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Breast cancer incidence by estrogen receptor status in Denmark from 1996 to 2007

  • Epidemiology
  • Published:
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Abstract

During the past 50 years, breast cancer incidence has increased by 2–3 % annually. Despite many years of testing for estrogen receptors (ER), evidence is scarce on breast cancer incidence by ER status. The aim of this paper was to investigate the increase in breast cancer incidence by ER status. Data were obtained from the clinical database of the Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group which holds nationwide data on diagnosis, including pathology, treatment, and follow-up on primary breast cancers since 1977. All Danish women <80 years diagnosed with primary breast cancer 1996–2007 were identified in this prospective register based study. ER status was evaluated using immunohistochemical staining by standardized laboratory methods in the Danish Pathology Departments and reported to the database. From 1996 to 2007, breast cancer incidence increased overall with a tendency to level off after 2002. In all women a significant decrease was found in ER unknown tumors. However, in both pre- and postmenopausal women, significant increases were seen in incidence of ER+ tumors; though the increase levelled off for premenopausal women after 2002. In postmenopausal women, the incidence of ER− breast cancer decreased significantly throughout the period. In women <35 years, we found a minor non-significant increase in both ER+ and ER− tumors. ER unknown decreased in all women and was the most distinct in premenopausal women aged 35+. We found a significant increase in ER+ breast cancer incidence in postmenopausal women whereas the incidence in premenopausal women (aged 35+) levelled off after 2002.

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Abbreviations

ER:

Estrogen receptor

DBCG:

Danish Breast Cancer Group

IHC:

Immunohistochemical staining

HRT:

Hormone replacement therapy

APC:

Annual percentage rate change

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Conflict of interest

These authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Ethical standards

This study was performed in agreement with the Ethical Committees on Human Studies.

Author information

Author notes

  1. J. Bigaard

    Present address: , Skovlybakken 16, 2840, Holte, Denmark

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Breast Surgery, Ringsted Hospital, Ringsted, Denmark

    J. Bigaard

  2. Department of Pathology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark

    C. Stahlberg

  3. Danish Breast Cancer Cooperative Group (DBCG), Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

    M.-B. Jensen

  4. Department of Oncology, Odense University Hospital, Odense, Denmark

    M. Ewertz

  5. Institute of Clinical Research, University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark

    M. Ewertz

  6. Department of Breast Surgery, Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark

    N. Kroman

Authors
  1. J. Bigaard
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  2. C. Stahlberg
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  3. M.-B. Jensen
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  4. M. Ewertz
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  5. N. Kroman
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to J. Bigaard.

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Bigaard, J., Stahlberg, C., Jensen, MB. et al. Breast cancer incidence by estrogen receptor status in Denmark from 1996 to 2007. Breast Cancer Res Treat 136, 559–564 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-012-2269-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-012-2269-0

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