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High Volumetric Breast Density Predicts Risk for Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal, but not Premenopausal, Korean Women

  • Breast Oncology
  • Published:
Annals of Surgical Oncology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

ABSTRACT

Purpose

We investigated the association between mammographic breast density and breast cancer risk in Korean women according to menopausal status and breast cancer subtypes.

Methods

We enrolled 677 patients diagnosed with breast cancer and 1,307 healthy controls who participated in screening mammography at the National Cancer Center. Breast density was estimated using volumetric breast composition measurement.

Results

Of the total population, 1,156 (58.3 %) women were postmenopausal. The risk of breast cancer increased progressively with the increment of volumetric density grade (VDG) in postmenopausal women (p < 0.001). High breast density (VDG 4) was significantly associated with breast cancer compared with low breast density (VDG 1/2) regardless of body mass index. However, the association with parity and history of hormone replacement therapy (HRT) was only found in those with ≥2 children and those not receiving HRT. Breast density was positively associated with breast cancer risk regardless of histologic grade, tumor size, lymph node involvement, Ki67 index, and hormone receptor status. The association was more prominent in human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive tumors (VDG 1/2 vs. VDG 4 for HER2 normal, odds ratio [OR] 2.21, 95 % confidence interval [CI] 1.28–3.83, p < 0.001; for HER2 positive, OR 8.63, 95 % CI 3.26–22.83, p = 0.001; P heterogeneity = 0.030). However, no significant association was found between breast density and breast cancer risk in premenopausal women except for those with large-sized tumors (>2 cm) and a Ki67 index >15 %.

Conclusion

High volumetric breast density is significantly associated with the risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women; however, these relationships were not found in premenopausal women.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

This study was funded by NCC Grant 1310340. The funding source had no role in the study design, data analysis, data collection, and interpretation. We are thankful to all participants in this study.

DISCLOSURE

There are no disclosures of any commercial interest or financial support.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Center For Breast Cancer, National Cancer Center, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, Korea

    In Hae Park MD, Kyungran Ko MD, So-Youn Jung MD, Seeyoun Lee MD, PhD, Youngmi Kwon MD, PhD, Han-Sung Kang MD, PhD, Eun Sook Lee MD, PhD, Keun Seok Lee MD, PhD & Jungsil Ro MD, PhD

  2. Biometric Research Branch, National Cancer Center, Goyang, Korea

    Jungnam Joo PhD & Boram Park MS

Authors
  1. In Hae Park MD
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  2. Kyungran Ko MD
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  3. Jungnam Joo PhD
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  4. Boram Park MS
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  5. So-Youn Jung MD
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  6. Seeyoun Lee MD, PhD
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  7. Youngmi Kwon MD, PhD
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  8. Han-Sung Kang MD, PhD
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  9. Eun Sook Lee MD, PhD
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  10. Keun Seok Lee MD, PhD
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  11. Jungsil Ro MD, PhD
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Jungsil Ro MD, PhD.

Additional information

In Hae Park and Kyungran Ko contributed equally to this study.

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Park, I.H., Ko, K., Joo, J. et al. High Volumetric Breast Density Predicts Risk for Breast Cancer in Postmenopausal, but not Premenopausal, Korean Women. Ann Surg Oncol 21, 4124–4132 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-014-3832-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-014-3832-1

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