Epidemiology

Prospectively measured thyroid hormones and thyroid peroxidase antibodies in relation to breast cancer risk

  1. Ada Tosovic1,†,*,
  2. Charlotte Becker2,
  3. Anne-Greth Bondeson1,
  4. Lennart Bondeson3,
  5. Ulla-Britt Ericsson4,
  6. Johan Malm2,
  7. Jonas Manjer1,5

Article first published online: 18 APR 2012

DOI: 10.1002/ijc.27470

Issue

International Journal of Cancer

International Journal of Cancer

Volume 131, Issue 9, pages 2126–2133, 1 November 2012

Additional Information

How to Cite

Tosovic, A., Becker, C., Bondeson, A.-G., Bondeson, L., Ericsson, U.-B., Malm, J. and Manjer, J. (2012), Prospectively measured thyroid hormones and thyroid peroxidase antibodies in relation to breast cancer risk. Int. J. Cancer, 131: 2126–2133. doi: 10.1002/ijc.27470

Author Information

  1. 1

    Department of Surgery, Skane University Hospital Malmoe, Lund University, Malmoe, Sweden

  2. 2

    Department of Laboratory Medicine, Skane University Hospital Malmoe, Lund University, Malmoe, Sweden

  3. 3

    University and Regional Laboratories Region Skane, Department of Pathology, Skane University Hospital Malmoe, Lund University, Malmoe, Sweden

  4. 4

    Department of Endocrinology, Skane University Hospital Malmoe, Lund University, Malmoe, Sweden

  5. 5

    The Malmoe Diet and Cancer Study, Skane University Hospital Malmoe, Lund University, Malmoe, Sweden

  1. †

    Tel.: +46-40-331444, Fax: +46-40-337877

*Department of Surgery, Skane University Hospital Malmoe, SE-205 02 Malmoe, Sweden

  1. †

    Tel.: +46-40-331444, Fax: +46-40-337877

Publication History

  1. Issue published online: 24 AUG 2012
  2. Article first published online: 18 APR 2012
  3. Accepted manuscript online: 9 FEB 2012 06:29AM EST
  4. Manuscript Accepted: 5 JAN 2012
  5. Manuscript Received: 23 SEP 2011

Funded by

  • The Swedish Cancer Society
  • The Ernhold Lundström Foundation
  • The Einar and Inga Nilsson Foundation
  • The Malmö University Hospital Cancer Research Fund
  • The Malmö University Hospital Funds and Donations
  • The Crafoord Foundation
  • The Anna Lisa and Sven-Eric Lundgren Foundation
  • and the Mossfelt Foundation

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Keywords:

  • breast cancer risk;
  • thyroxin;
  • thyroid peroxidase antibodies

Abstract

Thyroid hormones influence both normal breast cell differentiation and breast cancer cell proliferation and stimulate the angiogenesis of certain cancer forms. Several cross-sectional studies have measured thyroid hormones/autoantibodies in breast cancer ceases vs. controls, but it is difficult to determine the cause–effect direction in these studies. Only three prospective studies have reported on the subject so far. The aim of our study was to investigate prediagnostically measured levels of thyroid hormones, thyrotropin (TSH) and thyroid autoantibodies in relation to subsequent risk of breast cancer. The Malmoe Diet and Cancer study examined 17,035 women between 1991 and 1996. Blood samples were collected at baseline and free triiodothyronine (T3), free thyroxin (T4), TSH and thyroid peroxidase autoantibodies (TPO-Ab) levels were measured in 676 cases and 680 controls. Relative risks with 95% confidence intervals were assessed using a logistic regression analysis adjusted for potential confounders. Free T4 levels were positively associated with a high risk of breast cancer, and the OR for women with free T4 levels above vs. below the median was 1.40 (1.10–1.77). This association was most pronounced in overweight women (1.51:1.07–2.12). Women with high levels of TPO-Ab had a lower risk of breast cancer, but only the analysis of TPO-Ab as a continuous variable reached statistical significance. Free T4 was in our study positively associated with a high risk of breast cancer. This association was most pronounced in overweight/obese women. Women with a high level of TPO-Ab had a relatively low risk of breast cancer.

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