA1 CpG methylation in BC cells. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of GEN on BRCA1 epigenetic regulation and AHR activity in vivo and TNBC cells. Mice were administered a control or GEN-enriched (4 and 10 ppm) diet from gestation through post-natal day 50. Mammary tissue was analyzed for changes in BRCA1 regulation and AhR activity. TNBC cells with constitutively hypermethylated BRCA1 (HCC38) and MCF7 cells were used. Protein levels and mRNA expression were measured by Western blot and real-time PCR, respectively. BRCA1 promoter occupancy and CpG methylation were analyzed by chromatin immunoprecipitation and methylation-specific PCR, respectively. Cell viability was determined by 3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay. GEN administered in the diet dose-dependently decreased basal Brca1 methylation and AHR activity in the mammary gland of adult mice. HCC38 cells were found to overexpress constitutively active AHR in parallel with BRCA1 hypermethylation. The treatment of HCC38 cells with GEN upregulated BRCA1 protein levels, which was attributable to decreased CpG methylation and AHR binding at BRCA1 exon 1a. In MCF7 cells, GEN prevented the 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)-dependent localization of AHR at the BRCA1 gene. These effects were consistent with those elicited by control AHR antagonists galangin (GAL), CH-223191, and α-naphthoflavone. The pre-treatment with GEN sensitized HCC38 cells to the antiproliferative effects of 4-hydroxytamoxifen. We conclude that the dietary compound GEN may be effective for the prevention and reversal of AHR-dependent BRCA1 hypermethylation, and the restoration of ERα-mediated response, thus imparting the sensitivity of TNBC to antiestrogen therapy.

Increase of isoflavones in the aglycone form in soybeans by targeted crossings of cultivated breeding material

Isoflavones are a group of phytoestrogens, naturally-occurring substances important for their role in human health. Legumes, particularly soybeans (Glycine max (L.) Merr.), are the richest source of isoflavones in human diet. Since there is not much current data on genetics of isoflavones in soybean, particularly in the aglycone form, elucidation of the mode of inheritance is necessary in order to design an efficient breeding strategy for the development of high-isoflavone soybean genotypes. Based on the isoflavone content in 23 samples of soybeans from four different maturity groups (00, 0, I and II), three crosses were made in order to determine the inheritance pattern and increase the content of total isoflavones and their aglycone form. Genotype with the lowest total isoflavone content (NS-L-146) was crossed with the low- (NS Zenit), medium (NS Maximus), and high- (NS Virtus) isoflavone genotypes. There were no significant differences in the total isoflavone content (TIF) between F2 populations, and there was no transgression among genotypes within the populations. Each genotype within all three populations had a higher TIF value than the lower parent (NS-L-146), while genotypes with a higher TIF value than the better parent were found only in the NS-L-146 × NS Zenit cross. However, significant differences in the aglycone ratio (ratio of aglycone to glycone form of isoflavones) were found between the populations. The highest aglycone ratio was found in the NS-L-146 × NS Maximus cross. The results indicate that the genetic improvement for the trait is possible.

Genistein and Selected Phytoestrogen-Containing Extracts Differently Modulate Antioxidant Properties and Cell Differentiation: an in Vitro Study in NIH-3T3, HaCaT and MCF-7 Cells

During the last decades, plant extracts containing phytoestrogens have increasingly been used as an alternative to oestradiol hormone replacement therapy. The aim of the present study was to compare the effects of genistein with those of different phytoestrogen-containing plant extracts (from red clover flowers and soybeans) on the proliferation and differentiation of NIH-3T3, HaCaT and MCF-7 cells. Our results showed poor correlations between direct anti/pro-oxidant effects and cytotoxicity of the tested samples. In contrast, genistein showed a direct correlation between significant pro-oxidative effects at cytotoxic concentrations and almost no pro-oxidative effects at non-cytotoxic concentrations. Moreover, the tested red clover extract and genistein induced keratin-8 (luminal and prognostic marker in breast cancer) expression only in MCF-7 cells, but this effect was not seen following treatment with the soybean extract. From this point of view, the effect of consumption of phytoestrogens in oestrogen-positive breast cancer remains to be elucidated. In conclusion, our study demonstrates that various phytoestrogen- containing plant extracts and genistein are able to specifically modulate antioxidant properties and differentiation of studied cells.

