Family History of Cancer in Relation to Breast Cancer Subtypes in African American Women

Evidence on the relation of family history of cancers other than breast cancer to breast cancer risk is conflicting and most studies have not assessed specific breast cancer subtypes

Maximum and Time-Dependent Body Mass Index and Breast Cancer Incidence Among Postmenopausal Women in the Black Women’s Health Study

While excess weight is an established risk factor for postmenopausal breast cancer, consideration of maximum body mass index (maxBMI; BMI is calculated as weight (kg)/height (m)2) or BMI at a point in time relevant for breast carcinogenesis may offer new insights. We prospectively evaluated maxBMI and time-dependent BMI in relation to breast cancer incidence among 31,028 postmenopausal women in the Black Women’s Health Study. During 1995–2015, a total of 1,384 diagnoses occurred, including 787 estrogen-receptor (ER)–positive (ER+) cases and 310 ER-negative (ER−) cases. BMI was assessed at baseline and 2, 4, 6, and 8 years before diagnosis. Cox proportional hazards regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Compared with women with BMI <25, those with BMI ≥35 had increased risk of ER+ breast cancer but not ER− breast cancer. For BMI assessed 2 years before diagnosis, the HRs for ER+ breast cancer associated with maxBMI ≥35 and time-dependent BMI ≥35 were 1.42 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.10, 1.84) and 1.63 (95% CI: 1.25, 2.13), respectively. The corresponding HR for time-dependent BMI assessed 6 years before diagnosis was 1.95 (95% CI: 1.45, 2.62). These findings suggest strong associations of BMI with risk of ER+ breast cancer in postmenopausal women, regardless of timing of BMI assessment

Family History of Cancer in Relation to Breast Cancer Subtypes in African American Women

BACKGROUND: Evidence on the relation of family history of cancers other than breast cancer to breast cancer risk is conflicting and most studies have not assessed specific breast cancer subtypes. METHODS: We assessed the relation of first degree family history of breast, prostate, lung, colorectal, ovarian, cervical cancer, and lymphoma or leukemia, to risk of estrogen receptor positive (ER+), ER−, and triple negative breast cancer in data from the African American Breast Cancer Epidemiology and Risk Consortium. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). RESULTS: There were 3,023 ER+ and 1,497 ER− breast cancer cases (including 696 triple negative cases) and 17,420 controls. First degree family history of breast cancer was associated with increased risk of each subtype: OR=1.76 (95% CI 1.57–1.97) for ER+, 1.67 (1.42–1.95) for ER−, and 1.72 (1.38–2.13) for triple negative breast cancer. Family history of cervical cancer was associated with increased risk of ER− (OR=2.39, 95% CI 1.36–4.20), but not ER+ cancer. Family history of both breast and prostate cancer was associated with increased risk of ER+ (3.40, 2.42–4.79) and ER− (2.09, 1.21–3.63) cancer, but family history of both breast and lung cancer was associated only with ER− cancer (2.11, 1.29–3.46). CONCLUSIONS: A family history of cancers other than breast may influence risk of breast cancer and associations may differ by subtype. IMPACT: Greater surveillance and counseling for additional screening may be warranted for women with a family history of cancer

Neighborhood Socioeconomic Status in Relation to Serum Biomarkers in the Black Women’s Health Study

Lower neighborhood socioeconomic status (SES) is associated with higher cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk. Black women have a higher CVD risk and are more likely to live in poor neighborhoods than white women. We examined the association of neighborhood SES with several CVD biomarkers using data from the Black Women’s Health Study (BWHS), a follow-up study of US black women reporting high levels of education and income. Blood specimens of 418 BWHS participants were assayed for C-reactive protein (CRP), hemoglobin A1C (hgA1C), and high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol. US Census block group data were linked to the women’s addresses to reflect neighborhood SES. Multivariable-adjusted mixed linear regression models that adjusted for person-level SES and for cardiovascular risk factors were used to assess CRP, hgA1C, and HDL levels in relation to quintiles of neighborhood SES. Women living in the poorest neighborhoods had the least favorable biomarker levels. As neighborhood SES increased, CRP decreased (P for trend = 0.01), hgA1C decreased (P for trend = 0.07), and HDL increased (P for trend = 0.19). These associations were present within strata of individual educational level. The present findings suggest that neighborhood environments may affect physiological processes within residents independently of individual SES