Risk Factors for Premenopausal Breast Cancer in Bangladesh

How does weight gain since the age of 18 years affect breast cancer risk in later life? A meta-analysis

Early life factors are important risk factors for breast cancer. The association between weight gain after age 18 and breast cancer risk is inconsistent across previous epidemiologic studies. To evaluate this association, we conducted a meta-analysis according to PRISMA guidelines and the established inclusion criteria. We performed a comprehensive literature search using Medline (Ovid), Embase, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov to identify relevant studies published before June 3, 2022. Two reviewers independently reviewed the articles for final inclusion. Seventeen out of 4,725 unique studies met the selection criteria. The quality of studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS), and all were of moderate to high quality with NOS scores ranging from 5 to 8. We included 17 studies (11 case-control, 6 cohort) in final analysis. In case-control studies, weight gain after age 18 was associated with an increased risk of breast cancer (odds ratio [OR] = 1.25; 95% CI = 1.07-1.48), when comparing the highest versus the lowest categories of weight gain. Menopausal status was a source of heterogeneity, with weight gain after age 18 associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women (OR = 1.53; 95% CI = 1.40-1.68), but not in premenopausal women (OR = 1.01; 95% CI = 0.92-1.12). Additionally, a 5 kg increase in weight was positively associated with postmenopausal breast cancer risk (OR = 1.12; 95%CI = 1.05-1.21) in case-control studies. Findings from cohort studies were identical, with a positive association between weight gain after age 18 and breast cancer incidence in postmenopausal women (relative risk [RR] = 1.30; 95% CI = 1.09-1.36), but not in premenopausal women (RR = 1.06; 95% CI = 0.92-1.22). Weight gain after age 18 is a risk factor for postmenopausal breast cancer, highlighting the importance of weight control from early adulthood to reduce the incidence of postmenopausal breast cancer.

Imaging Patterns in Breast Cancer for Women Under 40 Years: A Descriptive Cohort Study

BACKGROUND AND AIM

Breast cancer is the most frequently occurring malignant disease in women and remains the leading cause of cancer-related deaths among females worldwide. The aim of this study is to evaluate the imaging findings of breast cancer in women under the age of 40 and analyze their pathological patterns.

METHOD

A retrospective study was conducted from 2013 to 2019, involving 120 patients below 40 years of age with pathologically confirmed primary epithelial breast cancers. The data were collected from the electronic records of a tertiary hospital in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Mammograms were performed for 115 patients, ultrasounds were conducted for all patients, and MRI scans were carried out for 47 patients.

RESULTS

All radiological findings and clinical characteristics of the 120 cases were retrieved from our digital-based system. The majority of breast cancer patients (83.4%) were between 30 and 40 years old, and the most common clinical presentation was a mass (45.8%). Out of the 73 patients who underwent genetic tests, 32.9% tested positive for gene mutations. No statistically significant correlation was found between specific age groups and breast composition (P = 0.216), specific mammogram abnormalities such as masses (P = 0.262), or microcalcifications (P = 0.421). Ultrasonography was performed for all patients, with abnormalities detected in only one patient who was diagnosed with Paget's disease of the nipple. Masses, with or without parenchymal changes, were the predominant feature in 88.3% of cases.

CONCLUSION

The imaging findings in breast cancer cases typically involve masses with suspicious features, irregular shape, and spiculated margins on mammograms, and irregular shape with microlobulated or angular margins on ultrasound. MRI features commonly include masses with irregular shape and heterogeneous enhancement. The luminal B subtype was identified as the most prevalent pathological feature, characterized by a high proliferative index (Ki-67%).

Current Treatment Status and Treatment Seeking Time of Breast Cancer Patients during COVID-19 Pandemic in Bangladesh

BACKGROUND

Rising incidence of cancer is a challenging form of seeking help to start treatment, especially in a pandemic situation. Treatment in due time may reduce the time interval of treatment-seeking, which influences the survival of breast cancer patients. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of the pandemic on treatment delays among breast cancer patients in Bangladesh.

METHOD

A cross-sectional study was conducted from July 2020 to June 2021. A total of 200 samples were collected randomly from the out clinic department of the National Institute of Cancer Research and Hospital. A face-to-face interview was taken with a pretested semi-structured questionnaire. Patients were selected by histopathologically confirmed breast cancer and excluded by their metastasis history, treatment history, physical condition, and informed consent.

