Birthweight, height, and body mass index in relation to the expression of stem cell markers among women with benign breast biopsies in the Nurses' Health Study II.

ABSTRACT:

Background

The amount and activity of breast stem cell population may play an important role in breast carcinogenesis. However, little is known about whether early-life and adult anthropometric measures, including body mass index (BMI), birthweight, and height, are associated with stem cell marker expressions in non-cancerous breast tissue.

Methods

Among 730 women with biopsy-confirmed benign breast disease (BBD) in the Nurses' Health Study II, we quantified immunohistochemical staining of stem cell markers (CD44, CD24, ALDH1A1) in histopathologically normal epithelial and stromal breast tissue. Linear regression was conducted to estimate the associations of anthropometric measures with stem cell marker expression, adjusting for potential confounders.

Results

BMI at a

SUBMITTER: Oh H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12516083 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature