Mathes, Robert W and Malone, Kathleen E and Daling, Janet R and Davis, Scott and Lucas, Sylvia M and Porter, Peggy L and Li, Christopher I (2008) Migraine in postmenopausal women and the risk of invasive breast cancer. Cancer epidemiology, biomarkers & prevention : a publication of the American Association for Cancer Research, cosponsored by the American Society of Preventive Oncology, 17 (11). pp. 3116-3122. ISSN 1055-9965
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Abstract
BACKGROUND: The frequency of migraine headache changes at various times of a woman's reproductive cycle. Menarche, menses, pregnancy, and perimenopause may carry a different migraine risk conceivably because of fluctuating estrogen levels, and in general, migraine frequency is associated with falling estrogen levels. Given the strong relationship between endogenous estrogen levels and breast cancer risk, migraine sufferers may experience a reduced risk of breast cancer. METHODS: We combined data from two population-based case-control studies to examine the relationship between migraine and risk of postmenopausal invasive breast cancer among 1,199 ductal carcinoma cases, 739 lobular carcinoma cases, and 1,474 controls 55 to 79 years of age. Polytomous logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). RESULTS: Women who reported a clinical diagnosis of migraine had reduced risks of ductal carcinoma (OR, 0.67; 95% CI, 0.54-0.82) and lobular carcinoma (OR, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.52-0.90). These associations were primarily limited to hormone receptor-positive tumors as migraine was associated with a 0.65-fold (95% CI, 0.51-0.83) reduced risk of estrogen receptor-positive (ER+)/progesterone receptor-positive (PR+) ductal carcinoma. The reductions in risk observed were seen among migraine sufferers who did and did not use prescription medications for their migraines. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that a history of migraine is associated with a decreased risk of breast cancer, particularly among ER+/PR+ ductal and lobular carcinomas. Because this is the first study to address an association between migraine history and breast cancer risk, additional studies are needed to confirm this finding.
| Item Type: | Article or Abstract |
|---|---|
| Additional Information: | This article is available to subscribers only via the URL above for the first 12 months post-publication. |
| DOI: | 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-08-0527 |
| PubMed ID: | 18990752 |
| NIHMSID: | NIHMS107288 |
| PMCID: | PMC2692343 |
| Grant Numbers: | R01 CA072787-05, R01 CA085913-05 |
| Keywords or MeSH Headings: | Aged; Anti-Inflammatory Agents, Non-Steroidal/therapeutic use; Breast Neoplasms/epidemiology; Carcinoma, Ductal, Breast/epidemiology; Carcinoma, Lobular/epidemiology; Case-Control Studies; Female; Humans; Logistic Models; Middle Aged; Migraine Disorders/drug therapy/epidemiology; Neoplasm Invasiveness; Postmenopause; Risk Assessment; |
| Subjects: | Diseases > Solid tumors > Breast cancer Molecules > Hormones Research Methodologies > Epidemiology > Risk assessment |
| Depositing User: | Library Staff |
| Date Deposited: | 01 Apr 2009 22:57 |
| Last Modified: | 14 Feb 2012 14:42 |
| URI: | http://authors.fhcrc.org/id/eprint/268 |
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