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Perinatal characteristics and breast cancer risk in daughters: a Scandinavian population-based study

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  19 October 2012

R. Troisi ,
T. Grotmol ,
J. Jacobsen ,
S. Tretli ,
H.T. Sørensen ,
M. Gissler ,
R. Kaaja ,
N. Potischman ,
A. Ekbom  and
R. N. Hoover
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R. Troisi*
Affiliation:
Divisions of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA
T. Grotmol
Affiliation:
Cancer Registry of Norway, Institute of Population-Based Cancer Research, Oslo, Norway
J. Jacobsen
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
S. Tretli
Affiliation:
Cancer Registry of Norway, Institute of Population-Based Cancer Research, Oslo, Norway
H.T. Sørensen
Affiliation:
Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
M. Gissler
Affiliation:
Department of Information, THL National Institute for Health and Welfare, Helsinki, Finland Nordic School of Public Health, Gothenburg, Sweden
R. Kaaja
Affiliation:
Turku University, Turku, Finland
N. Potischman
Affiliation:
Divisions of Cancer Control and Population Sciences, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA
A. Ekbom
Affiliation:
Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
R. N. Hoover
Affiliation:
Divisions of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, MD, USA
O. Stephansson
Affiliation:
Clinical Epidemiology Unit, Department of Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden Department of Women's and Children's Health, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
*
*Address for correspondence: Dr R. Troisi, Dartmouth Hitchcock Medical Center, One Medical Center Drive, 7927 Rubin Building, Room 854, Lebanon, NH 03756, USA. (Email troisir@mail.nih.gov)
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Abstract

The in utero origins of breast cancer are an increasing focus of research. However, the long time period between exposure and disease diagnosis, and the lack of standardized perinatal data collection makes this research challenging. We assessed perinatal factors, as proxies for in utero exposures, and breast cancer risk using pooled, population-based birth and cancer registry data. Birth registries provided information on perinatal exposures. Cases were females born in Norway, Sweden or Denmark who were subsequently diagnosed with primary, invasive breast cancer (n = 1419). Ten controls for each case were selected from the birth registries matched on country and birth year (n = 14,190). Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using unconditional regression models. Breast cancer risk rose 7% (95% CI 2–13%) with every 500 g (roughly 1 s.d.) increase in birth weight and 7% for every 1 s.d. increase in birth length (95% CI 1–14%). The association with birth length was attenuated after adjustment for birth weight, while the increase in risk with birth weight remained with adjustment for birth length. Ponderal index and small- and large-for-gestational-age status were not better predictors of risk than either weight or length alone. Risk was not associated with maternal education or age, gestational duration, delivery type or birth order, or with several pregnancy complications, including preeclampsia. These data confirm the positive association between birth weight and breast cancer risk. Other pregnancy characteristics, including complications such as preeclampsia, do not appear to be involved in later breast carcinogenesis in young women.

Keywords

birth weightbreast cancerearly lifein uteropreeclampsiaprenatal
Type
Original Article
Information
Journal of Developmental Origins of Health and Disease , Volume 4 , Issue 1 , February 2013 , pp. 35 - 41
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press and the International Society for Developmental Origins of Health and Disease 2012 

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