Chuangdong Ruan, Yichun Xie, Huabin Ye, Yuqin Zhang, Rongxin Zhang, Yan Li
{"title":"Role of fragile sites FATS and FMR1 in tumor progression and their potential clinical significance.","authors":"Chuangdong Ruan, Yichun Xie, Huabin Ye, Yuqin Zhang, Rongxin Zhang, Yan Li","doi":"10.1002/ijc.35417","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.35417","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The fragile sites are defined as specific segments of genes that are particularly susceptible to breakage under conditions of accelerated replication stress or certain external influences. It has been demonstrated that fragile sites can influence the progression of various tumors. However, the majority of existing studies have focused on the functions of well-characterized common fragile sites, such as FHIT, WWOX, and PARK2, in different oncogenic processes, with insufficient attention directed towards other fragile sites. This article presents an analysis of recent investigations into the fragile sites, fragile site-associated tumor suppressor (FATS) and fragile X mental retardation 1 (FMR1), across various tumor types. The article discusses the mechanisms and signaling pathways regulated by these sites in a range of cancers, as well as their clinical implications for tumor treatment. The review highlights the significance of the fragile sites FATS and FMR1 in various cancers and their clinical relevance.</p>","PeriodicalId":180,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cancer","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143810140","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Survival outcomes in small intestine tumors: The role of duodenum, jejunum, and ileum.","authors":"Hongwei Wu, Xiaobao Yang, Wei Guo","doi":"10.1002/ijc.35379","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.35379","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Small intestine tumors are rare, with variable prognostic factors. The impact of tumor location on survival outcomes remains controversial. This study explores the influence of tumor location (duodenum, jejunum, ileum) on survival. We analyzed data from the SEER database for small intestine cancer patients diagnosed between 2010 and 2017. Survival outcomes by tumor location were assessed using the Kaplan-Meier method and competing risk models, stratified by adenocarcinoma (ADC), neuroendocrine tumor (NET), and gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Propensity score matching (PSM) was employed to adjust for confounders. The cohort included 6047 patients: 2611 with duodenum, 2584 with ileum, and 852 with jejunum tumors. ADC was predominant in the duodenum (51.4%), while NET was most common in the ileum (84.21%). Overall, the ileum tumors had the best prognosis, and duodenum tumors had the worst (p < .001). In ADC, duodenum tumors had the poorest overall (OS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) (p < .001) with no significant impact of location in GIST (p > .05). The competing risk model indicated better prognosis for jejunum versus duodenum in ADC (HR = 0.80, p = .048) and similar risks between ileum and duodenum tumors (HR = 0.99, p = .94), while location did not affect prognosis in GIST and NET (p > .05). Post-PSM, survival curves reconfirmed no significant difference between duodenum and ileum ADC (p > .05). Tumor location significantly influences prognosis in small intestine ADC, with duodenum tumors showing the worst outcomes. Location was not a significant prognostic factor in GIST and NET.</p>","PeriodicalId":180,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cancer","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-07","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143794275","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Victoria Cooley, Renée Turzanski Fortner, Trasias Mukama, Sabine Naudin, Valeria Pala, Laure Dossus, Inger T Gram, Karina Standahl Olsen, Maria-Jose Sánchez, Pernilla Israelsson, Naomi Allen, Hilde Langseth, Rudolf Kaaks
{"title":"Prospective evaluation of 92 protein biomarkers for early detection of endometrial cancer.","authors":"Victoria Cooley, Renée Turzanski Fortner, Trasias Mukama, Sabine Naudin, Valeria Pala, Laure Dossus, Inger T Gram, Karina Standahl Olsen, Maria-Jose Sánchez, Pernilla Israelsson, Naomi Allen, Hilde Langseth, Rudolf Kaaks","doi":"10.1002/ijc.35428","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.35428","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The human epididymis protein 4 (HE4) remains the best available endometrial cancer (EC) biomarker; however, its discrimination between cases and cancer-free individuals is limited and might be improved when combined with other protein markers. We evaluated the discrimination capacity of 92 proteins as potential early detection biomarkers for EC in nested case-control studies in the European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and Nutrition (EPIC) (63 cases, 123 controls) and Janus (75 cases, 146 controls) cohorts, evaluating blood samples taken ≤2 years prior to diagnosis. Proteins were measured with the Olink Target 96 Oncology II panel assays. Areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves (AUCs) were calculated using logistic regression. The discrimination between cases and controls of top-performing proteins was modest (EPIC: HE4, CA125, CAIX, and S100A4; Janus: HE4, CA125, FURIN, CXCL13, and IL6; AUC range: 0.65 [S100A4], 0.76 [HE4, EPIC] within 0 to <12 months of blood collection) and decreased as the time between blood draw and cancer diagnosis increased (12-24 months AUC range: 0.49 [S100A4], 0.69 [CA125, Janus]). The combination of these other markers with HE4 did not improve discrimination. HE4 and other candidate proteins had limited discrimination between EC cases and controls and hence do not appear to be useful for early detection of this disease in women at average population risk.</p>","PeriodicalId":180,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cancer","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143770821","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Flavie Perrier, Ashley Ahimbisibwe, Reza Ghiasvand, Corina S Rueegg, Adele C Green, Kristin B Borch, Tonje Braaten, Elisabete Weiderpass, Morten Valberg, Trude E Robsahm, Marit B Veierød