RESULTS

Mean illness period was 16 months with patient delay was 4 months, provider delay was 7 months and total (treatment delay) was 11 months. Stage of cancer had 6 times chance to develop patient delay where OR of 6.234 at 95% CI (2.0, 19.23) and p-value 0.001, Stage of cancer had 4 times chance to develop provider delay where OR of 4.513 at 95% CI (1.35, 12.15) and p-value 0.012, to whom first seek help had 5 times chance to develop provider delay OR of 5.287 at 95% CI (2.58, 10.84) and p-value <0.0001. Provider delay was 2 times associated with a number of FNAC at 95% CI (1.13, 5.13) and a p-value of 0.023. Stage of cancer had 8 times chance to develop total delay where OR of 7.960, at 95% CI (3.20, 19.75) and p-value <0.0001, to whom first seek help had 4 times chance to develop total delay OR 3.860 at 95% CI (1.88, 7.95) and p-value <0.0001.

CONCLUSION

Stage of cancer and first health care provider play a role in treatment-seeking, so, to improve treatment-seeking time, health education is needed to whom they go first, to where they go first.

Comprehensive Studies of Different Cancer Diseases among Less-Developed Countries

Recently, the rate of cancer deaths in less-developed countries such as Bangladesh has significantly increased day by day, making it a major health issue. The most predominant types of cancers among the populations of less-developed countries (especially Bangladesh) are lung, throat, colon, gastric, ovarian, breast, and skin cancers. The mortality rate is increasing for both males and females. The main common factors are smoking, use of tobacco leaves, bacterial or viral infection, hereditary disorders, food adulterations, and environmental factors, which are highly responsible for the development of carcinoma in the young to adult population in this region. Raising consciousness among people regarding early diagnosis, decreasing the use of chemicals such as formalin for food preservation, and reducing environmental pollution such as arsenic as well as air pollution might help to reduce the number of deaths. Education and public campaigns can also reduce the intensity of cancer occurrence. Breast, esophagus, and cervical cancer are common diseases in less-developed countries such as Bangladesh.

A meta-analysis and in silico analysis of polymorphic variants conferring breast cancer risk in the Indian subcontinent

Background: Genetic association studies on breast cancer on the Indian subcontinent have yielded conflicting results, and the precise effect of these variants on breast cancer pathogenesis is not known. Methods: Genomic variants, as obtained from selected studies from the Indian subcontinent, were subjected to random-effects and fixed-effect meta-analysis. Functional annotation of the relevant variants was done through a tried and tested in silico pipeline. Results: We found rs4646903/CYP1A1, rs1799814/CYP1A1, rs61886492/GCPII, del2/GSTM1, rs4680/COMT and rs1801394/MTRR to be associated with breast cancer. The del2/GSTM1 holds the association in premenopausal women. Conclusions: This is the first study of its kind from the Indian subcontinent analysing the extent of association of variants across populations followed by their functional annotation in the disease pathway.

Association of Overweight and Obesity with Breast Cancer During Premenopausal Period in Asia: A Meta-Analysis

Background:

The association of overweight and obesity with breast cancer risk in premenopausal women and in different ethnicities remains in debate, especially among Asian women. The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to determine the association of overweight and obesity with breast cancer during premenopausal period in Asian women.

Methods:

We performed a meta-analysis of research articles on the association of overweight and obesity with breast cancer during premenopausal period in Asian women published from January 2000 to July 2018 in article databases of EBSCO, PubMed, and ProQuest. Pooled odds ratios (ORs) were calculated by fixed and random-effect models. Publication bias was visually evaluated using funnel plots, and then statistically assessed using Egger's and Begg's tests. Review Manager 5.3 (RevMan 5.3) and Stata version 14.2 (Stata Corporation) were used to process the data. We reviewed 886 articles.

Results:

We found 15 studies conducted systematic review continued by meta-analysis of relevant data with 22,362 patients. There was significant association of obesity [OR = 1.36 (95% confidence interval (CI) 1.26–1.47, P < 0.00001)] and overweight [OR = 1.17 (95% CI 1.10–1.25, P < 0.00001)] with breast cancer during premenopausal period in Asian women. In this study, there was no significant publication bias for studies included in overweight and obesity with breast cancer during premenopausal in Asian women.

Conclusions:

This study suggested association of overweight and obesity with breast cancer during premenopausal period in Asian women.

Risk Factors of Breast Cancer in Hadramout Valley and Desert, Yemen

BACKGROUND

The incidence of breast cancer is on rise in low- and middle-income countries as populations increasingly adopt western lifestyles. Studies on risk factors of cancers including breast cancer are lacking in Yemen. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the risk factors of breast cancer among women registered at Hadramout Valley and Desert Oncology Center (HVDOC).

METHODS

A case-control study was conducted at HVDOC, Yemen. All women who were registered in HVDOC and diagnosed with breast cancer and confirmed by histopathology during 2011-2015 were selected as cases. Age-matched controls were selected from women who underwent mammography in HVDOC during 2011-2015 and were confirmed to be free of breast cancer. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaire and clinical data were abstracted from the medical records.

