Epidemiology

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Alcohol consumption-associated breast cancer incidence and potential effect modifiers: the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study

  1. Reiko Suzuki,
  2. Motoki Iwasaki†,*,
  3. Manami Inoue,
  4. Shizuka Sasazuki,
  5. Norie Sawada,
  6. Taiki Yamaji,
  7. Taichi Shimazu,
  8. Shoichiro Tsugane

Article first published online: 3 DEC 2009

DOI: 10.1002/ijc.25079

Issue

International Journal of Cancer

International Journal of Cancer

Volume 127, Issue 3, pages 685–695, 1 August 2010

Additional Information

How to Cite

Suzuki, R., Iwasaki, M., Inoue, M., Sasazuki, S., Sawada, N., Yamaji, T., Shimazu, T. and Tsugane, S. (2010), Alcohol consumption-associated breast cancer incidence and potential effect modifiers: the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study. International Journal of Cancer, 127: 685–695. doi: 10.1002/ijc.25079

Author Information

  1. Epidemiology and Prevention Division, Research Center for Cancer Prevention and Screening, National Cancer Center, Chuo-ku, Tokyo, Japan

  1. †

    Tel: +81-3-3542-2511 (extn: 3391), Fax: +81-3-3547-8578

*Epidemiology and Prevention Division, Research Center for Cancer Prevention and Screening, National Cancer Center, Tsukiji 5-1-1, Chuo-ku, Tokyo 104-0045, Japan

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 24 MAY 2010
  2. Article first published online: 3 DEC 2009
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 3 DEC 2009 12:00AM EST
  4. Manuscript Accepted: 19 NOV 2009
  5. Manuscript Received: 3 SEP 2009

Funded by

  • Grants-in-aid for Cancer Research from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan
  • Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan and for the third Term Comprehensive 10-year Strategy for Cancer Control from the Ministry of Health, Labor and Welfare of Japan

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Keywords:

  • alcohol;
  • breast cancer;
  • risk;
  • isoflavones;
  • prospective cohort;
  • estrogen receptor

Abstract

Epidemiological studies have evaluated whether the impact of alcohol intake on breast cancer risk is modified by use of exogenous estrogens, folate intake, body weight and smoking status, but results have been inconsistent. Further, effect modification by intake of isoflavones and alcohol-induced facial flushing, which are prevalent in Asian populations, have not been investigated. We investigated the association between alcohol intake and breast cancer risk and whether the association is modified by these factors among 50,757 premenopausal and postmenopausal women (aged 40–69 years) in the population-based Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study. Alcohol consumption and other related factors were assessed using self-reported questionnaires. Through to the end of 2006, 572 patients were identified. Relative risks (RRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated by hazard ratios derived from Cox proportional hazards regression models. Compared with never-drinkers, regular alcohol drinkers (>150 g of ethanol/week) had a higher risk of the development of breast cancer; the multivariable-adjusted RRs were 1.75 (95% CI = 1.16–2.65; ptrend = 0.035) for overall, 1.78 (95% CI = 1.09–2.90) for premenopausal and 1.21 (95% CI = 0.53–2.75) for postmenopausal women. There was no statistical evidence for effect modification by menopausal status, use of exogenous estrogens, intakes of isoflavone and folate, body weight, alcohol-induced facial flushing or smoking (All pinteractions ≥ 0.15). Excessive alcohol intake was associated with an increase in the risk of breast cancer in this population. There was no statistical evidence for effect modification.

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