Nested Case-Control Study of Luteinizing Hormone Variants and Risk of Breast Cancer

摘要

We hypothesized that genetic variant of the luteinizing hormone beta- subunit, characterized by two point mutations in codons 8 and 15, may increase risk of breast cancer. To test this hypothesis, we conducted a case-control study nested within a prospective cohort that included 270 breast cancer cases diagnosed at age 50 or older and 150 cases diagnosed before age 50. Two controls per case were randomly selected among cohort members who were alive and free of disease and who matched the case on menopausal status, age, date of enrollment, and phase and day of menstrual cycle for premenopausal women. Presence of the variant LH status (heterozygotes plus homozygotes) was not associated with an apparent increase in breast cancer risk in postmenopausal women (OR = 1.07, 95% CI 0.68 - 1.69). The risk estimate did not change after adjustment for potential confounders (OR = 1.11; 95% CI = 0.69-1.78). In premenopausal women, adjusted risk estimate was (OR = 1.68, 95% CI = 0.89 - 3.17). The results do not appear to support the hypothesis that the variant LH is associated with a significantly increased risk of breast cancer, although they suggest a moderate increase of breast cancer risk among younger women.