Association between mammographic density and tumor marker-defined breast cancer subtypes: a case–control study

This study aimed to clarify the relationship between MD and breast cancer subtypes defined by tumor markers. We enrolled 642 women with breast cancer (69% premenopausal) and 1241 controls matched for age and menopausal status. Absolute mammographic dense area (ADA), percent mammographic dense area (PDA), and nondense area were assessed using a computer-assisted thresholding technique. We classified breast cancer cases into four subtypes using information on tumor marker expression such as estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), and Cerb2 receptor (HER2); luminal A (ER+ and/or PR+, HER2−), luminal B (ER+ and/or PR+, HER2+), HER2-overexpressing (ER−, PR−, and HER2+), and triple-negative (ER−, PR−, and HER2−). Analysis was carried out using a conditional logistic regression model with adjustment for covariates. ADA and PDA were associated positively with the risk of breast cancer overall. Both ADA and PDA tended to have a positive association with breast cancer with any ER, any PR, or HER2−, but not for HER2+. The risk of luminal A breast cancer increased significantly 1.11 times (95% confidence interval: 1.01–1.23) for ADA and 1.12 times (95% confidence interval: 1.01–1.24) for PDA, estimated per 1 SD of the age and BMI-adjusted MD. However, the risk of breast cancer with luminal B, HER2-overexpressing, and triple-negative subtypes did not differ (P>0.10). Differential associations between MD measures and breast cancer by tumor marker status or t...
Source: European Journal of Cancer Prevention - Category: Cancer & Oncology Tags: Research Paper: Breast Cancer Source Type: research