Improved Performance of Adjunctive Ultrasonography After Mammography Screening for Breast Cancer Among Chinese Females

INTRODUCTION

Until now, no studies have investigated whether women other than those with dense breasts are suitable for adjunctive ultrasonography after negative mammography, and investigated whether all women with negative mammography are suitable for adjunctive ultrasonography.

METHODS

Based on the Multi-modality Independent Screening Trial in China, a total of 31,918 women aged 45 to 65 years underwent both ultrasonography and mammography. Physicians performed ultrasonography and mammography separately and were blinded to each other's findings until their interpretations had been recorded. For both ultrasonography and mammography, suspicious results and those highly suggestive of a malignancy were confirmed by pathologic examination, whereas other results were confirmed by 1-year follow-up after initial screening.

RESULTS

Based on Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BIRADS) assessments, 84 (84.8%) of 99 cancers were identified on mammography (detection rate, 2.6/1000), and 61 (61.6%) of 99 cancers were identified on ultrasonography (detection rate, 1.9/1000). Integrated mammography with ultrasonography identified 94 (95.0%) of 99 cancers, with an increment of 11.9% in cancer detection rate (from 2.6/1000 to 2.9/1000) (P < .05). Moreover, among women with BIRADS 3, adjunctive ultrasonography detected no cancers. All 10 additional cancers detected by adjunctive ultrasonography were from women with BIRADS 0 to 2, at a cost of 207 women with false positives. Additionally, dense breasts and benign breast disease were significantly associated with positive ultrasonography after BIRADS 0 to 2 (all P values < .05).

CONCLUSIONS

After negative mammography, adjunctive ultrasonography should only be recommended for BIRADS 0 to 2 but not BIRADS 3, especially for women with dense breasts or benign breast disease.

Behavioral risk factors of breast cancer in Bangui of Central African Republic: A retrospective case-control study

Breast cancer is recognized as a major public health problem in developing countries; however, there is very little evidence of behavioral factors associated with breast cancer risk. This study was conducted to identify lifestyles as risk factors for breast cancer among Central African women. A case-control study was conducted with 174 cases confirmed histologically by the pathology unit of the National Laboratory and 348 age-matched controls. Data collection tools included a questionnaire with interviews and medical records of patients. Data were analyzed using SPSS software version 20. Odd ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were obtained by unconditional logistic regression. In total, 522 women were studied with a mean age of 45.8 (SD = 13.4) years. By unconditional logistic regression model, women with breast cancer were more likely to have attained illiterate and elementary education level [11.23 (95% CI, 4.65-27.14) and 2.40 (95% CI, 1.15-4.99)], married [2.09 (95% CI, 1.18-3.71)], positive family history [2.31 (95% CI, 1.36-3.91)], radiation exposure [8.21 (95% CI, 5.04-13.38)], consumption charcuterie [10.82 (95% CI, 2.39-48.90)], fresh fish consumption [4.26 (95% CI, 1.56-11.65)], groundnut consumption [6.46 (95% CI, 2.57-16.27)], soybean consumption [16.74 (95% CI, 8.03-39.84)], alcohol [2.53 (95% CI, 1.39-4.60)], habit of keeping money in bras[3.57 (95% CI, 2.24-5.69)], overweight [5.36 (95% CI, 4.46-24.57)] and obesity [3.11(95% CI, 2.39-20.42)]. However, decreased risk of breast cancer was associated with being employed [0.32 (95% CI, 0.19-0.56)], urban residence [0.16 (95% CI, 0.07-0.37)], groundnut oil consumption [0.05 (95% CI, 0.02-0.14)], wine consumption [0.16 (95% CI, 0.09-0.26)], non habit of keeping cell phone in bras [0.56 (95% CI, 0.35-0.89)] and physical activity [0.71(95% CI, 0.14-0.84)]. The study showed that little or no education, marriage, positive family history of cancer, radiation exposure, charcuterie, fresh fish, groundnut, soybean, alcohol, habit of keeping money in bras, overweight and obesity were associated with breast cancer risk among Central African women living in Bangui. Women living in Bangui should be more cautious on the behavioral risk associated with breast cancer.

