Abstract P2-08-01: Alcohol and tobacco use in relation to mammographic density in 23,456 women
Authors: McBride Russell B , Fei Kezhen , Rothstein Joseph H , Alexeeff Stacey E , Song Xiaoyu , Sakoda Lori C , McGuire Valerie , Achacoso Ninah , Acton Luana , Liang Rhea Y , Lipson Jafi A , Yaffe Martin J , Rubin Daniel L , Whittemore Alice S , Habel Laurel A , Sieh Weiva 
Published: March 2020

Background: High percent density (PD) is common and is among the strongest risk factors for breast cancer. The prevalence of heterogeneously dense or extremely dense breasts is between 40% to 60% of screening age women, and is estimated to account for up to one third of all breast cancer (BC) diagnoses. PD decreases with age, body mass index (BMI), number of children, and menopause; and increases with age at menarche, age at first birth, and family history of breast cancer. Of particular interest are modifiable exposures believed to alter PD, such as the use of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT), tamoxifen and alcohol that could provide opportunities for women to reduce their BC risk. The dense area (DA) of the breast appears radiopaque on a mammogram and contains greater proportions of collagen, epithelial and stromal cells compared to the nondense area (NDA), which largely consists of fatty tissue. Recent studies have shown that NDA is inversely associated with BC risk, independently of DA, suggesting that normal breast fat may play a protective role. The underlying mechanisms through which mammographic density (MD) phenotypes are associated with BC risk are poorly understood.

Methods: We examined associations of alcohol and tobacco use with PD, DA and NDA in a population-based cohort of 23,456 women screened using full-field digital mammography machines manufactured by Hologic or General Electric (GE). MD measurements were obtained using Cumulus an average of 2.9 years after the survey date. Machine-specific effects were estimated using linear regression, adjusted for known biologically plausible correlates of MD, and combined using random effects meta-analysis methods.

Results: Alcohol use was positively associated with PD (ptrend=0.01), unassociated with DA (ptrend=0.23), and inversely associated with NDA (ptrend=0.02) in models adjusted for age, BMI, reproductive factors, physical activity, and family history of breast cancer. In contrast, tobacco use was inversely associated with PD (ptrend=0.0008), unassociated with DA (ptrend=0.93), and positively associated with NDA (ptrend&lt;0.0001). These trends were stronger in normal and overweight women than in obese women.

Conclusions: This study provides the strongest evidence to date that association of alcohol and tobacco use with PD result from their associations with NDA rather than DA.

Impact: Alcohol consumption, and less consistently tobacco use, have been shown to increase risk of breast cancer. These findings indicate that PD and NDA may mediate the association of alcohol drinking, but not tobacco smoking, with increased breast cancer risk. Further studies are needed to elucidate the modifiable lifestyle factors that influence breast tissue composition, and the important role of the fatty tissues on breast health.

Citation Format: Russell B McBride, Kezhen Fei, Joseph H Rothstein, Stacey E Alexeeff, Xiaoyu Song, Lori C Sakoda, Valerie McGuire, Ninah Achacoso, Luana Acton, Rhea Y Liang, Jafi A Lipson, Martin J Yaffe, Daniel L Rubin, Alice S Whittemore, Laurel A Habel, Weiva Sieh. Alcohol and tobacco use in relation to mammographic density in 23,456 women [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2019 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2019 Dec 10-14; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2020;80(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P2-08-01.