Adolescent endogenous sex hormones and breast density in early adulthood. Issue 1 (December 2015)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jung, Seungyoun; Egleston, Brian; Chandler, D.; Van Horn, Linda; Hylton, Nola; Klifa, Catherine; Lasser, Norman; LeBlanc, Erin; Paris, Kenneth; Shepherd, John; Snetselaar, Linda; Stanczyk, Frank; Stevens, Victor; Dorgan, Joanne
• Is Part Of: Breast cancer research. Volume 17:Issue 1(2015)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 9
• Publication Date: 2015-12
• Subjects: Breast -- Cancer -- Periodicals; 616.99449
• DOI: 10.1186/s13058-015-0581-4
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1465-542X

Abstract

Abstract Introduction During adolescence the breasts undergo rapid growth and development under the influence of sex hormones. Although the hormonal etiology of breast cancer is hypothesized, it remains unknown whether adolescent sex hormones are associated with adult breast density, which is a strong risk factor for breast cancer. Methods Percentage of dense breast volume (%DBV) was measured in 2006 by magnetic resonance imaging in 177 women aged 25–29 years who had participated in the Dietary Intervention Study in Children from 1988 to 1997. They had sex hormones and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) measured in serum collected on one to five occasions between 8 and 17 years of age. Multivariable linear mixed-effect regression models were used to evaluate the associations of adolescent sex hormones and SHBG with %DBV. Results Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) and SHBG measured in premenarche serum samples were significantly positively associated with %DBV (allP trend ≤0.03) but not when measured in postmenarche samples (allP trend ≥0.42). The multivariable geometric mean of %DBV across quartiles of premenarcheal DHEAS and SHBG increased from 16.7 to 22.1 % and from 14.1 to 24.3 %, respectively. Estrogens, progesterone, androstenedione, and testosterone in pre- or postmenarche serum samples were not associated with %DBV (allP trend ≥0.16). Conclusions Our results suggest that higher premenarcheal DHEAS and SHBG levels are associated with higher %DBV in young women. Whether this association translates into an increased risk of breast cancer later in life is currently unknown. Clinical trials registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier, NCT00458588 April 9, 2007;NCT00000459 October 27, 1999