Effects of High-Order Interactions among IGFBP-3 Genetic Polymorphisms, Body Mass Index and Soy Isoflavone Intake on Breast Cancer Susceptibility

Background

Polymorphisms of IGF-1 and IGFBP-3 and environmental factors may work together to influence insulin-like growth factor (IGF) levels and thus breast cancer (BC) risk. However, very few studies have investigated high-order interactions among these variables.

Methods

A total of 277 newly diagnosed BC cases and 277 controls were recruited between October 2010 and July 2012. We collected each participant's demographic characteristics, dietary intake, and blood sample. IGF-1 rs1520220 and IGFBP-3 rs2854744 were then genotyped. A multi-analytic strategy combining unconditional logistic regression (ULR), generalized multifactor dimensionality reduction (GMDR), and classification and regression tree (CART) approaches was applied to systematically identify the interactions of the two single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), body mass index (BMI), and daily intake of soy isoflavone (DISI) on BC susceptibility.

Results

In GMDR analyses, high-order interactions among BMI, DISI, and SNP rs2854744 were identified among overall and postmenopausal women. We also found significant dosage effects on BC risk with an increasing number of exposure factors, namely carrying the rs2854744 AA genotype, DISI <9.85 mg/day, and BMI ≥24 kg/m² (P_trend<0.05). Similarly, in CART analyses, compared with individuals having BMI<24kg/m², DISI<9.85 mg/day, and the rs2854744 CC+CA genotype, BC risk increased significantly for those carrying the rs2854744 AA genotype, with BMI<24 kg/m² and DISI<9.85 mg/day (OR = 1.95, 95%CI: 1.03–3.69), and also for those with BMI≥24kg/m² and DISI<9.85 mg/day (OR = 2.13, 95%CI: 1.00–4.51). Similar interaction effects were observed among postmenopausal women.

Conclusions

This study suggests high-order interactions of the IGFBP-3 rs2854744 AA genotype, BMI≥24kg/m², and DISI<9.85 mg/day on increased BC risk, particularly among postmenopausal women.

A suggestion for quality assessment in systematic reviews of observational studies in nutritional epidemiology

OBJECTIVES

It is important to control the quality level of the observational studies in conducting meta-analyses. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) is a representative tool used for this purpose. We investigated the relationship between high-quality (HQ) defined using NOS and the results of subgroup analysis according to study design.

METHODS

We selected systematic review studies with meta-analysis which performed a quality evaluation on observational studies of diet and cancer by NOS. HQ determinations and the distribution of study designs were examined. Subgroup analyses according to quality level as defined by the NOS were also extracted. Equivalence was evaluated based on the summary effect size (sES) and 95% confidence intervals computed in the subgroup analysis.

RESULTS

The meta-analysis results of the HQ and cohort groups were identical. The overall sES, which was obtained by combining the sES when equivalence was observed between the cohort and case-control groups, also showed equivalence.

CONCLUSIONS

The results of this study suggest that it is more reasonable to control for quality level by performing subgroup analysis according to study design rather than by using HQ based on the NOS quality assessment tool.

Genetic polymorphisms of insulin-like growth factor 1 and insulin-like growth factor binding protein 3, xenoestrogen, phytoestrogen, and premenopausal breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Previous studies suggest a combined effect of insulin-like growth factor 1 (igf-1) and igf binding protein 3 (igfbp-3) gene polymorphisms, xenoestrogen, and phytoestrogen on the igf-1 signalling pathway and serum concentrations in the igf system, which are associated with premenopausal breast cancer (bca) risk.