RESULTS

A total of 105 patients and 210 controls were included in this study. About 70.5% of cases and 72.4% of control were 50 years old or younger. Compared with married women, divorced women had higher odds of breast cancer [odds ratio (OR) = 2.2]. The odds of breast cancer was higher for women who had never breastfed a child (OR = 1.7). Having hypertension (OR = 2.5), family history of malignancy (OR = 2.4), and postmenopausal status (OR = 2.0) were significantly associated with higher odds of breast cancer in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

The main risk factors for breast cancer among women in Yemen are divorced marital status, never breastfed a child, having hypertension, family history of malignancy, and postmenopause. Regular screening especially among women with high risk is needed.

Urban rural disparity in female breast cancer incidence rate in China and the increasing trend in parallel with socioeconomic development and urbanization in a rural setting

BACKGROUND

Worldwide breast cancer incidence correlates with socioeconomic status and increases in parallel with westernization, however urban-rural disparity and trends have not been adequately investigated in China.

METHODS

The age standardized rate (ASR) of female breast cancer by population-based cancer registration was compared between urban Shijiazhuang city and rural Shexian County in relation to socioeconomic status. The increasing trend of breast cancer in Shexian County from 2000-2015 was examined using Joinpoint analysis and the correlation with gross domestic product (GDP) per capita was analyzed.

RESULTS

In 2012, the ASR of female breast cancer in Shijiazhuang was more than three times higher than in Shexian County (45.5/1 00 000 vs.13.8/1 00 000; P < 0.01) when the GDP per capita was 2.6 times higher (US$6964.80 vs. US$2700). In parallel with rapid socioeconomic development and urbanization, the biennial ASR of female breast cancer in Shexian county has increased significantly from 2.8/1 00 000 in 2000-2001 to 17.3/1 00 000 in 2014-2015, with an average biennial percent change of +10.2% (P < 0.01). The Pearson correlation between ASR and GDP was significantly positive (r = 0.94, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

The incidence of breast cancer in women in China is increasing along with lifestyle westernization and changing reproductive patterns associated with socioeconomic development and urbanization. Urgent prevention measures, including the development of a healthy diet, giving birth at a younger age, an increase in breastfeeding, limiting menopause estrogen therapy, and control of alcohol consumption, are required.

Roles of Biopsychosocial Factors in the Development of Breast Cancer

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to determine the roles of biopsychosocial risk factors in the development of breast cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This hospital-based case-control study included 491 women with breast cancer (study group) and 512 women who did not have cancer or other serious diseases (control group). Biological, psychological, and social risk factors were compared between the two groups. Data were collected using the semi-structured interview, the Stress Assessment Form, and the Coping Strategy Indicator to assess these factors.

RESULTS

When the significantly different biopsychosocial variables between the study and the control groups were evaluated together, independent breast cancer risk factors were found as follows: a stressor experienced in the last 5 years, age 40 years and older, inadequate social support perception, use of avoidance coping strategy, being a housewife, having a family history of cancer, and having a body mass index ≥25.

CONCLUSION

This study showed a relationship between breast cancer risk and manageable variables (obesity, stressor and coping strategy, social support, and employment status), age and family history of cancer, which are biopsychosocial factors. Biopsychosocial aspects are becoming a greater part of many different healthcare systems.

Incidence rate of female breast cancer in urban Shijiazhuang in 2012 and modifiable risk factors

Background

Breast cancer is diagnosed more frequently among urban than rural women in China; however, the incidence among women in Shijiazhuang is unknown.

Methods

As registered Chinese citizens are entitled to complete public medical insurance coverage, the incidence rate was estimated using reimbursement records of first hospitalization.

Results

Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women in Shijiazhuang. The crude rate and age‐standardized incidence rates by China (ASRC) and world (ASRW) standards were 59.6, 48.5 and 45.5/100 000 in 2012. Mean age at diagnosis was 55.1 years. Incidence increased with age, peaking at 165.1 at 70–74. In comparison with urban women in other Chinese cities, incidence in Shijiazhuang was similar to Shanghai (ASRC 46.6) and Suzhou (ASRW 45). When compared with 31 other Chinese cities, Shijiazhuang ranked second highest behind Guangzhou (ASRW 46.6), and the ASRW correlated significantly with gross domestic product per capita among the 32 cities. The breast cancer ASRW in Shijiazhuang was 2.7 times the rate of 41 rural Chinese counties (17). When compared with GLOBOCAN 2012 data according to the Human Development Index, breast cancer incidence in Shijiazhuang matched countries with a high human development index (ASRW 45.2).

Conclusion

Breast cancer incidence in Shijiazhuang in 2012 was the highest in China, matching the rate in countries with high social economic development. This rate may continue to rise, parallel with urbanization, and may be associated with changing reproductive patterns and Westernization. Prevention methods need to be incorporated.