scholarly journals Mammographic Breast Density and Breast Cancer Molecular Subtypes: The Kenyan-African Aspect

2018 ◽  
Vol 2018 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Asim Jamal Shaikh ◽  
Maeve Mullooly ◽  
Shahin Sayed ◽  
Rose Ndumia ◽  
Innocent Abayo ◽  
...  

Introduction. Data examining mammographic breast density (MBD) among patients in Sub-Saharan Africa are sparse. We evaluated how MBD relates to breast cancer characteristics in Kenyan women undergoing diagnostic mammography. Methods. This cross-sectional study included women with pathologically confirmed breast cancers (n=123). Pretreatment mammograms of the unaffected breast were assessed to estimate absolute dense area (cm2), nondense area (cm2), and percent density (PD). Relationships between density measurements and clinical characteristics were evaluated using analysis of covariance. Results. Median PD and dense area were 24.9% and 85.3 cm2. Higher PD and dense area were observed in younger women (P<0.01). Higher dense and nondense areas were observed in obese women (P-trend < 0.01). Estrogen receptor (ER) positive patients (73%) had higher PD and dense area than ER-negative patients (P≤0.02). Triple negative breast cancer (TNBC) patients (17%) had lower PD and dense area (P≤0.01) compared with non-TNBCs. No associations were observed between MBD and tumor size and grade. Conclusions. Our findings show discordant relationships between MBD and molecular tumor subtypes to those previously observed in Western populations. The relatively low breast density observed at diagnosis may have important implications for cancer prevention initiatives in Kenya. Subsequent larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.

Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (15) ◽  
pp. 3916
Author(s):  
Ellie Darcey ◽  
Nina McCarthy ◽  
Eric K. Moses ◽  
Christobel Saunders ◽  
Gemma Cadby ◽  
...  

Mammographic breast density (MBD) is a strong and highly heritable predictor of breast cancer risk and a biomarker for the disease. This study systematically assesses MBD as an endophenotype for breast cancer—a quantitative trait that is heritable and genetically correlated with disease risk. Using data from the family-based kConFab Study and the 1994/1995 cross-sectional Busselton Health Study, participants were divided into three status groups—cases, relatives of cases and controls. Participant’s mammograms were used to measure absolute dense area (DA) and percentage dense area (PDA). To address each endophenotype criterion, linear mixed models and heritability analysis were conducted. Both measures of MBD were significantly associated with breast cancer risk in two independent samples. These measures were also highly heritable. Meta-analyses of both studies showed that MBD measures were higher in cases compared to relatives (β = 0.48, 95% CI = 0.10, 0.86 and β = 0.41, 95% CI = 0.06, 0.78 for DA and PDA, respectively) and in relatives compared to controls (β = 0.16, 95% CI = −0.24, 0.56 and β = 0.16, 95% CI = −0.21, 0.53 for DA and PDA, respectively). This study formally demonstrates, for the first time, that MBD is an endophenotype for breast cancer.


Author(s):  
Yu-San Liao ◽  
Jia-Yu Zhang ◽  
Yuan-Chi Hsu ◽  
Min-Xuan Hong ◽  
Li-Wen Lee

Breast density is a risk factor for breast cancer. This study explored distribution of mammographic density quantitatively and qualitatively in a wide age range of Taiwanese women. Subjects with negative and benign mammographic findings were included. According to the Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System, the proportion of extremely dense breasts declined from 58.0% in women < 30 years to 1.9% in women > 74 years. More than 80% of mammograms in women < 55 years old were classified as extremely or heterogeneously dense, while the proportion of dense breasts was still high in women aged 60–64 years (59.3%). The absolute dense area of the breast declined from 35.8% in women < 30 years to 18.5% in women > 74 years. The correlation between breast density and age was significant, with and without controlling for the effect of body composition (p < 0.001), implying that the relationship between breast density and age was not wholly related to body composition. In conclusion, the higher breast density in Taiwanese women aged 60–64 years was comparable to that of Western women aged 40–44 years in the literature. This suggests that breast cancer screening using mammography may be more challenging for Asian women than for Western women of the same age.


2013 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 161-167 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cher Dallal ◽  
Seymour Garte ◽  
Camille Ragin ◽  
Jiangying Chen ◽  
Stacy Lloyd ◽  
...  

