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Erschienen in: Cancer Causes & Control 2/2010

01.02.2010 | Original paper

Serum calcium levels are elevated among women with untreated postmenopausal breast cancer

verfasst von: Erica Martin, Megan Miller, Lacey Krebsbach, James R. Beal, Gary G. Schwartz, Abe E. Sahmoun

Erschienen in: Cancer Causes & Control | Ausgabe 2/2010

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Abstract

Objective

Reports of an association between primary hyperparathyroidism in women and risk of breast cancer suggest an etiologic role for high serum calcium. However, data on the association between serum calcium levels and breast cancer in women without clinical hyperparathyroidism are limited.

Methods

We conducted a hospital-based case–control study among postmenopausal women in Fargo, ND. Cases were women aged 65 and older with newly diagnosed, histologically confirmed breast cancer. Controls were aged 65 and older without clinical cancer who were seen at the same hospital.

Results

We obtained data on 190 white cases and 172 white controls. Primary hyperparathyroidism (an abnormally high calcium level confirmed by an abnormally high serum PTH) was found in 3/190 cases and in 0/172 controls (p = 0.25). After excluding the women with primary hyperparathyroidism, the mean calcium levels among cases was 9.6 mg/dL (range, 7.5–11.0, SD = 0.47) vs. 9.4 mg/dL (7.7–10.5, 0.43) among the controls (p < 0.0001). Comparing women in the top with women in the bottom tertile of serum calcium, the multivariable-adjusted odds ratio (OR) for breast cancer was 5.21 (95% CI: 2.59–10.48). There was no relationship between serum calcium and tumor size or stage.

Conclusion

The distribution of serum calcium levels among postmenopausal women with incident breast cancer was shifted significantly toward the right. These findings are consistent with an effect of early breast tumors on calcium homeostasis. However, the lack of association between serum calcium levels and tumor size or stage supports the hypothesis that subclinical hyperparathyroidism may increase the risk for breast cancer.
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Metadaten
Titel
Serum calcium levels are elevated among women with untreated postmenopausal breast cancer
verfasst von
Erica Martin
Megan Miller
Lacey Krebsbach
James R. Beal
Gary G. Schwartz
Abe E. Sahmoun
Publikationsdatum
01.02.2010
Verlag
Springer Netherlands
Erschienen in
Cancer Causes & Control / Ausgabe 2/2010
Print ISSN: 0957-5243
Elektronische ISSN: 1573-7225
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-009-9456-2

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