Ontology highlight
ABSTRACT: Background
C-reactive protein (CRP) has been evaluated as a risk factor for breast cancer in epidemiologic studies. However, results from prospective studies are inconsistent.Methods
We evaluated the association using prediagnostic blood samples in a case-control study nested within the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and the full cohort of the Women's Health Study (WHS). A total of 943 cases in the NHS and 1,919 cases in the WHS contributed to the analysis. Conditional logistic regression and Cox proportional hazards model were used in the NHS and WHS, respectively. We pooled our results with prior prospective studies using random effect meta-analysis.Results
In the NHS, higher CRP levels were associated with a suggestively increased risk of breast cancer [quintile 5 vs. 1: relative risk (RR), 1.27; 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.93-1.73; Ptrend = 0.02]; results did not vary significantly by tumor invasiveness or hormone receptor status. However, no association was observed in the WHS for overall risk (quintile 5 vs. 1: RR, 0.89; 95% CI, 0.76-1.06; Ptrend = 0.38) or by tumor invasiveness or hormone receptor status. The meta-analysis (including 5,371 cases from 11 studies) showed a modestly increased risk among women in the highest versus lowest categories of CRP (RR, 1.26; 95% CI, 1.07-1.49).Conclusions
Existing data from prospective studies suggest that CRP, a nonspecific marker of inflammation, is modestly positively associated with breast cancer risk.Impact
Our findings provide support to the concept that inflammation can influence breast cancer development.
SUBMITTER: Wang J
PROVIDER: S-EPMC4526401 | biostudies-literature | 2015 Aug
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
Wang Jun J Lee I-Min IM Tworoger Shelley S SS Buring Julie E JE Ridker Paul M PM Rosner Bernard B Hankinson Susan E SE
Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology 20150520 8
<h4>Background</h4>C-reactive protein (CRP) has been evaluated as a risk factor for breast cancer in epidemiologic studies. However, results from prospective studies are inconsistent.<h4>Methods</h4>We evaluated the association using prediagnostic blood samples in a case-control study nested within the Nurses' Health Study (NHS) and the full cohort of the Women's Health Study (WHS). A total of 943 cases in the NHS and 1,919 cases in the WHS contributed to the analysis. Conditional logistic regre ...[more]