Association between frequent use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and breast cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Eighty percent of all breast cancers and almost 90% of breast cancer deaths occur among post-menopausal women. We used a nested case control design to examine the association between nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use an...

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Main Authors: Rajan Raghu, Dasgupta Kaberi, Ghosn Joumana, Rahme Elham, Hudson Marie
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMC 2005-12-01
Series:BMC Cancer
Online Access:http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/5/159
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author Rajan Raghu
Dasgupta Kaberi
Ghosn Joumana
Rahme Elham
Hudson Marie
author_facet Rajan Raghu
Dasgupta Kaberi
Ghosn Joumana
Rahme Elham
Hudson Marie
author_sort Rajan Raghu
collection DOAJ
description <p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Eighty percent of all breast cancers and almost 90% of breast cancer deaths occur among post-menopausal women. We used a nested case control design to examine the association between nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use and breast cancer occurrence among women over 65 years of age. The cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 enzyme is expressed more in breast cancers than in normal breast tissue. COX-2 inhibition may have a role in breast cancer prevention.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In the Canadian province of Quebec, physician services are covered through a governmental insurance plan. Medication costs are covered for those ≥ 65 years of age and a publicly funded screening program for breast cancer targets all women 50 years of age or older. We obtained encrypted data from these insurance databases on all women ≥ 65 years of age who filled a prescription for COX-2 inhibitors, non-selective NSAIDs (ns-NSAIDs), aspirin, or acetaminophen between January 1998 and December 2002. Cases were defined as those women who have undergone mammography between April 2001 and June 2002 and had a diagnosis of breast cancer within six months following mammography. Controls included those who have undergone mammography between April 2001 and June 2002 without a diagnosis of any cancer during the six months following mammography. The exposure of interest, frequent NSAID use, was defined as use of ns-NSAIDs and/or COX-2 inhibitors for ≥ 90 days during the year prior to mammography. Frequent use served as a convenient proxy for long term chronic use.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We identified 1,090 cases and 44,990 controls. Cases were older and more likely to have breast cancer risk factors. Logistic regression models adjusting for potential confounders showed that frequent use of ns-NSAIDs and/or COX-2 inhibitors was associated with a lower risk of breast cancer (OR: 0.75, 95% confidence interval 0.64–0.89). Results were similar for COX-2 inhibitors (0.81, 0.68–0.97) and ns-NSAIDs (0.65, 0.43–0.99), when assessed separately. Frequent use of aspirin at doses > 100 mg/day in the year prior to mammography was also associated with a lower risk of breast cancer (0.75, 0.64–0.89). However, use of aspirin at doses ≤ 100 mg/day did not have any association with breast cancer (0.91, 0.71–1.16).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Women who use NSAIDs or doses of aspirin > 100 mg frequently may have a lower risk of breast cancer.</p>
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spelling doaj.art-967da15fe5f54196b0f74a1f2123bd1e2022-12-22T00:26:45ZengBMCBMC Cancer1471-24072005-12-015115910.1186/1471-2407-5-159Association between frequent use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and breast cancerRajan RaghuDasgupta KaberiGhosn JoumanaRahme ElhamHudson Marie<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Eighty percent of all breast cancers and almost 90% of breast cancer deaths occur among post-menopausal women. We used a nested case control design to examine the association between nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) use and breast cancer occurrence among women over 65 years of age. The cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 enzyme is expressed more in breast cancers than in normal breast tissue. COX-2 inhibition may have a role in breast cancer prevention.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In the Canadian province of Quebec, physician services are covered through a governmental insurance plan. Medication costs are covered for those ≥ 65 years of age and a publicly funded screening program for breast cancer targets all women 50 years of age or older. We obtained encrypted data from these insurance databases on all women ≥ 65 years of age who filled a prescription for COX-2 inhibitors, non-selective NSAIDs (ns-NSAIDs), aspirin, or acetaminophen between January 1998 and December 2002. Cases were defined as those women who have undergone mammography between April 2001 and June 2002 and had a diagnosis of breast cancer within six months following mammography. Controls included those who have undergone mammography between April 2001 and June 2002 without a diagnosis of any cancer during the six months following mammography. The exposure of interest, frequent NSAID use, was defined as use of ns-NSAIDs and/or COX-2 inhibitors for ≥ 90 days during the year prior to mammography. Frequent use served as a convenient proxy for long term chronic use.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We identified 1,090 cases and 44,990 controls. Cases were older and more likely to have breast cancer risk factors. Logistic regression models adjusting for potential confounders showed that frequent use of ns-NSAIDs and/or COX-2 inhibitors was associated with a lower risk of breast cancer (OR: 0.75, 95% confidence interval 0.64–0.89). Results were similar for COX-2 inhibitors (0.81, 0.68–0.97) and ns-NSAIDs (0.65, 0.43–0.99), when assessed separately. Frequent use of aspirin at doses > 100 mg/day in the year prior to mammography was also associated with a lower risk of breast cancer (0.75, 0.64–0.89). However, use of aspirin at doses ≤ 100 mg/day did not have any association with breast cancer (0.91, 0.71–1.16).</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Women who use NSAIDs or doses of aspirin > 100 mg frequently may have a lower risk of breast cancer.</p>http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/5/159
spellingShingle Rajan Raghu
Dasgupta Kaberi
Ghosn Joumana
Rahme Elham
Hudson Marie
Association between frequent use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and breast cancer
BMC Cancer
title Association between frequent use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and breast cancer
title_full Association between frequent use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and breast cancer
title_fullStr Association between frequent use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and breast cancer
title_full_unstemmed Association between frequent use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and breast cancer
title_short Association between frequent use of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and breast cancer
title_sort association between frequent use of nonsteroidal anti inflammatory drugs and breast cancer
url http://www.biomedcentral.com/1471-2407/5/159
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