Sun exposure, vitamin D receptor genetic variants, and risk of breast cancer in the Agricultural Health Study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Epidemiologic evidence suggests a negative relation between sunlight exposure and breast cancer risk. The hypothesized mechanism is sunlight-induced cutaneous synthesis of vitamin D.

Objectives

Our goal was to examine sun exposure and its interaction with vitamin D receptor (VDR) gene variants on breast cancer risk.

Methods

We examined sun exposure and breast cancer incidence among 31,021 private pesticide applicators' wives, including 578 cases, enrolled in the prospective Agricultural Health Study cohort and followed 8.6 years on average. We estimated interactions between sun exposure, VDR variants, and breast cancer in a nested case-control study comprising 293 cases and 586 matched controls. Information on sun exposure was obtained by questionnaire at c

SUBMITTER: Engel LS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3915256 | biostudies-literature | 2014 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature