Cadmium and mammographic volumetric density – preliminary results.

Abstract

TPS 631: Metals and health 1, Johan Friso Foyer, Floor 1, August 27, 2019, 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM Background/Aim: Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal with widespread occurrence in the environment. Food (especially vegetables and offal) and tobacco smoking are the major sources of Cd exposure to the general population. Cd is a potent metalloestrogen, and some epidemiological studies reported link between cadmium exposure and breast cancer risk. Mammographic density (MD) reflects composition of the breast. It is positively associated with collagen, epithelial and non-epithelial cells, and negatively associated with fat. MD has been found to be a strong risk factor for breast cancer, and was proposed to be used as a surrogate marker for breast cancer. Relationship between cadmium and MD was investigated in only one previous study among premenopausal women in US (Adams, et al, 2011). The objective of our study was to examine the association between Cd and mammographic density among both pre- and postmenopausal women. Methods: The study included 519 women, aged 40-60 undergoing screening mammography at the mammography centers in Łódź (Poland) (116 pre- and 403 postmenopausal). Data were collected through personal interviews, anthropometric measurements, blood and urine collection and mammographies. Cd was determined in spot urine sample (by ICP-MS technique). Digital mammography was performed according to the standards for screening mammography and volumetric mammographic density was analyzed in Volpara software. The potential associations were examined with linear regression model, age and BMI adjusted. Results: The mean Cd concentration was 0.56 µg/l (SD: 0.43) (0.66µg/g creat.) and mean volumetric density 7.8% (SD: 4.5) (mean of 4 views: CC- craniocaudal and MLO-mediolateral oblique for each breast). The preliminary analysis showed an inverse association of the volumetric density with age and BMI (p<0.001). We did not observe association between cadmium concentration in urine and volumetric density (β-coef.: -0.34, 95%CI:-0.92-.25), neither among pre- nor postmenopausal women. Conclusion: Our study does not confirm previously reported positive association between cadmium and MD.