The Relationship Between Endocrine Factors and Breast Cancer Risk
Abstract
The study was designed to examine the relationships between hyperinsulinemia, insulin like growth factor-I, central adiposity, maximal adult weight, physical fitness and breast cancer risk in postmenopausal African-American women. The study employed a case-control design (86 controls and 43 cases). Mean age was 67 years (age range 55 to 79 years). We did not find a relationship between IGF-1 concentrations and breast cancer. A logistic regression model was used to adjust for potential confounding variables and to determine those factors that influence breast cancer risk. Our study revealed that breast cancer risk was influenced by waist circumference (OR=1.166; 95% CI: 1.051,1.308), education (OR--1.286; 95% CI: 1.062,1.594), insulin levels (OR=1 .031; 95% CI: 1.004,1.065), sex hormone binding globulin levels (OR--0.960; 95%CI: 0.929,0.989), levels of percent free estrogen (OR=0.006,0.00l,0.106), and strenuous physical activity in high school that was greater than 5 hours per week (OR=0.23 1; 95% CI: 0.065,0.720). These results are consistent with previous studies that show a positive association between high waist circumference, hyperinsulinemia and breast cancer risk, and a protective effect of physical activity early in life and breast cancer risk. Our findings suggest that high levels of insulin and a high waist circumference may partially explain the increased breast cancer seen in postmenopausal African American women.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Sep 01, 2000
- Accession Number
- ADA388633
Entities
People
- Tanya D. Agurs-collins
Organizations
- Howard University