Reproductive characteristics are associated with gene-specific promoter methylation status in breast cancer.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Reproductive characteristics are well-established risk factors for breast cancer, but the underlying mechanisms are not fully resolved. We hypothesized that altered DNA methylation, measured in tumor tissue, could act in concert with reproductive factors to impact breast carcinogenesis.

Methods

Among a population-based sample of women newly diagnosed with first primary breast cancer, reproductive history was assessed using a life-course calendar approach in an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction and Methyl Light assays were used to assess gene promotor methylation status (methylated vs. unmethylated) for 13 breast cancer-related genes in archived breast tumor tissue. We used case-case unconditional logistic regres

SUBMITTER: McCullough LE 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6749688 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Sep

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature