Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Reproductive risk factors for colorectal adenomatous polyps (New York City, NY, United States)

  • Research Papers
  • Published:
Cancer Causes & Control Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Events of reproductive life, such as parity and age at menarche, have been found in some but not all studies to be associated with risk for colorectal cancer in females. Because adenomatous polyps (adenomas) are precursors of colorectal cancer, we investigated whether reproductive variables were associated with colorectal adenomas. We conducted a case-control study among patients examined in three colonoscopy practices in New York City (NY, United States) from 1986 to 1988. Adenoma cases (n=128) were defined as women who had an adenoma detected at the index colonoscopy with no history of inflammatory bowel disease, adenomas, or cancer. Controls (n=283) were women with a normal index colonoscopy and no history of inflammatory bowel disease, adenomas, or cancer. The adjusted odds ratio (OR) for the association of early menarche (age less than 13 years) with adenomas was 0.6 (95 percent confidence interval=0.4–0.9). Parity, history of spontaneous or induced abortion, infertility, type of menopause, age at menopause, use of oral contraceptives, and use of menopausal hormone replacement therapy were not associated statistically significantly with adenoma risk, although some possible trends were observed. Our findings do not implicate reproductive events, nulliparity, or overexposure to estrogens or to menstrual cycles as mechanisms of increased risk for colorectal neoplasia.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. De Cosse JJ, Ngoi SS, Jacobson JS, Cennerazzo WJ. Gender and colorectal cancer. Eur J Cancer Prev 1993; 2: 105–15.

    Google Scholar 

  2. Doll R, Payne P, Waterhouse J. Cancer Incidence in Five Continents: a Technical Report. Berlin, Germany: International Union Against Cancer, Springer-Verlag, 1966.

    Google Scholar 

  3. Doll R, Muir C, Waterhouse J. Cancer Incidence in Five Continents, Vol II. Berlin, Germany: International Union Against Cancer, Springer-Verlag, 1970.

    Google Scholar 

  4. Waterhouse J, Muir C, Correa P, Powell J. Cancer Incidence in Five Continents Vol. III, Lyon, France: World Health Organization, 1976; IARC Sci. Pub. No. 15.

    Google Scholar 

  5. Waterhouse J, Muir C, Shanmugaratnam K, Powell J. Cancer Incidence in Five Continents Vol. IV, Lyon, France: World Health Organization, 1982; IARC Sci. Pub. No. 42.

    Google Scholar 

  6. Muir C, Waterhouse J, Mack T, Powell J, Whelan S. Cancer Incidence in Five Continents, Vol V, Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer, 1987; IARC Sci. Pub. No 88.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Parkin DM, Muir CS, Whelan SL, Gao YT, Ferley J, Powell J. Cancer Incidence in Five Continents, Vol VI. Lyon, France: International Agency for Research on Cancer, 1992: IARC Sci. Pub. No 120.

    Google Scholar 

  8. Willett WC. The search for the causes of breast and colon cancer. Nature 1989; 338: 389–94.

    Google Scholar 

  9. Schoenberg BS, Greenberg RA, Eisenberg H. Occurrence of certain multiple primary cancers in females. JNCI 1969; 43: 15–32.

    Google Scholar 

  10. Schottenfeld D, Berg JW, Vitsky B. Incidence of multiple primary cancers II. Index cancers arising in the stomach and lower digestive system. JNCI 1969; 43: 77–86.

    Google Scholar 

  11. Schatzkin A, Baronovsky A, Kessler LG. Diet and cancer: evidence from associations of multiple primary cancers in the SEER program. Cancer 1987; 62; 1451–7.

    Google Scholar 

  12. Neugut AI, Murray TI, Lee WC, Robinson E. The association of breast cancer and colorectal cancer in men. An analysis of Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results data. Cancer 1991; 68: 2069–73.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Murray TI, Neugut AI, Garbowski GC, Waye JD, Forde KA, Treat MR. Relationship between breast cancer and colorectal adenomatous polyps. Cancer 1992; 69: 2232–4.

    Google Scholar 

  14. Rex DK, Sledge GW, Harper PA, et al. Colonic adenomas in women with a history of breast cancer. Am J Gastroenterol 1993; 88: 2009–14.

    Google Scholar 

  15. Neugut AI. Breast cancer and colorectal neoplasia: double jeopardy or not? Am J Gastroenterol 1993; 88: 1989–90.

    Google Scholar 

  16. Fraumeni JFJr, Lloyd JW, Smith EM, Wagoner JK. Cancer mortality among nuns: role of marital status in etiology of neoplastic disease in women. JNCI 1969; 42: 455–68.

