Author(s): Salma Butt1,2 , Signe Borgquist2,4 , Lola Anagnostaki3 , Göran Landberg3 and Jonas Manjer1,2
Background
Several early studies and a recently a large meta-analysis including data from thirty countries, have shown a negative association between increasing time of breastfeeding and the risk of breast cancer[1]. However, a number of studies have not been able to shown this association as reviewed by Yang et al.[2]. One reason for these inconclusive findings may be that breastfeeding only influences the risk of certain sub-groups of breast cancer. There has been a limited number of studies investigating breastfeeding in relation to different breast cancer sub-groups, and only characteristics such as histological type and estrogen receptor status have been investigated[3-5].
In all, 17 035 women participated in a prospective population-based cohort in Malmö, Sweden: The Malmö Diet and Cancer Study (MDCS). The MDCS collected information on breastfeeding, as well as other reproductive and environmental factors. During follow-up, 622 women were diagnosed with breast cancer. Tumour tissue samples were available for about 90% of these women, which allowed tumour reclassification and further tumour biological examinations. Tumours were evaluated with regard to invasiveness, size, axillary lymph node status, Nottingham grade, tumour proliferation (Ki67), Human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) status, and expression of cell cycle regulators such as cyclin D1 and p27. Tumours were further examined for WHO histological type (ductal, lobular, and tubular) and hormone receptor status; estrogen receptor alpha (ER[alpha]), estrogen receptor beta (ER[beta]) and progesterone receptor (PgR).
The aim of the present study was to examine breastfeeding in relation to the risk of breast tumours with different biological characteristics.
Methods
The Malmö Diet and Cancer Study (The MDCS)
All women born between 1923 and 1950 in Malmö were invited to a prospective cohort study, the MDCS. Between the years 1991 and 1996, 17 035 women participated[6]. Written informed consent was obtained from all participants.
Information on breastfeeding, education, occupation, marital status, age at menarche, parity, year of each child's birth, age at menopause, exposure to oral contraceptives (OC) (ever/never), current use of hormonal replacement therapy (HRT), alcohol consumption and smoking habits were collected using a questionnaire at baseline[7].
Menopausal status was assessed using both medical records and the questionnaire. A women was considered postmenopausal: (1) if she had undergone bilateral oophorectomy; or (2) if she had undergone hysterectomy but not bilateral oophorectomy, and if she was [greater than or equai to]55 years of age; or (3) if the above criteria were absent and she affirmed that her menstruations had ceased at least during the calendar year two years prior to baseline examination; or (4) if it was unknown whether or not she had undergone a previous oophorectomy or hysterectomy and information on menstrual status was missing, and she was [greater than or equai to]55 years of age. In all 11388 women were postmenopausal at baseline. A woman was classified as pre-/perimenopausal if she affirmed that she was still menstruating, or if her menstruations had ceased less than two years prior...