Mammographic Density and Breast Cancer Risk in White and African American Women

Citation

Razzaghi, Hilda; Troester, Melissa A.; Gierach, Gretchen L.; Olshan, Andrew F.; Yankaskas, Bonnie C.; & Millikan, Robert C. (2012). Mammographic Density and Breast Cancer Risk in White and African American Women. Breast Cancer Research and Treatment, 135(2), 571-580. PMCID: PMC3734952

Abstract

Mammographic density is a strong risk factor for breast cancer, but limited data are available in African American (AA) women. We examined the association between mammographic density and breast cancer risk in AA and white women. Cases ( n = 491) and controls ( n = 528) were from the Carolina Breast Cancer Study (CBCS) who also had mammograms recorded in the Carolina Mammography Registry (CMR). Mammographic density was reported to CMR using Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) categories. Increasing mammographic density was associated with increased breast cancer risk among all women. After adjusting for potential confounders, a monotonically increasing risk of breast cancer was observed between the highest versus the lowest BI-RADS density categories [OR = 2.45, (95 % confidence interval: 0.99, 6.09)]. The association was stronger in whites, with ~40 % higher risk among those with extremely dense breasts compared to those with scattered fibroglandular densities [1.39, (0.75, 2.55)]. In AA women, the same comparison suggested lower risk [0.75, (0.30, 1.91)]. Because age, obesity, and exogenous hormones have strong associations with breast cancer risk, mammographic density, and race in the CBCS, effect measure modification by these factors was considered. Consistent with previous literature, density-associated risk was greatest among those with BMI > 30 and current hormone users ( P value = 0.02 and 0.01, respectively). In the CBCS, mammographic density is associated with increased breast cancer risk, with some suggestion of effect measure modification by race, although results were not statistically significant. However, exposures such as BMI and hormone therapy may be important modifiers of this association and merit further investigation.

URL

http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10549-012-2185-3

Reference Type

Journal Article

Year Published

2012

Journal Title

Breast Cancer Research and Treatment

Author(s)

Razzaghi, Hilda
Troester, Melissa A.
Gierach, Gretchen L.
Olshan, Andrew F.
Yankaskas, Bonnie C.
Millikan, Robert C.

PMCID

PMC3734952

ORCiD

Olshan - 0000-0001-9115-5128