Abstract
BackgroundUse of aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been hypothesized to be associated with reduced risk of breast cancer; however, results of epidemiological studies have been mixed. Few studies have investigated these associations among African American women.MethodsTo assess the relation of aspirin use to risk of breast cancer in African American women, we conducted a prospective analysis within the Black Women’s Health Study, an ongoing nationwide cohort study of 59,000 African American women. On baseline and follow-up questionnaires, women reported regular use of aspirin (defined as use at least 3 days per week) and years of use. During follow-up from 1995 through 2017, 1919 invasive breast cancers occurred, including 1112 ER+, 569 ER−, and 284 triple-negative (TN) tumors. We used age-stratified Cox proportional hazards regression models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for associations of aspirin use with risk of ER+, ER−, and TN breast cancer, adjusted for established breast cancer risk factors.ResultsOverall, the HR for current regular use of aspirin relative to non-use was 0.92 (95% CI 0.81, 1.04). For ER+, ER−, and TN breast cancer, corresponding HRs were 0.98 (0.84, 1.15), 0.81 (0.64, 1.04), and 0.70 (0.49, 0.99), respectively.ConclusionsOur findings with regard to ER− and TN breast cancer are consistent with hypothesized inflammatory mechanisms of ER− and TN breast cancer, rather than hormone-dependent pathways. Aspirin may represent a potential opportunity for chemoprevention of ER− and TN breast cancer.
Highlights
Relative to US white women, African American women have a disproportionately high incidence of aggressive breast cancer subtypes, such as estrogen receptor (ER)negative tumors [1,2,3], and higher mortality from breast cancer [4]
The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for overall breast cancer risk associated with current regular use of aspirin compared to non-use was 0.92
Reductions in risk of ER+ breast cancer were noted for current users who had used aspirin regularly for at least 10 years (HR 0.81; 95% confidence intervals (CIs) 0.60, 1.09)
Summary
Relative to US white women, African American women have a disproportionately high incidence of aggressive breast cancer subtypes, such as estrogen receptor (ER)negative tumors [1,2,3], and higher mortality from breast cancer [4]. A previous Black Women’s Health Study (BWHS) analysis of aspirin use and 12-year risk of breast cancer showed a statistically significant inverse association [11]; that analysis did not consider ER+ and ER− breast cancer separately, nor have any previous studies in African American women evaluated whether associations differ by ER. Use of aspirin and other non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) has been hypothesized to be associated with reduced risk of breast cancer; results of epidemiological studies have been mixed. Few studies have investigated these associations among African American women
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