The origins of breast cancer associated with mammographic density: a testable biological hypothesis.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Our purpose is to develop a testable biological hypothesis to explain the known increased risk of breast cancer associated with extensive percent mammographic density (PMD), and to reconcile the apparent paradox that although PMD decreases with increasing age, breast cancer incidence increases.

Methods

We used the Moolgavkar model of carcinogenesis as a framework to examine the known biological properties of the breast tissue components associated with PMD that includes epithelium and stroma, in relation to the development of breast cancer. In this model, normal epithelial cells undergo a mutation to become intermediate cells, which, after further mutation, become malignant cells. A clone of such cells grows to become a tumor. The model also incorporates changes w

SUBMITTER: Boyd N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5842598 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature