Susceptibility to Breast Cancer: Dietary and Other Factors
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: The proposed study will examine whether an elevated level of exposure to the food-borne carcinogens known as heterocyclic aromatic amines (HAAs) is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in women. It is biologically plausible that such an association may exist given over 2 decades of experimental research on these potential carcinogens, including several studies showing that they are potent mammary gland cancer-causing agents (carcinogens) in rodents. It is now an appropriate time to examine whether there is any risk of breast cancer in women attributable to exposure to dietary HAAs. These substances are formed when meat is cooked by many common methods at high temperatures, e.g., barbecuing. Simple methods are available to prevent their formation prior to any preferred method of cooking. Therefore, the proposed research could ultimately point to practical approaches to the primary prevention of breast cancer. In addition, the proposed study will examine a well-characterized gene known as NAT2, which is involved in the formation of deleterious mutations caused by HAAs.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 The proposed case-control study will recruit 2400 women who are scheduled for a diagnostic breast biopsy to rule out a carcinoma (the most common form of breast cancer), with an expected 600 cases of breast cancer and 1800 controls with benign breast diseases. Since subjects will be interviewed prior to the biopsy, selection and recall bias problems, which are common to case-control studies, will be reduced considerably. The control group will also be divided and compared based upon their biopsy results which are thought to indicate either high, low, or no risk of future breast cancer. An interviewer-administered questionnaire will be used to assess dietary exposures to HAAs. In addition, other important factors, which may influence or interfere with the exposures of interest or interact with them, will be assessed with self-administered dietary and risk factor questionnaires so that they may be taken into account. Diagnoses (from 4 participating breast cancer treatment centers) will be confirmed by the research pathologist. Known or suspected risk factors for breast cancer will be controlled for, including dietary nutrients, body mass, temporal changes in body weight, height, age, menstrual, pregnancy and lactation history, family history of breast and ovarian cancer, alcohol intake, steroid hormone use, socioeconomic status and race/ethnicity.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 In summary, the proposed study will extend research on the relationship between breast cancer and diet, by examining specific agents which may explain the inconsistency of other epidemiological studies showing that high levels of meat consumption, and possibly fat, are associated with breast cancer risk. A better understanding of the importance of HAAs and NAT2 genotype can provide important insights into: 1) possible breast cancer-causing mechanisms; and 2) practical approaches to the primary prevention of breast cancer in the general population.