Pubertal timing and breast density in young women: a prospective cohort study

Lauren C Houghton; Seungyoun Jung; Rebecca Troisi; Erin S LeBlanc; Linda G Snetselaar; Nola M Hylton; Catherine Klifa; Linda Van Horn; Kenneth Paris; John A Shepherd; Robert N Hoover; Joanne F Dorgan

doi:10.1186/s13058-019-1209-x

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Pubertal timing and breast density in young women: a prospective cohort study

Journal article

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Pubertal timing and breast density in young women: a prospective cohort study

Lauren C Houghton, Seungyoun Jung, Rebecca Troisi, Erin S LeBlanc, Linda G Snetselaar, Nola M Hylton, Catherine Klifa, Linda Van Horn, Kenneth Paris, John A Shepherd, …

Breast cancer research : BCR, Vol.21(1), pp.122-122

11/14/2019

DOI: 10.1186/s13058-019-1209-x

PMCID: PMC6857297

PMID: 31727127

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Abstract

Earlier age at onset of pubertal events and longer intervals between them (tempo) have been associated with increased breast cancer risk. It is unknown whether the timing and tempo of puberty are associated with adult breast density, which could mediate the increased risk. From 1988 to 1997, girls participating in the Dietary Intervention Study in Children (DISC) were clinically assessed annually between ages 8 and 17 years for Tanner stages of breast development (thelarche) and pubic hair (pubarche), and onset of menses (menarche) was self-reported. In 2006-2008, 182 participants then aged 25-29 years had their percent dense breast volume (%DBV) measured by magnetic resonance imaging. Multivariable, linear mixed-effects regression models adjusted for reproductive factors, demographics, and body size were used to evaluate associations of age and tempo of puberty events with %DBV. The mean (standard deviation) and range of %DBV were 27.6 (20.5) and 0.2-86.1. Age at thelarche was negatively associated with %DBV (p trend = 0.04), while pubertal tempo between thelarche and menarche was positively associated with %DBV (p trend = 0.007). %DBV was 40% higher in women whose thelarche-to-menarche tempo was 2.9 years or longer (geometric mean (95%CI) = 21.8% (18.2-26.2%)) compared to women whose thelarche-to-menarche tempo was less than 1.6 years (geometric mean (95%CI) = 15.6% (13.9-17.5%)). Our results suggest that a slower pubertal tempo, i.e., greater number of months between thelarche and menarche, is associated with higher percent breast density in young women. Future research should examine whether breast density mediates the association between slower tempo and increased breast cancer risk.

Adolescent

Adult

Body Mass Index

Body Size - physiology

Breast - diagnostic imaging

Breast - growth & development

Breast Density

Breast Neoplasms - diagnosis

Breast Neoplasms - physiopathology

Child

Female

Humans

Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods

Menarche - physiology

Prospective Studies

Puberty - physiology

Risk Factors

Sexual Maturation - physiology

Time Factors

Details

Title: Subtitle: Pubertal timing and breast density in young women: a prospective cohort study
Creators: Lauren C Houghton - Department of Epidemiology, Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, 722 West 168th Street, Room 706, New York, NY, USA. lh2746@columbia.edu
Seungyoun Jung - Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
Rebecca Troisi - Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
Erin S LeBlanc - Kaiser Permanente Center for Health Research, Portland, OR, USA
Linda G Snetselaar - College of Public Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, USA
Nola M Hylton - Department of Radiology, University of California, San Francisco, CA, USA
Catherine Klifa - KCJA, Luynes, France
Linda Van Horn - Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, Chicago, IL, USA
Kenneth Paris - Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, New Orleans, LA, USA
John A Shepherd - University of Hawaii Cancer Center, Honolulu, HI, USA
Robert N Hoover - Epidemiology & Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, MD, USA
Joanne F Dorgan - Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Breast cancer research : BCR, Vol.21(1), pp.122-122
DOI: 10.1186/s13058-019-1209-x
PMID: 31727127
PMCID: PMC6857297
NLM abbreviation: Breast Cancer Res
ISSN: 1465-5411
eISSN: 1465-542X
Grant note: P30 CA134274 / NCI NIH HHS R01 CA104670 / NCI NIH HHS K07 CA218166 / NCI NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 11/14/2019
Academic Unit: Epidemiology; Fraternal Order of Eagles Diabetes Research Center; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984215047702771

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