Integrating Geographic Information Systems (GIS) Into Breast Cancer Epidemiologic Research

摘要

The objective of this postdoctoral training research is an integration of GIS and a spatio-temporal perspective into breast cancer research of the relationship between environmental exposures and breast cancer risk. We have completed collection of historic traffic information, and updating of the lifetime residential histories for our dataset for the breast cancer cases and controls. I have also been involved in analysis and writing of a classic epidemiologic research paper and have participated in several workshops as a part of epidemiology training. The development of a theoretical framework measuring similarity and difference of individual's lifetime residential history was completed, and a GIS-based traffic model was established. These data and epidemiologic evidence were used for further analyses, based on the models of geospatial lifeline for the estimation of lifetime residential exposures to PAHs and breast cancer risk. Findings from these studies indicate that environmental exposures in early life may be associated with breast cancer risk. Since we found evidence of association between PAHs exposures in relation to breast cancer risk, especially PAH exposures during sensitive time periods in early life, we strongly believe that models of geospatial lifeline can be effectively used for the estimation of lifetime residential exposures to PAHs and breast cancer risk.