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Smoking and breast cancer: a meta-analysis
S A Khuder1, A B Mutgi, S Nugent
1Medical College of Ohio, Toledo 43614-5809, USA. skhuder@mco.edu
Reviews on Environmental Health
|June 4, 2002
Summary
Smoking is a weak risk factor for breast cancer, particularly in premenopausal women and those who start smoking young. This meta-analysis confirms a modest increase in breast cancer risk associated with smoking.
Area of Science:
- Oncology
- Epidemiology
- Public Health
Background:
- Epidemiological studies suggest a link between smoking and breast cancer etiology.
- Existing evidence is not conclusive, necessitating further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To conduct a meta-analysis assessing the relationship between smoking and breast cancer.
- To evaluate risk factors including age at smoking initiation, duration, and intensity.
Main Methods:
- Systematic search of MEDLINE and Cancer Abstracts databases (1966-2001).
- Meta-analysis of peer-reviewed studies published between 1984 and 2001.
- Calculation of combined relative risk (RR) using fixed and random effect models.
Main Results:
- Ever smokers showed a combined RR of 1.10 (95% CI = 1.02-1.18).
- The association was stronger in premenopausal cases (RR = 1.21, CI = 1.08-1.36).
- Significant dose-response trends were observed for smoking intensity and duration; early smoking onset showed elevated risk (RR = 1.14, CI = 1.06-1.23).
Conclusions:
- Smoking is identified as a weak risk factor for breast cancer.
- The risk is notably higher for premenopausal women and individuals who initiated smoking at a younger age.