METHODS

Between 2010 and 2012, our study recruited 140 premenopausal bca patients and 160 community-based premenopausal control subjects. Participants were surveyed about oral contraceptive (oc) use, dietary habits, and other bca risk factors. TaqMan assays were used to determine igf-1 rs1520220 and igfbp-3 rs2854744 genotypes. Daily intakes of energy-adjusted soy isoflavones (easis) were calculated by the residual method. Multivariate logistic regression was applied to estimate the adjusted odds ratios (ors) and 95% confidence intervals (cis) of the igf-1 rs1520220 and igfbp-3 rs2854744 genotypes, oc use, and intake of easis. Stratified analyses were performed to detect the gene-environment combined effect, and multivariate logistic regression was used to estimate interaction coefficients (iors) by the multiplicative model, with 95% cis. The delta method was used to calculate interaction coefficients by the additive model [relative excess risk of interaction (reri), attributable proportions of interaction (apis)] and 95% cis.

RESULTS

The igf-1 and igfbp-3 genotypes, oc use, and easis were not found to be associated with bca risk (p > 0.05). Stratified analysis showed that the risk of bca was markedly increased in women carrying the igfbp-3C allele and using ocs compared with women either carrying the igfbp-3C allele or using ocs (or: 3.02; 95% ci: 1.04 to 8.79). The interaction coefficients ior, reri, and api were 4.89 (95% ci: 1.09 to 21.90), 2.42 (95% ci: -0.76 to 5.61), and 0.80 (95% ci: 0.46 to 1.67) respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

The igfbp-3 rs2854744 polymorphism and oc use might synergistically increase premenopausal bca risk.

Comparison of methods of extracting information for meta-analysis of observational studies in nutritional epidemiology

OBJECTIVES

A common method for conducting a quantitative systematic review (QSR) for observational studies related to nutritional epidemiology is the "highest versus lowest intake" method (HLM), in which only the information concerning the effect size (ES) of the highest category of a food item is collected on the basis of its lowest category. However, in the interval collapsing method (ICM), a method suggested to enable a maximum utilization of all available information, the ES information is collected by collapsing all categories into a single category. This study aimed to compare the ES and summary effect size (SES) between the HLM and ICM.

METHODS

A QSR for evaluating the citrus fruit intake and risk of pancreatic cancer and calculating the SES by using the HLM was selected. The ES and SES were estimated by performing a meta-analysis using the fixed-effect model. The directionality and statistical significance of the ES and SES were used as criteria for determining the concordance between the HLM and ICM outcomes.

RESULTS

No significant differences were observed in the directionality of SES extracted by using the HLM or ICM. The application of the ICM, which uses a broader information base, yielded more-consistent ES and SES, and narrower confidence intervals than the HLM.

CONCLUSIONS

The ICM is advantageous over the HLM owing to its higher statistical accuracy in extracting information for QSR on nutritional epidemiology. The application of the ICM should hence be recommended for future studies.

Chemoprevention of Breast Cancer by Dietary Polyphenols

The review will discuss in detail the effects of polyphenols on breast cancer, including both the advantages and disadvantages of the applications of these natural compounds. First, we focus on the characterization of the main classes of polyphenols and then on in vitro and in vivo experiments carried out in breast cancer models. Since the therapeutic effects of the administration of a single type of polyphenol might be limited because of the reduced bioavailability of these drugs, investigations on combination of several polyphenols or polyphenols with conventional therapy will also be discussed. In addition, we present recent data focusing on clinical trials with polyphenols and new approaches with nanoparticles in breast cancer. Besides the clinical and translational findings this review systematically summarizes our current knowledge about the molecular mechanisms of anti-cancer effects of polyphenols, which are related to apoptosis, cell cycle regulation, plasma membrane receptors, signaling pathways and epigenetic mechanisms. At the same time the effects of polyphenols on primary tumor, metastasis and angiogenesis in breast cancer are discussed. The increasing enthusiasm regarding the combination of polyphenols and conventional therapy in breast cancer might lead to additional efforts to motivate further research in this field.

Risk factors for breast cancer in women residing in urban and rural areas of eastern China

OBJECTIVE

To investigate breast cancer risk factors in Chinese women residing in urban and rural areas of eastern China using a large-scale cross-sectional survey.

METHODS

In this multistage, stratified cluster sampling epidemiological survey, information on demographic characteristics, diet and lifestyle variables were gathered using a carefully designed questionnaire. Multivariate logistic regression analysis and subgroup analyses of the data were performed, including separate analyses of data from women residing in urban and rural areas.

