Breast density tied to increased risk of invasive breast cancer among elderly women: Study

Breast cancer is the second most common cancer in US women in the world. Markers of breast cancer are very important for investigation of stages of cancer. A new study by Shailesh M. Advani and team has revealed that breast density is an important marker in breast cancer risk in women aged 40- 65 years. The study is published in the journal of JAMA network.

The objective of the study was to evaluate to compare the relationship between breast density and risk of invasive breast cancer among women aged 65 to 74 years vs women aged 75 years or older and to evaluate whether the association is modified by body mass index (BMI).

The researchers conducted a prospective cohort study used data from the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium from January 1, 1996, to December 31, 2012, for US women aged 65 years or older who underwent screening mammography. Data were analyzed from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2020.

The main outcome of the study was found to be the 5-year cumulative incidence of invasive breast cancer by level of breast density. Out of a total of 221 714 screening mammograms from 193 787 women were included in the study; a total of 38% of the study population was aged 75 years or older. Of the mammograms, most were from women aged 65 to 74 years (64.6%) and non-Hispanic White individuals (81.4%). Extreme or heterogeneous breast density was associated with increased risk of breast cancer compared with scattered fibroglandular breast density in both age categories (65-74 years: hazard ratio [HR], 1.39 [95% CI, 1.28-1.50]; 75 years: HR, 1.23 [95% CI, 1.10-1.37]). Women with almost entirely fatty breasts were found to have decreased of approximately 30% (range, 27%-34%) in the risk of invasive breast cancer compared with women with scattered fibroglandular breast density (65-74 years: HR, 0.66 [95% CI, 0.58-0.75]; 75 years: HR, 0.73; 95% CI, 0.62-0.86). Associations between breast density and breast cancer risk were not significantly modified by BMI (for age 65-74 years: likelihood ratio test, 2.67; df, 2; P = .26; for age 75 years, 2.06; df, 2; P = .36).

The researchers concluded that "The findings suggest that breast density is associated with increased risk of invasive breast cancer among women aged 65 years or older. Breast density and life expectancy should be considered together when discussing the potential benefits vs harms of continued screening mammography in this population." Markers of breast cancer are landmarks of treating breast cancer are very important.

For further information: Shailesh M. Advani, MD, PhD; Weiwei Zhu, MS; Joshua Demb, PhD; Brian L. Sprague, PhD; Tracy Onega, PhD; Louise M. Henderson, PhD; Diana S. M. Buist, PhD; Dongyu Zhang, MD, PhD; John T. Schousboe, MD, PhD; Louise C. Walter, MD; Karla Kerlikowske, MD; Diana L. Miglioretti. "Association of Breast Density With Breast Cancer Risk Among Women Aged 65 Years or Older by Age Group and Body Mass Index"Jama network.