Obesity is associated with breast cancer in postmenopausal women, and breast density is a marker of breast cancer risk. Leptin is produced by the adipose tissue, acts through receptors that are polymorphic in nature, and is considered a cancer growth factor. The relationship between body mass index, leptin, leptin receptors and breast density is not well studied. A cross-sectional analysis in 392 post-menopausal healthy women was conducted; participants provided permission to obtain copies of their most recent screening mammogram. Non-fasting plasma leptin levels were determined using a commercially available leptin ELISA kit. Analysis of the Q223R genotypes of the LEPR gene were performed by PCR followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis using DNA extracted from buffy coat samples. A statistically significant positive relationship was observed between leptin levels and body mass index (p<0.0001); leptin was significantly positively associated with mammography total breast area and non-dense breast area (p<0.0001), while it was inversely associated with percent breast density (p<0.0001). Leptin levels varied across the LEPR Q223R polymorphism, and were higher in women homozygous for the AA variant. Percent breast density decreased across the LEPR Q223R genotype, with lower percent density in women with the AA genotype. When dense area was considered according to quartiles of leptin and stratified by LEPR Q223R, a significant inverse trend between leptin levels and dense breast area was observed only among women with the G/G genotype (p-trend<0.001). After adjustment for possible confounders, leptin levels were significantly inversely associated with percent breast density (p=0.01). A significant interaction between body mass index and leptin levels on percent breast density was observed (p=0.03). These findings suggest that the association between leptin and breast density may vary by LEPR Q223R genotype, and that body mass index and leptin may act in an interactive way in determining breast density.


2020 ◽  
Vol 22 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Erica J. Lee Argov ◽  
Teofilia Acheampong ◽  
Mary Beth Terry ◽  
Carmen B. Rodriguez ◽  
Mariangela Agovino ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Well-tolerated and commonly used medications are increasingly assessed for reducing breast cancer risk. These include metformin and statins, both linked to reduced hormone availability and cell proliferation or growth and sometimes prescribed concurrently. We investigated independent and joint associations of these medications with mammographic breast density (MBD), a useful biomarker for the effect of chemopreventive agents on breast cancer risk. Methods Using data from a cross-sectional study of 770 women (78% Hispanic, aged 40–61 years, in a mammography cohort with high cardiometabolic burden), we examined the association of self-reported “ever” use of statins and metformin with MBD measured via clinical Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System (BI-RADS) density classifications (relative risk regression) and continuous semi-automated percent and size of dense area (Cumulus) (linear regression), adjusted for age, body mass index, education, race, menopausal status, age at first birth, and insulin use. Results We observed high statin (27%), metformin (13%), and combination (9%) use, and most participants were overweight/obese (83%) and parous (87%). Statin use was associated with a lower likelihood of high density BI-RADS (RR = 0.60, 95% CI = 0.45 to 0.80), percent dense area (PD) (β = − 6.56, 95% CI = − 9.05 to − 4.06), and dense area (DA) (β = − 9.05, 95% CI = − 14.89 to − 3.22). Metformin use was associated with lower PD and higher non-dense area (NDA), but associations were attenuated by co-medication with statins. Compared to non-use of either medication, statin use alone or with metformin were associated with lower PD and DA (e.g., β = − 6.86, 95% CI: − 9.67, − 4.05 and β = − 7.07, 95% CI: − 10.97, − 3.17, respectively, for PD) and higher NDA (β = 25.05, 95% CI: 14.06, 36.03; β = 29.76, 95% CI: 14.55, 44.96, respectively). Conclusions Statin use was consistently associated with lower MBD, measured both through clinical radiologist assessment and continuous relative and absolute measures, including dense area. Metformin use was associated with lower PD and higher NDA, but this may be driven by co-medication with statins. These results support that statins may lower MBD but need confirmation with prospective and clinical data to distinguish the results of medication use from that of disease.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ashraf Moini ◽  
Elnaz Salari ◽  
Hadi Rashidi ◽  
Khadije Maajani ◽  
Mahboubeh Abedi ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Endometriosis is a common benign but painful gynecologic condition. Studies suggest that the risk of some types of malignancies such as breast cancer is higher in women with endometriosis. Mammographic breast density (MBD) is known as an important predictor for breast cancer. The present study aimed to investigate the potential relationship between endometriosis and MBD. Methods This cross-sectional study was conducted on 370 women over 40 years of age. Laparoscopic surgery was carried out for the diagnosis of endometriosis. MBD was classified into four categories according to the ACR BI-RADS classification. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS software to evaluate the potential association between variables. Results The mean age of all participants was 47.2±6.4 years, and most participants (76.8 %) were premenopausal. Multivariate analysis of the potential predictors of MBD, including age, body mass index, oral contraceptive consumption, progesterone consumption, family history of breast cancer and endometriosis showed that age (P-value=0.002), history of progesterone consumption (P-value=0.004) and endometriosis (P-value=0.006) were the independent factors for MBD. Conclusion This study indicated that endometriosis had an inverse association with MBD. Age and history of progesterone use were also independent influential factors for MBD. This finding shows that the positive association between breast cancer and endometriosis is not mediated through MBD.


