Risk factors for HR- and HER2-defined breast cancer in Slovenian postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: The study aimed to investigate the influence of some generally recognized risk factors for hormone receptor (HR)- and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-defined breast cancer among Slovenian postmenopausal women. METHOD: Eligible women diagnosed with breast cancer were compared with 709 controls of the same age and ethnicity. Immunohistochemistry and FISH analyses were used to classify cases into molecular subtypes: 454 HR(+), 106 HR(-), 81 HER2(+) and 603 HER2(-). Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: Overweight and obese women were at increased risk of HR(+), HER2(-) and of HR(+), HR(-), HER2(-) tumors, respectively. Women who started menstruating at the age of 11 years or earlier were at decreased risk of ER(-)PR(-) tumors. Users of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) were negatively associated with HR(+) and HER2(-) tumors. The inverse effect was most pronounced with the use of estrogen-only HRT, and longer duration of HRT use did not result in a significant change in risk. In contrast, combined HRT decreased the risk of HER2(+) tumors. Having a first-degree relative with breast and/or ovarian cancer increased the risk of HR(+) and HER2(-) tumors. CONCLUSION: We conclude that certain breast cancer risk factors may vary by molecular subtypes. According to our results, HRT use may have a greater influence on HR (+) and HER2(-) breast cancers and the risk of HER2-defined breast cancer may differ with respect to the regimen of HRT.

Hormone replacement therapy and some risk factors for breast cancer among Slovenian postmenopausal women.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of the study was to examine the influence of the use of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) and of some generally recognized risk factors on breast cancer risk among Slovenian postmenopausal women. METHODS: Eligible women diagnosed with breast cancer and a control group of women of the same age and ethnicity were invited to participate in the case-control study via a personal letter and asked to complete a written questionnaire. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using multivariate logistic regression analysis. RESULTS: A total of 784 cases and 709 controls aged 50-69 years were enrolled. HRT use was inversely associated with breast cancer risk. The effect was most pronounced with the use of estrogen-only replacement therapy (odds ratio (OR) 0.51, 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.30-0.87). Longer duration of HRT use did not result in a significant change in risk (1 to <5 years of HRT use: OR 0.44, 95% CI 0.26-0.73; ≥ 5 years of HRT use: OR 0.51, 95% CI 0.30-0.87). Obesity (25 ≤ body mass index <30 kg/m(2): OR 1.34, 95% CI 1.04-1.73; body mass index ≥ 30 kg/m(2): OR 1.89, 95% CI 1.36-2.63), smoking ≥ 10 cigarettes per day (OR 1.70, 95% CI 1.20-2.43), and any first-degree relative with breast or ovarian cancer (OR 1.52, 95% CI 1.11-2.08) were positively associated with breast cancer risk. CONCLUSIONS: Our analysis revealed some differences from the previously published literature, which might reflect underlying demographic changes. Comprehensive medical care in HRT users without pre-existing breast abnormalities probably reduces the incidence of new breast cancer cases in Slovenia.

Factors associated with improved biochemical response to neoadjuvant androgen deprivation therapy before definitive radiation therapy in prostate cancer patients.

BACKGROUND: In prostate cancer patients treated with androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) and radiation therapy (RT), a pre-RT PSA level 0.5 ng ml(-1), determined after neoadjuvant ADT and before RT, predicts for worse survival measures. The present study sought to identify patient, tumor and treatment characteristics associated with the pre-RT PSA in prostate cancer patients. METHODS: We reviewed the charts of all patients diagnosed with intermediate- and high-risk prostate cancer and treated with a combination of neoadjuvant (median, 2.2 and 2.5 months, respectively), concurrent, and adjuvant ADT and RT between 1990 and 2011. RESULTS: A total of 170 intermediate- and 283 high-risk patients met inclusion criteria. On multivariate analysis, both intermediate- and high-risk patients with higher pre-treatment PSA (iPSA) were significantly less likely to achieve a pre-RT PSA <0.5 ng ml(-1) (iPSA 10.1-20 ng ml(-1): P=0.005 for intermediate risk; iPSA 10.1-20 ng ml(-1): P=0.005, iPSA >20 ng ml(-1): P<0.001 for high risk). High-risk patients undergoing total androgen blockade were more likely to achieve a pre-RT PSA <0.5 ng ml(-1) (P=0.031). We observed an interaction between race and type of neoadjuvant ADT (P=0.074); whereas African-American men on total androgen blockade reached pre-RT PSA <0.5 ng ml(-1) as frequently as other men on total androgen blockade (P=0.999), African-American men on luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LH-RH) agonist monotherapy/orchiectomy were significantly less likely to reach pre-RT PSA <0.5 ng ml(-1) compared with other men on LH-RH monotherapy/orchiectomy (P=0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that total androgen blockade in the neoadjuvant period may be beneficial compared with LH-RH monotherapy for achieving a pre-RT PSA <0.5 ng ml(-1) in African-American men with high-risk prostate cancer. In addition, men with higher iPSA are more likely to have a pre-RT PSA greater than 0.5 ng ml(-1) in response to neoadjuvant ADT and are therefore candidates for clinical trials testing newer, more aggressive hormone-ablative therapies.

CAG repeat polymorphism in androgen receptor gene is not directly associated with polycystic ovary syndrome but influences serum testosterone levels.

Hyperandrogenemia has been the most consistent feature of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). Androgens exert their effects through androgen receptors (ARs). The expansion of the codon CAG trinucleotide repeat polymorphism in exon 1 of the AR gene represents a type of genetic alteration associated with changes in the AR gene function. The purpose of this study was to establish a possible association of the AR gene CAG repeat length polymorphism with PCOS, and its influence on clinical and biochemical androgen traits. Two hundred and fourteen Croatian women with PCOS and 209 healthy control women of reproductive age were enrolled. Phenotypic hyperandrogenism, BMI and waist to hip ratio were recorded. Hormonal profiles, fasting insulin and glucose levels were measured on cycle days 3-5. Genotyping of the CAG repeat polymorphism in the AR gene was performed. We found no significant difference in the mean CAG repeat number between the PCOS patients and controls (22.1±3.4 vs. 21.9±3.2, P=0.286). There was a positive correlation between the CAG repeat length and total testosterone (TT) in the PCOS group (R=0.225, P=0.015). A multiple linear regression model using mean CAG repeat length, BMI, age and HOMA-IR as predictors explained 8.5% (adjusted R²) of the variability in serum TT levels. In this model the CAG repeat polymorphism was found to be a significant predictor of serum TT levels in PCOS patients (P=0.015). The logistic regression analysis revealed that the CAG repeat length is not a significant predictor of hirsutism and acne status (P=0.921 and P=0.437, respectively). The model was adjusted for serum TT, free testosterone, androstendione and DHEAS levels as independent variables, which were also not found to be significant predictors of hirsutism (P=0.687, P=0.194, P=0.675 and P=0.938, respectively) or acne status (P=0.594, P=0.095, P=0.290 and P=0.151, respectively). In conclusion, the AR CAG repeat polymorphism is not a major determinant of PCOS in the Croatian population, but it is a predictor of serum TT level variability in women with PCOS.