RESULTS

A total of 122,058 women were included in the survey. Age, body mass index, number of miscarriages, family history of breast cancer and menopausal status were found to be risk factors for breast cancer, while the consumption of soya bean products was a protective factor. Among women residing in urban areas, high or moderate intake of soya bean products and red meat were protective factors. Among women residing in rural areas, obesity and a high intake of milk were identified as risk factors for breast cancer, while a moderate intake of soya bean products was a protective factor.

CONCLUSIONS

This type of data is crucial for understanding the risk factors for breast cancer and could facilitate the development and targeting of effective intervention strategies, with the ultimate aim of breast cancer prevention.

Associations between cruciferous vegetable intake and selected biomarkers among women scheduled for breast biopsies

OBJECTIVE

To examine the relationship between dietary cruciferous vegetable intake and selected tumour biomarkers for histone acetylation (H3K9ac, H3K18ac, HDAC3 and HDAC6), proliferation (Ki-67) and cell-cycle regulation (p21) from breast tissue.

DESIGN

The study used baseline data of women recruited to participate in a clinical trial of sulforaphane supplement. Dietary cruciferous vegetable intake was collected through a validated Arizona Cruciferous Vegetable Intake Questionnaire. Breast tissue was obtained from biopsy samples. Spearman correlations were calculated between intake of specific cruciferous vegetables and biomarkers. Tissue biomarkers were log2-transformed to obtain approximate normality. Linear regression analyses were conducted to examine associations between cruciferous vegetable intake and biomarkers adjusting for age and use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. False discovery rate (FDR) was used to account for multiple comparisons.

SETTING

Clinical trial baseline.

SUBJECTS

Fifty-four women who had abnormal mammogram findings and were scheduled for breast biopsy.

RESULTS

Mean intake of total cruciferous vegetables from all food sources was 81·7 (sd 57·3) g/d. Mean urinary total sulforaphane metabolites was 0·08 (sd 0·07) µm/mm creatinine. Total cruciferous vegetable intake was inversely associated with Ki-67 protein expression in breast ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) tissue (β=-0·004; se=0·001; FDR q value=0·03), but not in benign or invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC) tissue. No association was found for other biomarkers measured (HDAC3, HDAC6, H3K9, H3K18 and p21) in all tissues examined (benign, DCIS and IDC).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study sought to provide additional evidence for the potential role of sulforaphane in histone acetylation and cell proliferation. Here, we report that total cruciferous vegetable intake is associated with decreased cell proliferation in breast DCIS tissue.

Relation of alcohol/tobacco use with metastasis, hormonal (estrogen and progesterone) receptor status and c-erbB2 protein in mammary ductal carcinoma

BACKGROUND

An association between alcohol/tobacco use and risk of metastasis in breast cancer has been clearly shown.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The present study explored, in 48 samples of tissue from mammary ductal carcinoma (taken from Mexican women with an average age of 58.2±10.9 years), the association of risk of metastasis with the status of hormonal receptors and the c-erbB2 protein (by immunohistochemistry) as well as clinical, histopathological and sociodemographic factors.

RESULTS

Of 48 patients, 41.6% (20/48) presented with metastasis, 43.8% were positive for the estrogen receptor (RE+), 31.3% for the progesterone receptor (RP+) and 47.7% for c-erbB2 (c-erbB2+). The following combinations were found: RE+/RP+/c-erbB2+ 8.3%, RE+/RP+ 22.9%, RE+/RP- 20.8%, RE-/RP+ 8.3%, RE-/RP-/c-erbB2- 22.9% and RE-/RP- 47.8%. There were 12 patients who used alcohol/tobacco, of which 91.6% did not present metastasis and 81.9% were RE-/RP-. Compared to the RE-/RP-/c-erbB2+, the RE+/RP+/c-erbB2+ group had a 15-fold greater risk for metastasis (95%CI, 0.9-228.8, p=0.05). The carriers of the double negative hormonal receptors had a 4.7 fold greater probability of being (or having been) smokers or drinkers (95%CI, 1.0-20.4, p = 0.03).