2009 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 140-146 ◽  
Author(s):  
Carolyn Nickson ◽  
Anne M Kavanagh

Objectives Breast cancer prognosis is better for smaller tumours. Women with high breast density are at higher risk of breast cancer and have larger screen-detected and interval cancers in mammographic screening programmes. We assess which continuous measures of breast density are the strongest predictors of breast tumour size at detection and therefore the best measures to identify women who might benefit from more intensive mammographic screening or alternative screening strategies. Setting and methods We compared the association between breast density and tumour size for 1007 screen-detected and 341 interval cancers diagnosed in an Australian mammographic screening programme between 1994 and 1996, for three semi-automated continuous measures of breast density: per cent density, dense area and dense area adjusted for non-dense area. Results After adjustment for age, hormone therapy use, family history of breast cancer and mode of detection (screen-detected or interval cancers), all measures of breast density shared a similar positive and significant association with tumour size. For example, tumours increased in size with dense area from an estimated mean 2.2 mm larger in the second quintile (β = 2.2; 95% Cl 0.4–3.9, P < 0.001) to mean 6.6 mm larger in the highest decile of dense area (β = 6.6; 95% Cl 4.4–8.9, P < 0.001), when compared with first quintile of breast density. Conclusions Of the breast density measures assessed, either dense area or per cent density are suitable measures for identifying women who might benefit from more intensive mammographic screening or alternative screening strategies.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 10 (9) ◽  
pp. e0136667 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniëlle van der Waal ◽  
Gerard J. den Heeten ◽  
Ruud M. Pijnappel ◽  
Klaas H. Schuur ◽  
Johanna M. H. Timmers ◽  
...  

2021 ◽  
Vol 23 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Laura L. Reimers ◽  
Mandy Goldberg ◽  
Parisa Tehranifar ◽  
Karin B. Michels ◽  
Barbara A. Cohn ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Mammographic breast density (MBD) and benign breast disease (BBD) are two of the strongest risk factors for breast cancer. Understanding trends in MBD by age and parity in women with BBD is essential to the clinical management and prevention of breast cancer. Methods Using data from the Early Determinants of Mammographic Density (EDMD) study, a prospective follow-up study of women born in 1959–1967, we evaluated MBD in 676 women. We used linear regression with generalized estimating equations to examine associations between self-reported BBD and MBD (percent density, dense area, and non-dense area), assessed through a computer-assisted method. Results A prior BBD diagnosis (median age at diagnosis 32 years) was reported by 18% of our cohort. The median time from BBD diagnosis to first available study mammogram was 9.4 years (range 1.1–27.6 years). Women with BBD had a 3.44% higher percent MBD (standard error (SE) = 1.56, p-value = 0.03) on their first available mammogram than women without BBD. Compared with parous women without BBD, nulliparous women with BBD and women with a BBD diagnosis prior to first birth had 7–8% higher percent MBD (β = 7.25, SE = 2.43, p-value< 0.01 and β = 7.84, SE = 2.98, p-value = 0.01, respectively), while there was no difference in MBD in women with a BBD diagnosis after the first birth (β = −0.22, SE = 2.40, p-value = 0.93). Conclusion Women with self-reported BBD had higher mammographic breast density than women without BBD; the association was limited to women with BBD diagnosed before their first birth.


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