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Reproductive history in relation to breast cancer risk among Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women

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Abstract

Objective

To evaluate reproductive history risk factors in breast cancer among Hispanic (HISP) women in the U.S. southwest, a population with approximately 33% lower breast cancer incidence than non-Hispanic whites (NHW).

Methods

Population-based case–control study of HISP (796 cases, 919 controls) and NHW (1,525 cases, 1,596 controls) women.

Results

19.3% of HISP women reported five or more births and had a reduced risk of breast cancer, adjusted odds ratio (OR) 0.70 (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.50, 0.98) compared to those with one or two births. Breast cancer risk for HISP increased with older age at first birth, p trend = 0.008. Parity and age at first birth associations were specific to ER positive tumors. HISP women who had given birth within five years had higher breast cancer risk than women with 16–25 years since a birth, OR 2.62 (95% CI: 1.44, 4.78); the trend with years since last birth was stronger than for NHWs, p interaction = 0.05.

Conclusions

Reproductive history influences on breast cancer risk among HISP were similar to associations reported for NHWs. Differences in the prevalence of reproductive risk factors would explain an estimated 6.6% lower breast cancer incidence for HISP compared to NHWs.

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Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge the contributions of Leslie Palmer, Roger Edwards, Karen Curtin, and Betsy Risendal, Tara Patton, Jason Witter, and Kelly May for data collection and management. This study was funded by NIH Grants CA078682, CA078762, CA078552, and CA078802. The Utah Cancer Registry is funded by Contract #N01-PC-67000 from the National Cancer Institute, with additional support from the State of Utah Department of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Epidemiology, University of Utah, 30 N 1900 E, AC230, Salt Lake City, Utah, 841032, USA

    Carol Sweeney, Jennifer S. Herrick, Maureen A. Murtaugh & Martha L. Slattery

  2. Department of Epidemiology & Population Health, University of Louisville, Louisville, KY, USA

    Kathy B. Baumgartner

  3. University of Colorado Cancer Center, Denver, CO, USA

    Tim Byers

  4. Moffitt Cancer Center, Tampa, FL, USA

    Anna R. Giuliano

Authors
  1. Carol Sweeney
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  2. Kathy B. Baumgartner
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  3. Tim Byers
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  4. Anna R. Giuliano
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  5. Jennifer S. Herrick
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  6. Maureen A. Murtaugh
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  7. Martha L. Slattery
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Correspondence to Carol Sweeney.

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Sweeney, C., Baumgartner, K.B., Byers, T. et al. Reproductive history in relation to breast cancer risk among Hispanic and non-Hispanic white women. Cancer Causes Control 19, 391–401 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-007-9098-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-007-9098-1

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