CONCLUSIONS

There was a clear protective effect of using alcohol and/or tobacco, in the cases included in the present study of mammary ductal carcinoma, associated with double negative hormonal receptors. However, this association could be due to a protective factor not measured (Neyman bias) or to a bias inherent in the rate of hospitalization (Berkson fallacy). This question should be explored in a broad prospective longitudinal study.

Diet and cancer risk in the Korean population: a meta- analysis

Many studies have found links between diet and cancer. The summary estimates of the association between dietary factors and cancer risk were investigated using previously reported studies of the Korean population. Gastric cancer risk was inversely associated with the high intake of soy foods [OR (95% CI): 0.32 (0.25-0.40) for soybean, 0.56 (0.45-0.71) for soybean curd, and 0.67 (0.46-0.98) for soymilk], allium vegetables [OR (95% CI): 0.37 (0.26-0.53) for green onion, 0.54 (0.40-0.73) for garlic, and 0.54 (0.35-0.85) for onion], fruits [OR (95% CI): 0.61 (0.42-0.88)], and mushrooms [OR (95% CI): 0.43 (0.21-0.88)]. Salt and Kimchi were associated with an increased gastric cancer risk [OR (95% CI): 1.92 (1.52-2.43) and 2.21 (1.29-3.77), respectively]. Colorectal cancer risk was positively associated with meat intake [OR (95% CI): 1.25 (1.15-1.36)]. Total soy products, soybean curd, and soymilk showed an inverse association with breast cancer risk [OR (95% CI): 0.61 (0.38-0.99), 0.47 (0.34-0.66), and 0.75 (0.57-0.98), respectively]. Green/yellow and light colored vegetables were associated with a reduced risk of breast cancer [OR (95% CI): 0.34 (0.23-0.49) and 0.44 (0.21-0.90), respectively]. Mushroom intake was inversely associated in pre-menopausal women only [OR (95% CI): 0.47 (0.26-0.86)]. In conclusion, soy foods, fruits and vegetables might reduce cancer risk in the Korean population. High salt food might be risk factor for gastric cancer, and intake of high amount of meat might cause colorectal cancer.

Soy and breast cancer: focus on angiogenesis

Epidemiological studies have revealed that high consumption of soy products is associated with low incidences of hormone-dependent cancers, including breast and prostate cancer. Soybeans contain large amounts of isoflavones, such as the genistein and daidzain. Previously, it has been demonstrated that genistein, one of the predominant soy isoflavones, can inhibit several steps involved in carcinogenesis. It is suggested that genistein possesses pleiotropic molecular mechanisms of action including inhibition of tyrosine kinases, DNA topoisomerase II, 5α-reductase, galectin-induced G2/M arrest, protein histidine kinase, and cyclin-dependent kinases, modulation of different signaling pathways associated with the growth of cancer cells (e.g., NF-κB, Akt, MAPK), etc. Moreover, genistein is also a potent inhibitor of angiogenesis. Uncontrolled angiogenesis is considered as a key step in cancer growth, invasion, and metastasis. Genistein was found to inhibit angiogenesis through regulation of multiple pathways, such as regulation of VEGF, MMPs, EGFR expressions and NF-κB, PI3-K/Akt, ERK1/2 signaling pathways, thereby causing strong antiangiogenic effects. This review focuses on the antiangiogenic properties of soy isoflavonoids and examines their possible underlying mechanisms.

Awareness of risk factors for cancer among Omani adults--a community based study

BACKGROUND

Cancer is the leading cause of mortality around the world. However, the majority of cancers occur as a result of modifiable risk factors; hence public awareness of cancer risk factors is crucial to reduce the incidence. The objective of this study was to identify the level of public awareness of cancer risk factors among the adult Omani population.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A community based survey using the Cancer Awareness Measure (CAM) questionnaire was conducted in three areas of Oman to measure public awareness of cancer risk factors. Omani adults aged 18 years and above were invited to participate in the study. SPPSS (ver.20) was used to analyse the data.

