Abstract
A diagnosis of ovarian cysts is likely an indicator of hormonal milieu and thus may be related to breast cancer risk. Recent studies have reported an inverse relationship between prior ovarian cyst diagnosis and breast cancer risk. We evaluated this relationship in the Women’s Contraceptive and Reproductive Experiences (CARE) Study, a population-based case–control study conducted in Atlanta, Detroit, Philadelphia, Los Angeles, and Seattle. Cases had first primary invasive breast cancer diagnosed between 1994 and 1998 at ages 35–64 years. African American women were over-sampled. Controls were identified through random digit dialling and were frequency matched to cases on centre, race, and five-year age group. A total of 4575 cases and 4682 controls were interviewed. We used unconditional logistic regression adjusted for age and study centre within racial groups to estimate the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the relationship between prior ovarian cysts and breast cancer. Ovarian cyst diagnosis was associated with a significantly reduced risk among Caucasians (OR = 0.85, 95% CI 0.76–0.96) and among African Americans (OR = 0.68, 95% CI 0.57–0.81). The association in Caucasians was not significant within subgroups defined by menopausal status, hormone use, or gynecological surgery while the OR estimates in African Americans were consistently lower and frequently significant. These data are consistent with the previously reported inverse association between ovarian cysts and breast cancer, but the evidence for a relationship was stronger in African Americans than Caucasians. Additional studies are required to determine the specific cyst type(s) responsible for the observed relationship.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Moseson M, Koenig KL, Shore RE, Pasternack BS (1993) The influence of medical conditions associated with hormones on the risk of breast cancer. Int J Epidemiol 22:1000–1009
Schairer C, Persson I, Falkeborn M, Naessen T, Troisi R, Brinton LA (1997) Breast cancer risk associated with gynecologic surgery and indications for such surgery. Int J Cancer 70:150–154
Weiss HA, Brinton LA, Potischman NA et al (1999) Breast cancer risk in young women and history of selected medical conditions. Int J Epidemiol 28:816–823
Knight JA, John EM, Milne RL et al (2006) Inverse association between ovarian cysts and breast cancer in the breast cancer family registry. Int J Cancer 118:197–202
Bosetti C, Scotti L, Negri E et al (2006) Benign ovarian cysts and breast cancer risk. Int J Cancer 119:1679–1682
Coulam CB, Annegers JF, Kranz JS (1983) Chronic anovulation syndrome and associated neoplasia. Obstet Gynecol 61:403–407
Anderson KE, Sellers TA, Chen P-L, Rich SS, Hong C-P, Folsom AR (1997) Association of Stein-Leventhal syndrome with the incidence of postmenopausal breast carcinoma in a large prospective study of women in Iowa. Cancer 79:494–499
Parazzini F, La Vecchia C, Franceschi S, Talamini R, Negri E, Crosignani PG (1997) Association of Stein-Leventhal syndrome with the incidence of postmenopausal breast carcinoma in a large prospective study of women in Iowa. Cancer 80:1360–1362
Gammon MD, Thompson WD (1991) Polycystic ovaries and the risk of breast cancer. Am J Epidemiol 134:818–824
Parazzini F, La Vecchia C, Franceschi S, Negri E, Cecchetti G (1989) Risk factors for endometrioid, mucinous and serous benign ovarian cysts. Int J Epidemiol 18:108–112
Holt VL, Cushing-Haugen KL, Daling JR (2003) Oral contraceptives, tubal sterilization, and functional ovarian cyst risk. Obstet Gynecol 102:252–258
The ESHRE Capri Workshop Group (2001) Ovarian and endometrial function during hormonal contraception. Hum Reprod 16:1527–1535
Marchbanks PA, McDonald JA, Wilson HG et al (2002) Oral contraceptives and the risk of breast cancer. N Engl J Med 346:2025–2032
Berek JS (2002) Novak’s gynecology 13th edn. Lippincott Williams and Wilkins, Philadelphia
Wyshak G, Frisch RE, Albright TE, Albright NL, Schiff I (1988) Smoking and cysts of the ovary. Int J Fertil 33:398–404
Holt VL, Cushing-Haugen KL, Daling JR (2005) Risk of functional ovarian cyst: effects of smoking and marijuana use according to body mass index. Am J Epidemiol 161:520–525
Chiaffarino F, Parazzini F, Surace M, Benzi G, Chiantera V, La Vecchia C (2003) Diet and risk of seromunicous benign ovarian cysts. Eur J Obstet Gynecol Reprod Biol 2003;110:196–200
Acknowledgements
This study was funded by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, with additional support from the National Cancer Institute, through contracts with Emory University (N01-HD-3-3168), Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center (N01-HD-2-3166), Karmanos Cancer Institute at Wayne State University (N01-HD-3-3174), University of Pennsylvania (NO1-HD-3-3276), and University of Southern California (N01-HD-3-3175) and through an interagency agreement with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Y01-HD-7022). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention contributed additional staff and computer support. General support through SEER contracts N01-PC-67006 (Atlanta), N01-CN-65064 (Detroit), N01-PC-67010 (Los Angeles), and N01-CN-0532 (Seattle) is also acknowledged. The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Knight, J.A., Lesosky, M., Blackmore, K.M. et al. Ovarian cysts and breast cancer: results from the Women’s Contraceptive and Reproductive Experiences Study. Breast Cancer Res Treat 109, 157–164 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-007-9634-4
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10549-007-9634-4