Residential exposure to traffic pollution and mammographic density in premenopausal women.

BACKGROUND: Mammographic density (MD) is the most important breast cancer biomarker. Ambient pollution is a carcinogen, and its relationship with MD is unclear. This study aims to explore the association between exposure to traffic pollution and MD in premenopausal women. METHODOLOGY: This Spanish cross-sectional study involved 769 women attending gynecological examinations in Madrid. Annual Average Daily Traffic (AADT), extracted from 1944 measurement road points provided by the City Council of Madrid, was weighted by distances (d) between road points and women's addresses to develop a Weighted Traffic Exposure Index (WTEI). Three methods were employed: method-1 (1dAADT), method-2 (1dAADT), and method-3 (e1dAADT). Multiple linear regression models, considering both log-transformed percentage of MD and untransformed MD, were used to estimate MD differences by WTEI quartiles, through two strategies: "exposed (exposure buffers between 50 and 200 m) vs. not exposed (>200 m)"; and "degree of traffic exposure". RESULTS: Results showed no association between MD and traffic pollution according to buffers of exposure to the WTEI (first strategy) for the three methods. The highest reductions in MD, although not statistically significant, were detected in the quartile with the highest traffic exposure. For instance, method-3 revealed a suggestive inverse trend (eßQ1 = 1.23, eßQ2 = 0.96, eßQ3 = 0.85, eßQ4 = 0.85, p-trend = 0.099) in the case of 75 m buffer. Similar non-statistically significant trends were observed with Methods-1 and -2. When we examined the effect of traffic exposure considering all the 1944 measurement road points in every participant (second strategy), results showed no association for any of the three methods. A slightly decreased MD, although not significant, was observed only in the quartile with the highest traffic exposure: eßQ4 = 0.98 (method-1), and eßQ4 = 0.95 (methods-2 and -3). CONCLUSIONS: Our results showed no association between exposure to traffic pollution and MD in premenopausal women. Further research is needed to validate these findings.

High adherence to Western dietary pattern increases breast cancer risk (an EPIC-Spain study).

OBJECTIVE: To explore the association between three previously identified and validated dietary patterns (Western, Prudent and Mediterranean) and breast cancer risk by tumour subtype and menopausal status. METHODS: Data from the Spanish cohort of the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition study provided epidemiological information (including diet and cancer incidence) from 24,892 women (639 breast cancer cases) recruited between 1992 and 1996. The associations between adherence to the three dietary patterns and breast cancer risk (overall and by tumour subtype) were explored by fitting multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models stratified by region, among other variables. A possible interaction with menopausal status (changing over time) was explored. RESULTS: No clear association of the Prudent and Mediterranean dietary patterns with breast cancer risk was found. When compared with women with a level of adherence to the Western diet in the first quartile, women with a level of adherence in the third (hazard ratio (95 % confidence interval) (HR(95%CI)):1.37 (1.07;1.77)) and fourth quartiles (1.37 (1.03;1.83)); p for curvature of splines = 0.016) showed a non-linear increased risk, especially postmenopausal women (HR (95 % CI) 1.30 (0.98;1.72) in the third and 1.42 (1.04;1.94) in the fourth quartiles; p for curvature of splines = 0.081) and for estrogen or progesterone receptor positive with human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 negative tumours (HR (95 % CI) 1.62 (1.10;2.38) and 1.71 (1.11;2.63) for the third and fourth quartiles respectively; p for curvature of splines = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Intake of foods such as high-fat dairy products, red and processed meats, refined grains, sweets, caloric drinks, convenience food and sauces might be associated with a higher risk of breast cancer.

Risk of prostate cancer in the proximity of industrial installations: A multicase-control study in Spain (MCC-Spain).

