Abstract 1900: Age at last birth and endometrial cancer risk: Pooled analysis in the Epidemiology of Endometrial Cancer Consortium
Authors: Setiawan Veronica W. , Karageorgi Stalo , Deming Sandra , Anderson Kristin , Bernstein Leslie , Brinton Louise , Cai Hui , Cerhan James R. , Chen Chu , Cozen Wendy , Doherty Jennifer A. , Freudenheim Jo L. , Goodman Marc T. , Horn-Ross Pamela , Lissowska Jolanta , Lurie Galina , Mack Thomas , Matsuno Rayna K. , McCann Susan E. , Moysich Kristen , Pike Malcolm C. , Rebbeck Timothy R. , Robien Kim , Shu Xiao-Ou , Spurdle Amanda B. , Strom Brian L. ,   The Australian National Endometrial Cancer Study Group, Ursin Giske , Xiang Yong-Bing , Webb Penny M. , Weiss Noel S. , Wentzensen Nicolas , Yang Hannah P. , De Vivo Immaculata 
Published: July 2012

Some studies show that childbearing at older age is associated with lower risk of endometrial cancer, but whether the association is independent of number of children or other factors still requires clarification. We pooled individual-level data from epidemiologic studies in the Epidemiology of Endometrial Cancer Consortium (E2C2). Data on age at last birth and/or last pregnancy were available from 14 studies: 11 case-control studies and 3 cohort studies; the latter were analyzed using a nested case-control design. A total of 9,613 endometrial cancer cases and 17,112 controls were included in the analysis. The majority of women were White (82%) and older than 55 years (69%). We estimated the effects of age at last birth using data from 12 studies and age at last pregnancy using data from 10 studies on the risk of endometrial cancer by calculating odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) using logistic regression models. Potential confounders included in the analysis were race, body mass index, parity, age at menarche, age at first birth, oral contraceptive use, postmenopausal hormone use, smoking status, and report of diabetes. After adjusting for potential confounders, a reduction in endometrial cancer risk was observed in women with increasing age at last birth (P trend &lt;0.0001) and age at last pregnancy (P trend &lt;0.0001). The OR per five-year increase in age at last birth and age at last pregnancy was 0.90 (95%CI: 0.86, 0.94) and 0.91 (95% CI: 0.87, 0.95), respectively. Women who had their last child at an age &gt;40 years were at a 34% decreased risk compared with women who had their last child at an age &lt;25 years (95% CI: 0.52, 0.82). Compared to women with age at last pregnancy &lt;25 years, those with age at last pregnancy &gt;40 years had a 30% decreased risk of endometrial cancer (95%CI: 0.57, 0.86). Inverse associations were observed for Whites and Asians in race-specific analysis and also in analysis restricted to women with at least 2 births. In this large pooled analysis, we show that late age at last birth or last pregnancy is a strong and independent protective factor for endometrial cancer.

Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 1900. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-1900