    Google Scholar 

  17. Ernster VI, Sacks ST, Selvin S, Petrakis N. Cancer incidence by marital status: Third Cancer Survey. JNCI 1979; 63: 567–85.

    Google Scholar 

  18. Bjelke E. Epidemiologic studies of cancer of the stomach, colon, and rectum: with special emphasis on the role of diet. Volumes III and IV. PhD Dissertation, University of Michigan (USA), 1973.

  19. Bjelke E. Colorectal cancer: clues from epidemiology. In: Bucalossi P, Veronesi U, Cascinelli N, eds. Proceedings of the XI International Cancer Congress, 1974; Volume 6, Tumors of Specific Sites. New York, NY (USA): Elsevier, 1975; Excerpta Med Foundation Int Congress: 324–30.

    Google Scholar 

  20. Dales LG, Friedman GD, Ury HK, Grossman S, Williams SR. A case-control study of relationships of diet and other traits with colorectal cancer in American Blacks. Am J Epidemiol 1979; 109: 132–44.

    Google Scholar 

  21. Weiss NS, Daling JR, Chow WH. Incidence of cancers of the large bowel in women in relation to reproductive and hormonal factors. JNCI 1981; 67: 57–60.

    Google Scholar 

  22. Potter JD, McMichael AJ. Large bowel cancer in women in relation to reproductive and hormonal factors: a casecontrol study. JNCI 1983; 71: 703–9.

    Google Scholar 

  23. Howe GR, Craig KJ, Miller AB. Age at first pregnancy and risk of colorectal cancer: a case-control study. JNCI 1985; 74: 1155–9.

    Google Scholar 

  24. Metzger U, Kach P, Uhlschmid G, Largiader F. Influence of parity and age at first birth on colorectal cancer in women. Eur J Surg Res 1984; 16: 56.

    Google Scholar 

  25. Wu AH, Paganini-Hill A, Ross RK, Henderson BE. Alcohol, physical activity and other risk factors for colorectal cancer: a prospective study. Br J Cancer 1987; 55: 687–94.

    Google Scholar 

  26. Davis FG, Furner SE, Persky V, Koch M. The influence of parity and exogenous female hormones on the risk of colorectal cancer. Int J Cancer 1989; 43: 587–90.

    Google Scholar 

  27. Kune GA, Kune S, Watson LF. Children, age at first birth and colorectal cancer risk: data from the Melbourne Colorectal Cancer Study. Nutr Cancer 1989; 9: 43–6.

    Google Scholar 

  28. Negri E, La Vecchia C, Parrazzini F, et al. Reproductive and menstrual factors and risk of colorectal cancer. Cancer Res 1989; 49: 7158–61.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Peters RK, Pike MC, Chang WW, Mack TM. Reproductive factors and colon cancers. Br J Cancer 1990; 61: 741–8.

    Google Scholar 

  30. Franceschi S, Bidoli E, Talamini R, Barra S, La Vecchia C. Colorectal cancer in northeast Italy: reproductive, menstrual and female hormone-related factors. Eur J Cancer 1991; 27: 604–8.

    Google Scholar 

  31. Wu-Williams AH, Lee M, Whittemore AS, et al. Reproductive factors and colorectal cancer risk among Chinese females. Cancer Res 1991; 51: 2307–11.

    Google Scholar 

  32. Haenszel W, Locke FB, Segi M. A case-control study of large bowel cancer in Japan. JNCI 1980; 64: 17–22.

    Google Scholar 

  33. Miller AB, Barclay THC, Choi NW, et al. A study of cancer, parity and age at first pregnancy. J Chron Dis 1980; 33: 595–605.

    Google Scholar 

  34. Byers T, Graham S, Swanson M. Parity and colorectal cancer risk in women. JNCI 1982; 69: 1059–62.

    Google Scholar 

  35. Papadimitriou C, Day N, Tzonou A, Gerovassilis F, Manousos O, Trichopoulos D. Biosocial correlates of colorectal cancer in Greece. Int J Epidemiol 1984; 13: 155–63.

    Google Scholar 

  36. Brinton LA, Melton LJ, Malkasian GD, Bond A, Hoover R. Cancer risk after evaluation for infertility. Am J Epidemiol 1989; 129: 712–22.

    Google Scholar 

  37. Furner SE, Davis FG, Nelson RL, Haenszel W. A case-control study of large bowel cancer and hormone exposure in women. Cancer Res 1989; 49: 4936–40.

    Google Scholar 

  38. Chute CG, Willett WC, Colditz GA, Stampfer MJ, Rosner B, Speizer FE. A prospective study of reproductive history and exogenous estrogens on the risk of colorectal cancer in women. Epidemiology 1991; 2: 201–7.

