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. 2023 Aug 20;13(1):13551.
doi: 10.1038/s41598-023-40443-8.

Risk factors for the development of triple-negative breast cancer versus non-triple-negative breast cancer: a case-control study

Shona Nag  1 , Rajesh Dikshit #  2 , Sangeeta Desai #  3 , Anupama Mane  4 , Sharayu Mhatre  2 , Rakesh Neve  4 , Mamta Gurav  3 , Neelambari Bhosale  1 , Prema Perumal  5 , Yogesh Kembhavi  5 , Dinesh Jethwa  5 , Rajendra Badwe  6 , Sudeep Gupta  7   8
Affiliations

Risk factors for the development of triple-negative breast cancer versus non-triple-negative breast cancer: a case-control study

Shona Nag et al. Sci Rep. .

Abstract

The risk factors for breast cancer have been defined in several studies but there is deficient data for specific subtypes. We report here the pathological characteristics of a breast cancer cohort and risk factors for patients with triple-negative disease. In this case-control study, a prospective breast cancer cohort was evaluated for demographic, reproductive, obesity-related and other risk factors using a validated questionnaire. Tumors were characterized for routine pathological characteristics and immunohistochemical markers of basal-like breast cancer. Patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) constituted cases and those with non-TNBC were controls. Odds ratios (OR) were calculated for each risk factor and independent associations were tested in an unconditional logistic regression analysis. Between 2011 and 2014, 1146 patients were recruited, of whom 912 [TNBC 266 (29.1%), non-TNBC 646 (70.9%)] with sufficient pathology material were analysed. Reproductive factors of parity, breastfeeding, age-at-menarche, age at first full-term pregnancy and oral contraceptive use were not significantly associated with TNBC. Higher body mass index (BMI > 24.9 vs ≤ 24.9, OR 0.89, 95%CI 0.63-1.24, p = 0.49) was not significantly associated while lesser waist circumference (> 80 cm vs ≤ 80 cm, OR 0.64, 95%CI 0.45-0.9, p = 0.012) and lower waist-to-hip ratio were significantly associated (> 0.85 vs ≤ 0.85, OR 0.72, 95%CI 0.51-1.0, p = 0.056), with TNBC. History of tobacco use was not significantly associated while lower socio-economic status was borderline associated with TNBC (socio-economic category > 5 versus ≤ 5, OR 0.73, 95%CI 0.50-1.06, p = 0.106). No factor was significant after adjustment for covariates. Central obesity seems to be preferentially associated with non-TNBC, and lower socio-economic status with TNBC in India, while most other conventional risk factors of breast cancer show no significant association with TNBC versus non-TNBC.

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Conflict of interest statement

Dr. Shona Nag has received previous research funding from Roche. She has also received honorarium from AstraZeneca, Pfizer, Dr. Reddy’s, Intas, Novartis, Lupin Pharmaceuticals and Roche. Dr. Sudeep Gupta has received research funding support to his institution from GSK, Roche, Eisai, Zydus, Intas, Novartis and AstraZeneca. Dr. Rajesh Dikshit, Dr. Sangeeta Desai, Dr. Anupama Mane, Dr. Sharayu Mhatre, Dr. Rakesh Neve, Ms. Mamta Gurav, Ms. Neelambari Bhosale, Ms. Prema Perumal, Mr. Yogesh Kembhavi, Mr. Dinesh Jethwa, and Dr. Rajendra Badwe declare no potential conflict of interest.

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