Inflammatory Markers and Breast Cancer Risk

Abstract : Mammographic breast density is one of the strongest known risk factors for breast cancer, and a marker of cancer risk for both breasts. Women with dense tissue in more than 75% of the breast have been shown to be at a 4-5 fold increased risk of breast cancer compared to women who have mostly fatty breasts. Greater breast density also affects mammographic sensitivity for breast cancer; mammographic sensitivity declines significantly with greater breast density. Information on the etiology of breast density is currently limited. Identifying factors that affect breast density and understanding the underlying mechanisms may help reduce breast cancer risk and improve early detection of breast cancer, thereby reducing morbidity and mortality. Increasing evidence suggests that inflammatory cytokines may influence breast cancer risk. To gain further insight into the role of inflammatory cytokines in the etiology of breast density, we investigated associations between circulating cytokine levels, common genetic variation in cytokine genes, and mammographic breast density using existing data and banked specimens from the Mammograms and Masses Study (MAMS). This final report summarizes the work conducted over the entire research period.