The association of DNA Repair with breast cancer risk in women. A comparative observational study
Menée à Porto-Rico, cette étude observationnelle (285 cas et 539 témoins) évalue l'association entre une mesure du niveau de la capacité de réparation de l'ADN dans les lymphocytes et le risque de cancer du sein chez les femmes
BACKGROUND:Previous studies have found a link between a low DNA repair capacity (DRC) level and increased cancer risk. Our aim was to assess the statistical association of DRC level and breast cancer (BC) using a case--control epidemiological study in a Hispanic community.METHODS:We conducted a comparative observational study to assess the validity of DRC in detecting BC in 824 women throughout Puerto Rico. Over a 6-year period, we compared 285 women newly diagnosed with BC to 539 without BC. DRC levels were measured in lymphocytes by means of a host-cell reactivation assay. We assessed the sensitivity, specificity, and association using the receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. Multiple logistic regression-adjusted odds ratios were estimated with 95% confidence level to measure the strength of the association of DRC and BC after adjusting for all confounders simultaneously.RESULTS:Compared to women without cancer, women with BC showed an average decrease of 60% in their DRC levels (p < 0.001). Validity of the association of DRC as a measure of BC risk showed a sensitivity of 83.2% and specificity of 77.6% (p < 0.0001).CONCLUSIONS:Our results support the usefulness of DRC level as a measure of BC risk. Additional studies in other populations are needed to further verify its usefulness.
BMC Cancer 2012