BACKGROUND: Prostate cancer (PC) is the second most frequent tumor in men worldwide; however, its etiology remains largely unknown, with the exception of age and family history. The wide variability in incidence/mortality across countries suggests a certain role for environmental exposures that has not yet been clarified. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the association between risk of PC (by clinical profile) and residential proximity to pollutant industrial installations (by industrial groups, groups of carcinogens, and specific pollutants released), within the context of a Spanish population-based multicase-control study of incident cancer (MCC-Spain). METHODS: This study included 1186 controls and 234 PC cases, frequency matched by age and province of residence. Distances from participants' residences to the 58 industries located in the study area were calculated and categorized into "near" (considering different limits between ≤1 km and ≤ 3 km) or "far" (>3 km). Odds ratios (ORs) and 95 % confidence intervals (95%CIs) were estimated using mixed and multinomial logistic regression models, adjusted for potential confounders and matching variables. RESULTS: No excess risk was detected near the overall industries, with ORs ranging from 0.66 (≤2 km) to 1.11 (≤1 km). However, positive associations (OR; 95%CI) were found, by industrial group, near (≤3 km) industries of ceramic (2.54; 1.28-5.07), food/beverage (2.18; 1.32-3.62), and disposal/recycling of animal waste (2.67; 1.12-6.37); and, by specific pollutant, near plants releasing fluorine (4.65; 1.45-14.91 at ≤1.5 km) and chlorine (5.21; 1.56-17.35 at ≤1 km). In contrast, inverse associations were detected near industries releasing ammonia, methane, dioxins+furans, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, trichloroethylene, and vanadium to air. CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest no association between risk of PC and proximity to the overall industrial installations. However, some both positive and inverse associations were detected near certain industrial groups and industries emitting specific pollutants.

Cross-sectional and longitudinal associations of adherence to WCRF/AICR cancer prevention recommendations with health-related quality of life in breast cancer survivors. Health-EpiGEICAM study.

OBJECTIVES: Adherence to healthy lifestyle recommendations has been reported to improve health-related quality of life (HRQL) in breast cancer (BC) patients, but the influence of long-term behavioral changes remains unknown. We evaluated the association between adherence to the 2018 World Cancer Research Fund/American Institute for Cancer Research (WCRF/AICR) cancer prevention recommendations and HRQL both, at BC diagnosis and the change 7-12 years later. DESIGN: Prospective cohort study. SETTINGS AND PARTICIPANTS: A total of 406 breast cancer survivors, from the EpiGEICAM study, were recruited in 16 Spanish hospitals. MEASUREMENTS: Epidemiological, clinical, dietary, physical activity and HRQL information was collected both at recruitment and 7-12 years later. A 7-item score to measure compliance with recommendations was assessed according to the 2018 WCRF/AICR scoring criteria. HRQL was evaluated using SF-36 questionnaire. Linear mixed models for longitudinal data were used to assess the cross-sectional and longitudinal association between adherence score and the physical and mental component summary scores. RESULTS: At diagnosis, for each unit increase in WCRF/AICR score adherence, the HRQL physical domain increased 0.78 points (95%CI: -0.04 to 1.60; P trend:0.06). The mean change in physical HRQL from diagnosis to follow-up per unit increase in within-subject adherence score was 0.73 points (95%CI: -0.18 to 1.65; P trend: 0.12). For the mental domain, no association was observed with compliance with the recommendations at diagnosis, nor with changes in adherence over time. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that Increased adherence to WCRF/AICR cancer prevention recommendations over time could contribute to slightly improved long-term physical HRQoL in BC survivors.

Situación epidemiológica del cáncer de mama en España / Epidemiological situation of breast cancer in Spain

El cáncer de mama es el tumor más frecuente en Europa. Según la Agencia Internacional de Investigación del Cáncer, en 2006 se diagnosticaron unos 429.900 casos nuevos de cáncer de mama en Europa, con una tasa estandarizada de incidencia de 100 casos por 100.000 mujeres. También es la localización más frecuente en mujeres españolas: supone casi la cuarta parte de los casos de cáncer femeninos, y su incidencia está aumentando en 2-3% anual. Entre las posibles causas de este incremento están los cambios en los patrones reproductivos y en los hábitos de vida y la introducción de la terapia hormonal sustitutiva. Nuestro país, con una tasa de incidencia estandarizada estimada de 93,6 casos por 100.000 mujeres-año para 2006, ocupa una posición intermedia entre los países de Europa occidental los del este. Es también una importante causa de mortalidad femenina. En 2005 causó la muerte de 5.703 mujeres españolas, con una tasa de mortalidad estandarizada de 18,6 por 100.000 mujeres-año. Desde los años 90 la mortalidad por cáncer de mama está descendiendo debido al diagnóstico precoz por programas de cribado y a los avances terapéuticos. En España esta tendencia decreciente se observa a partir de 1993, con un descenso de un 2,4% anual. La supervivencia global en Europa a los 5 años es cercana al 79%, inferior a la observada en EEUU (90%) y ha aumentado en los últimos años. En España, se sitúa en un 83%, significativamente más alta que la media europea (AU)

