Stress, Central Body Fat &amp; Risk of Early Breast Development
Creators: name: University Of California Office Of The President
Publisher: name: University of California Office of the President
publisherIdentifier: https://ror.org/00dmfq477
publisherIdentifierScheme: ROR
Year: 2024

description: Non-technical overview of the research topic and relevance to breast cancer: Early puberty is powerfully associated with breast cancer risk and prevention efforts are increasingly shifting focus to examining early development. Chronic stressors (adverse socioeconomic circumstances, stressful life events) accelerate pubertal development. In addition, stress may lead to obesity, particularly ‘belly’ fat accumulation, which, in turn, promotes early puberty. Furthermore, earlier pubertal maturation appears to coincide with the current child obesity epidemic. The question(s) or central hypotheses of the research: Our research question is ““which types of adverse psychosocial environment promote early breast development (menarche) in girls?” My mentoring team and I are particularly focused on answering this question with regard to multiethnic populations, with a view to identifying subgroups that may be disproportionately vulnerable to early puberty. Our hypotheses are: 1. Risk of early breast development will increase with increasing level and severity of chronic stressors such as low socioeconomic status and adverse early life events. 2. Age at the onset of breast development will decrease with increasing ‘belly’ fat. 3. The interaction between chronic stress and ‘belly’ fat will affect age at the onset of breast development. For example, we will determine whether age at the onset of breast development is mediated by ‘belly’ fat accumulation among study participants with increased chronic stress. 4. The association between chronic stress and ‘belly’ fat will differ by level of physical activity and food intake. The general methodology: This Postdoctoral Fellowship application adds a new component to an epidemiological study, Cohort Study of Young Girls’ Nutrition, Environment and Transitions (CYGNET), that examines environmental and genetic determinants of early puberty as a risk factor for breast cancer through the UCSF Breast Cancer and the Environment Research Center (PI: Dr. Robert Hiatt), in collaboration with Kaiser Permanente Northern California (KPNC; PI: Dr. Lawrence Kushi). This parent study, a part of a multi-site study that includes sites in Cincinnati and New York (N~1200), is in Year 3 and has successfully recruited 444 6 to 7-year-old girls, who are followed for 5 years (2005-2010). Innovative elements of the project: The proposed study seeks to shed new light on the causes of early puberty in relation to breast cancer and foster innovative ideas (the new stress-body fat-puberty model). In addition, the study has the potential to be the first to establish a compelling new association between chronic stress, ‘belly’ fat and early breast development (menarche). Our proposed study also stands out in its focus on a multiethnic population and our ability to leverage the existing parent study. In addition, longer term, the findings of this study will help inform unique new interventions targeting modifiable factors such as physical activity and diet in order to delay puberty, particularly among vulnerable ethnic populations. Such interventions may offer a promising and innovative strategy for primary prevention of breast cancer. Advocacy involvement and relevance to the human issues associated with breast cancer: The parent study investigators have established strategic partnerships with breast cancer advocacy groups, principally Zero Breast Cancer (formerly Marin Breast Cancer Watch) and Breast Cancer Fund. In planning this grant, my primary mentor and I have held formal and informal meetings with advocates, who have helped me shape my research questions in terms of addressing community concerns regarding modifiable risk factors for early puberty. Moving forward, we will continue to communicate extensively with the community through a broad-ranging set of collaborators and advocates, especially those from Zero Breast Cancer and Breast Cancer Fund. Through community meetings as well as personal meetings and interviews, we are continually increasing and strengthening our involvement with advocates.