RESULTS

A total of 384 participated from 500 invited individuals (response rate =77%). The majority of respondents agreed that smoking cigarettes (320, 83.3%), passive smoking (279, 72.7%) and excessive drinking of alcohol (265, 69%) are risks factors for cancer. However, fewer respondents agreed that eating less fruit and vegetables (83, 21.6%), eating more red or processed meat (116, 30.2%), being overweight (BMI>25) (123, 32%), doing less physical exercise (119, 31%), being over 70 years old (72, 18.8%), having a close relative with cancer (134, 34.9%), infection with human papilloma virus (HPV) (117, 30.5%) and getting frequent sunburn during childhood (149, 38.8%) are risk factors for cancer. A significant association was found between participant responses and their educational level. The higher the educational level, the more likely that respondents identified cancer risk factors including smoking (p<0.0005), passive smoking (p= 0.007), excessive drinking of alcohol (p<0.0005), eating less fruit and vegetables (p= 0.001) and infection with HPV (p<0.0005).

CONCLUSIONS

The majority of respondents in this study in Oman were not aware of the common risk factors for cancer. It may be possible to reduce the incidence of cancers in Oman by developing strategies to educate the public about these risk factors.

Association between vegetable, fruit and carbohydrate intake and breast cancer risk in relation to physical activity

BACKGROUND

Although the nutritional may exert effect on the breast cancer risk, it is not clear whether the role diet is the same in sedentary and physically active women. The aim of this study was to evaluate the association between fruit, vegetable and carbohydrate intake and the risk of breast cancer among Polish women considering their physical activity level.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A case-control study was conducted that included 858 women with histological confirmed breast cancer and 1,085 controls, free of any cancer diagnosis, aged 28-78 years. The study was based on a self-administered questionnaire to ascertain physical activity, dietary intake, sociodemographic characteristics, reproductive factors, family history of breast cancer, current weight and high, and other lifestyle factors. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated in unconditional logistic regression analyses including a broad range of potential confounders.

RESULTS

With comparison of the highest vs lowest quartile of intake, strong significant associations were observed for total vegetables (OR=0.37, 95%CI=0.20-0.69 P for trend <0.01 and OR=0.53, 95%CI=0.29-0.96, P for trend <0.02), and total fruits (OR=0.47, 95%CI=0.25-0.87, P for trend <0.05 and OR=0.47, 95%CI=0.24-0.90, P for trend <0.02) among women characterized by the lowest and the highest quartile of physical activity. No associations were observed for total carbohydrate intake. Additional analysis showed a positive association for sweets and desert intake among women in the lowest quartile of physical activity (OR=3.49, 95%CI=1.67-7.30, P for trend <0.009) for extreme quartiles of intake comparing to the referent group.

CONCLUSIONS

The results suggest that a higher consumption of vegetable and fruit may be associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer, especially among women who were low or most physically active throughout their lifetimes. These findings do not support an association between diet high in carbohydrate and breast cancer. However, a higher intake of sweets and deserts may by associated with an increased risk of breast cancer among women who were less physically active.

Consumption of vegetables may reduce the risk of liver cancer: results from a meta-analysis of case-control and cohort studies

PURPOSE

We conducted a meta-analysis of all published case-control and cohort studies to evaluate the relationship between vegetables intake and liver cancer risk.

METHODS

We searched for cohort and case-control studies published before February 2014, using Pubmed and Cochrane Library Central database. Pooled relative risk (RR) estimates and corresponding 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated using the inverse-variance method.

RESULTS

Eight case-control studies and one cohort study were included in this meta-analysis, involving a total of 136,425 subjects and 1349 liver cancer cases. Finally, we observed a statistically significant protective effect of vegetables consumption on liver cancer (RR=0.78, 95% CI [0.62, 0.99]). In the present meta-analysis, no publication bias was observed among studies using Begg's P value (P=0.532); Egger's (P=0.180) test, which suggested there was no evidence of publication bias.

CONCLUSIONS

Our results suggest that vegetables consumption may reduce the risk of liver cancer. More prospective cohort studies with larger sample size, well-controlled confounding factors are warranted to further evaluate the association.