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Meta-Analysis
. 2006;8(4):R43.
doi: 10.1186/bcr1525.

Reproductive factors and breast cancer risk according to joint estrogen and progesterone receptor status: a meta-analysis of epidemiological studies

Huiyan Ma  1 , Leslie Bernstein, Malcolm C Pike, Giske Ursin
Affiliations
Meta-Analysis

Reproductive factors and breast cancer risk according to joint estrogen and progesterone receptor status: a meta-analysis of epidemiological studies

Huiyan Ma et al. Breast Cancer Res. 2006.

Abstract

Introduction: Although reproductive factors have been known for decades to be associated with breast cancer risk, it is unclear to what extent these associations differ by estrogen and progesterone receptor (ER/PR) status. This report presents the first meta-analysis of results from epidemiological studies that have investigated parity, age at first birth, breastfeeding, and age at menarche in relation to ER+PR+ and ER-PR- cancer risk.

Materials and methods: We calculated summary relative risks (RRs) and corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs) using a fixed effects model.

Results: Each birth reduced the risk of ER+PR+ cancer by 11% (RR per birth = 0.89, 95% CI = 0.84-0.94), and women who were in the highest age at first birth category had, on average, 27% higher risk of ER+PR+ cancer compared with women who were in the youngest age at first birth category (RR = 1.27, 95% CI = 1.07-1.50). Neither parity nor age at first birth was associated with the risk of ER-PR- cancer (RR per birth = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.94-1.05; RR of oldest versus youngest age at first birth category = 1.01, 95% CI = 0.85-1.20). Breastfeeding and late age at menarche decreased the risk of both receptor subtypes of breast cancer. The protective effect of late age at menarche was statistically significantly greater for ER+PR+ than ER-PR- cancer (RR = 0.72 for ER+PR+ cancer; RR = 0.84 for ER-PR- cancer, p for homogeneity = 0.006).

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that breastfeeding (and age at menarche) may act through different hormonal mechanisms than do parity and age at first birth.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Parity and breast cancer risk by estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor (ER/PR) status: relative risk (RR) with corresponding 95% confidence interval per birth.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Age at first birth and breast cancer risk by estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor (ER/PR) status: relative risk (RR) with corresponding 95% confidence interval for oldest versus youngest age at first birth category.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Breastfeeding and breast cancer risk by estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor (ER/PR) status: relative risk (RR) with corresponding 95% confidence interval for highest versus lowest breastfeeding category.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Age at menarche and breast cancer risk by estrogen receptor/progesterone receptor (ER/PR) status: relative risk (RR) with corresponding 95% confidence interval for oldest versus youngest age at menarche category.
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