    Google Scholar 

  39. Kvale G, Heuch I. Is the incidence of colorectal cancer related to reproduction? A prospective study of 63,000 women. Int J Cancer 1991; 47: 390–5.

    Google Scholar 

  40. Gerhardsson de Verdier M, London S. Reproductive factors, exogenous female hormones, and colorectal cancer by subsite. Cancer Causes Control 1992; 3: 355–60.

    Google Scholar 

  41. La Vecchia C, Negri E, Franceschi S, Parazzini F. Long-term impact of reproductive factors on cancer risk. Int J Cancer 1993; 53: 215–9.

    Google Scholar 

  42. Kravdal O, Glattre E, Kvale G, Tretli S. A sub-site-specific analysis of the relationship between colorectal cancer and parity in complete male and female Norwegian birth cohorts. Int J Cancer 1993; 53: 56–61.

    Google Scholar 

  43. Bostick RM, Potter JD, Kushi LH, et al. Sugar, meat, and fat intake, and non-dietary risk factors for colon cancer incidence in Iowa women (United States). Cancer Causes Control 1994; 5: 38–52.

    Google Scholar 

  44. Jacobs E, White E, Weiss NS. Exogenous hormones, reproductive history and colon cancer. Cancer Causes Control 1994; 5: 359–66.

    Google Scholar 

  45. Olsen J, Olsen JS, Kronborg O. Risk factors for cancer and adenomas of the large intestine. An analysis of food items and reproductive factors. Cancer J 1994; 7: 103–7.

    Google Scholar 

  46. Neugut AI, Jacobson JS, De Vivo I. The epidemiology of colorectal adenomatous polyps. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 1993; 2: 159–76.

    Google Scholar 

  47. Jacobson JS, Kono S, Todoroki I, et al. Fatherhood and distal adenomas of the large bowel: a study of male self-defense officials in Japan. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 1994; 3: 655–9.

    Google Scholar 

  48. Potter JD, Bostick R, Grandits G, et al. Estrogen replacement therapy and adenomatous polyps: the Minnesota CPRU case-control study. Presented at the annual meeting of the American Society for Preventive Oncology, March 8–11, 1995, Houston, TX (USA).

  49. Neugut AI, Lee WC, Garbowski GC, et al. Obesity and colorectal adenomatous polyps. JNCI 1991; 83: 359–61.

    Google Scholar 

  50. Neugut AI, Garbowski GC, Lee WC, et al. Dietary risk factors for the incidence and recurrence of colorectal adenomatous polyps: a case-control study. Ann Intern Med 1993; 118: 91–5.

    Google Scholar 

  51. Neugut AI, Garbowski GC, Waye JD, et al. Diagnostic yield of colorectal neoplasia with colonoscopy for abdominal pain, change in bowel habits, and rectal bleeding. Am J Gastroenterol 1993; 88: 1179–83.

    Google Scholar 

  52. Neugut AI, Jacobson JS, Ahsan H, et al. Incidence and recurrence rates of colorectal adenomas: a prospective study. Gastroenterology 1995; 108: 402–8.

    Google Scholar 

  53. SAS Institute, Inc. SAS/STAT User's Guide, Version 6, Fourth Edition. Cary, NC (USA): SAS Institute, Inc., 1989.

    Google Scholar 

  54. Risch HA, Howe GR. Menopausal hormone use and colorectal cancer in Saskatchewan: a record-linkage cohort study. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 1995; 4: 21–8.

    Google Scholar 

  55. Kelsey JL, Gammon MD, John EM. Reproductive factors and breast cancer. Epidemiol Rev 1993; 15: 36–47.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY, USA

    Judith S. Jacobson, Alfred I. Neugut, Gail C. Garbowski, Habibul Ahsan, Michael R. Treat & Kenneth A. Forde

  2. Columbia College of Physicians and Surgeons, New York, NY, USA

    Judith S. Jacobson, Alfred I. Neugut, Gail C. Garbowski, Habibul Ahsan, Michael R. Treat & Kenneth A. Forde

Authors
  1. Judith S. Jacobson
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Alfred I. Neugut
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Gail C. Garbowski
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Habibul Ahsan
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Jerome D. Waye
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Michael R. Treat
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Kenneth A. Forde
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Additional information

This work was supported by grants from the US National Cancer Institute (RO1-CA37196 and T32-CA09529).

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jacobson, J.S., Neugut, A.I., Garbowski, G.C. et al. Reproductive risk factors for colorectal adenomatous polyps (New York City, NY, United States). Cancer Causes Control 6, 513–518 (1995). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00054159

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00054159

Key words

Search

Navigation