Breast cancer is the most frequent neoplasm in Europe. According to the International Agency for Research on Cancer, there were an estimated 429,900 cases diagnosed in Europe in 2006, with an age-standardised incidence rate of 110 cases per 100,000 women. It is also the most frequent cancer in Spanish women, accounting for one forth of female cancer cases, and its incidence is increasing around 2-3% per year. Changes in reproductive behavior and life style along with the introduction of hormone replacement therapy are partially responsible of this trend. Our country, with an estimated age-standardised incidence rate of 93.6 cases per 100,000 women-years in 2006, occupies an intermediate position between Western and Eastern European countries. This tumour also represents an important cause of female mortality. In 2005, it caused 5,703 deaths in Spanish women, with an age-standardised mortality rate of 18.6 per 100,000 women year. However, since the 90´s breast cancer mortality is declining thanks to earlier diagnosis derived from population screening programs and to therapeutical advances. In Spain this downward trend has started in 1993, declining a 2,4% per year. In Europe, 5-year global survival is close to 79%, lower than EEUU survival estimates (90%): Breast cancer survival has risen in recent years. In Spain, 5 year survival is around 83%, significantly higher than European average (AU)

Accuracy of cancer death certificates in Spain: a summary of available information / Validez de la certificación de la muerte por cáncer en España: resumen de la evidencia disponible

Objectives: Differences in mortality rates within Europe might be partly due to the quality of mortality statistics. The present article summarizes the available data on the quality of cancer death certification in Spain. A short description of the temporal distribution of the proportion of deaths due to ill-defined tumors in Spain –an indirect indicator of the quality of cancer death certification– is also provided. Methods: Relevant studies were identified from electronic databases (MEDLINE, EMBASE, IME and IBECS) and from manual searches of the references contained in the articles retrieved. Quality data on death certificates for all tumors and for each specific cancer location were summarized, and all main cancer sites were classified according to their pooled accuracy indicators. Trends for the percentage of deaths due to illdefined tumors and conditions were studied for the period from 1980 to 2002. Results: In Spain, deaths from cancer as a whole and leading cancer sites (lung, colon-rectum, prostate, stomach, pancreas, female breast, uterus, brain, leukemia, lymphomas and myeloma) were well-certified. However, other frequent locations, such as the larynx, esophagus and liver were overcertified, while deaths from bladder, kidney and ovarian cancer were undercertified. The percentage of deaths due to ill-defined tumors and causes was regularly higher in females and decreased in both sexes during the study period. However, the recent introduction of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD)-10 has reversed this trend. Conclusions: Spanish death certificates can be considered as accurate and useful to estimate the burden of cancer, though certification of some frequent sites should be improved. The possible effect of the introduction of the ICD-10 requires careful surveillance (AU)

Objetivos: Parte de las diferencias en tasas de mortalidad por cáncer entre países europeos podrían deberse a diferencias de calidad en las estadísticas de mortalidad. Nuestro objetivo es sintetizar la información cuantitativa que hay acerca de la calidad de los certificados de defunción de cáncer en España, y se añade una somera descripción de la evolución temporal de la proporción de defunciones por tumores mal definidos, indicador indirecto de calidad. Métodos: Se identificaron los estudios relevantes mediante búsquedas en bases de datos electrónicas (MEDLINE, IME, EMBASE e IBECS), y posteriormente se añadieron referencias presentes en los artículos encontrados. Se extrajo la información acerca de calidad de certificación para cáncer en conjunto y para las principales localizaciones tumorales, y se clasificaron los tumores según sus indicadores de calidad. Se estudió también la tendencia del porcentaje de muertes mal definidas o tumores mal definidos entre 1980-2002. Resultados: En España, el cáncer en conjunto y las principales localizaciones –pulmón, colon-recto, próstata, estómago, páncreas, mama, útero, cerebro, leucemia, linfomas y mieloma– están bien certificados. Sin embargo, otras localizaciones como laringe, hígado y esófago están sobrecertificadas, mientras que el cáncer de vejiga, riñón y ovario están infracertificados. Los porcentajes de muertes por tumores o condiciones mal definidas, mayores en mujeres, han disminuido en el período estudiado, aunque la introducción de la CIE-10 ha invertido esta tendencia. Conclusiones: En general, los certificados de cáncer pueden considerarse válidos y útiles para estimar el impacto del cáncer en España, aunque la certificación de algunas localizaciones importantes tendría que mejorar. Debería estudiarse el posible efecto de la introducción de la CIE-10 (AU)