Importance of hereditary and selected environmental risk factors in the etiology of inflammatory breast cancer: a case-comparison study

Abstract

BackgroundTo assess the importance of heredity in the etiology of inflammatory breast cancer (IBC), we compared IBC patients to several carefully chosen comparison groups with respect to the prevalence of first-degree family history of breast cancer.MethodsIBC cases (n = 141) were compared to non-inflammatory breast cancer cases (n = 178) ascertained through George Washington University (GWU) with respect to the prevalence of first-degree family history of breast cancer and selected environmental/lifestyle risk factors for breast cancer. Similar comparisons were conducted with subjects from three case–control studies: breast cancer cases (n = 1145) and unaffected controls (n = 1142) from the Cancer Genetic Markers of Susceptibility (CGEMS) study, breast cancer cases (n = 465) and controls (n = 9317) from the Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) study, and ovarian cancer cases (n = 260) and controls (n = 331) from a study by University of Toronto (UT).ResultsThe frequency of first-degree breast cancer family history among IBC cases was 17.0 % compared to 24.4 % for GWU breast cancer cases, 23.9 % and 17.9 % for CGEMS breast cancer cases and controls, respectively, 16.9 % and 12.6 % for WHI breast cancer cases and controls, respectively, and 24.2 % and 11.2 % for UT ovarian cancer cases and controls, respectively.IBC cases had a significantly lower prevalence of parous women than WHI breast cancer cases (OR = 0.46, 95 % CI:0.27–0.81) and controls (OR = 0.31, 95 % CI:0.20–0.49). Oral contraceptive use was significantly higher among IBC cases compared to WHI breast cancer cases (OR = 7.77, 95 % CI:4.82–12.59) and controls (OR = 8.14, 95 % CI:5.28–12.61). IBC cases had a significantly higher frequency of regular alcohol consumption (≥1 drink per day) compared to WHI controls (OR = 1.84, 95 % CI:1.20–2.82) and UT controls (OR = 1.86, 95 % CI:1.07–3.22) and higher (statistically non-significant) prevalence (21.3 %) compared to breast cancer cases from GWU (18.2 %) and WHI (15.2 %).ConclusionsThe prevalence of first-degree breast cancer family history among IBC cases was lower compared to breast and ovarian cancer cases but higher than unaffected individuals. Our multiple-case inflammatory and non-inflammatory breast cancer families may reflect aggregation of common genetic and/or environmental factors predisposing to both types of breast cancer. Our findings that oral contraceptive use and regular alcohol consumption may be associated with IBC warrant further investigations.

Effects of Fucoidan and Chemotherapeutic Agent Combinations on Malignant and Non-malignant Breast Cell Lines

“…Increased consumption of animal fat, lack of exercise, high body mass index (BMI) and obesity [101], alcohol intake [102] and cigarette smoking are also common risk factors [103].…”

“…http://etd.uwc.ac.za/ Other widespread factors include exogenous oestrogen intake [102] after menopause like hormone replacement therapy or oral contraceptive pills [104][105][106][107][108][109]. Another risk factor is exposure to nuclear radiation especially for younger women.…”

“…However, it has been asserted that there is little evidence that would implicate the use of antibiotics, antidepressants, statins, and antihypertensives in the aetiology of breast cancer [128]. Recently, both aspirin and acetaminophen use were inversely associated with breast cancer incidence [129], but that oral contraceptive use and regular alcohol consumption may be associated with inflammatory breast cancer (IBC) [102]. On the other hand, factors that decrease the incidence of breast cancer are first pregnancy before the age of 20 with a relative risk of 0.5 compared to 1 in nulliparous women [97,98,130,131].…”

Breast cancer histologic subtypes show excess familial clustering

“…13 Other histologies, including mucinous carcinoma, have not previously been associated clearly with a family history of breast cancer. 9,14,15 The possibility of additional genetic contributions to breast cancer exists. 9,14,15 The possibility of additional genetic contributions to breast cancer exists.…”

“…Recently, inflammatory breast cancer reportedly has been associated with a first-degree family history of breast cancer in some but not all studies; mutations in specific genes have not yet been identified. 9,14,15 The possibility of additional genetic contributions to breast cancer exists. Identification of excess familial clustering using the genealogical index of familiality (GIF) is a method that can be used to provide evidence that the risk of a disease is mediated by inherited genetic factors.…”