{"title":"Physical activity and mortality in melanoma patients within the Norwegian Women and Cancer study (NOWAC).","authors":"Flavie Perrier, Ashley Ahimbisibwe, Reza Ghiasvand, Corina S Rueegg, Adele C Green, Kristin B Borch, Tonje Braaten, Elisabete Weiderpass, Morten Valberg, Trude E Robsahm, Marit B Veierød","doi":"10.1002/ijc.35430","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.35430","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Pre- and post-diagnosis physical activity (PA) have been associated with decreased mortality and recurrence in cancer patients, but its effect is under-studied in patients with cutaneous melanoma. We investigated the association between pre-diagnosis PA (most recent level and long-term trajectories) and melanoma-specific, other-cause, and overall mortality. Additionally, PA levels before and after a melanoma diagnosis were compared. We used information at recruitment and follow-ups in the prospective population-based Norwegian Women and Cancer cohort linked to the Cancer Registry of Norway. In total 1829 women were diagnosed with a first primary melanoma in 1991─2020, aged 34-93 years. We used Cox regression adjusted for age at diagnosis, education, smoking status, region of residence, melanoma thickness, and summary stage. Most recent pre-diagnosis PA was non-significantly associated with lower risk of melanoma-specific mortality (hazard ratio (HR) = 0.69, 95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.44─1.07, high vs. low) and significantly associated with other-cause (HR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.28─0.89) and overall mortality (HR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.42─0.82). Four pre-diagnosis PA trajectory classes were identified using a latent class mixed model (low, decreasing, moderate, and high). The PA trajectory classes were not significantly associated with melanoma-specific mortality. However, significantly decreased risks of other-cause (HR = 0.51, 95% CI = 0.30─0.87) and overall mortality (HR = 0.59, 95% CI = 0.42─0.84) were found in the moderate versus low class. Only 275 patients reported both pre- and post-diagnosis PA, and among those, 69% had a similar PA level before and after melanoma diagnosis. Our results suggest that pre-diagnosis PA reduces mortality in middle-aged Norwegian women with melanoma.</p>","PeriodicalId":180,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cancer","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143778565","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"The estrobolome: Estrogen-metabolizing pathways of the gut microbiome and their relation to breast cancer.","authors":"Ashley H Larnder, Amee R Manges, Rachel A Murphy","doi":"10.1002/ijc.35427","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.35427","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Increasing evidence links the gut microbiome to carcinogenesis. Disruptions in estrogen regulation by the estrobolome-gut microbiota with estrogen-related functions-may promote breast cancer. However, precise information on estrobolome targets and their underlying mechanisms is limited. This review identifies relevant targets for measuring the estrobolome, focusing on enzymes and microbial taxa involved in processing estrogens, precursors, metabolites, and phytoestrogens, to facilitate the exploration of potential links to breast cancer. Evidence from breast cancer case-control studies is synthesized to assess alignment with these targets, highlight gaps in the evidence, and suggest new paths forward. Findings from case-control studies were heterogeneous and showed limited alignment with estrobolome targets, with only Escherichia coli and Roseburia inulinivorans identified as differentially abundant and functionally relevant between cases and controls. The lack of compelling evidence for estrobolome-specific mechanisms may reflect measurement challenges or may suggest that broader ecological changes in the microbiome, which influence a network of interacting mechanisms, are more influential for carcinogenesis. To clarify the estrobolome's role in breast cancer, future research should use advanced sequencing techniques and methods such as metabolomics and transcriptomics, while considering clinical and behavioral factors that may modify estrobolome mechanisms.</p>","PeriodicalId":180,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cancer","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143770823","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Martina E Schmidt, Anouk E Hiensch, Johanna Depenbusch, Evelyn M Monninkhof, Jon Belloso, Dorothea Clauss, Nadira Gunasekara, Mark Trevaskis, Helene Rundqvist, Joachim Wiskemann, Jana Müller, Maike G Sweegers, Andreas Schneweiss, Renske Altena, Joanna Kufel-Grabwska, Rhodé M Bijlsma, Lobke van Leeuwen-Snoeks, Daan Ten Bokkel Huinink, Gabe Sonke, Susanne Brandner, Peter Savas, Yoland Antill, Michelle White, Nerea Ancizar, Elsken van der Wall, Neil K Aaronson, Elzbieta Senkus, Ander Urruticoechea, Eva M Zopf, Wilhelm Bloch, Martijn M Stuiver, Yvonne Wengström, Anne M May, Karen Steindorf
{"title":"Impact of exercise on sexual health, body image, and therapy-related symptoms in women with metastatic breast cancer: The randomized controlled PREFERABLE-EFFECT trial.","authors":"Martina E Schmidt, Anouk E Hiensch, Johanna Depenbusch, Evelyn M Monninkhof, Jon Belloso, Dorothea Clauss, Nadira Gunasekara, Mark Trevaskis, Helene Rundqvist, Joachim Wiskemann, Jana Müller, Maike G Sweegers, Andreas Schneweiss, Renske Altena, Joanna Kufel-Grabwska, Rhodé M Bijlsma, Lobke van Leeuwen-Snoeks, Daan Ten Bokkel Huinink, Gabe Sonke, Susanne Brandner, Peter Savas, Yoland Antill, Michelle White, Nerea Ancizar, Elsken van der Wall, Neil K Aaronson, Elzbieta Senkus, Ander Urruticoechea, Eva M Zopf, Wilhelm Bloch, Martijn M Stuiver, Yvonne Wengström, Anne M May, Karen Steindorf","doi":"10.1002/ijc.35429","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.35429","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>The understanding and treatment of sexual health problems, impaired body image, and other non-life threatening but burdensome symptoms of women with metastatic breast cancer (mBC) is still insufficient. We studied the factors associated with such symptoms and investigated whether these problems could be alleviated by a structured exercise intervention. In the multinational PREFERABLE-EFFECT study, 355 women with mBC were randomly assigned to usual care (n = 178) or a 9-month supervised exercise program (n = 177). Breast cancer-specific functions and symptoms (EORTC QLQ-BR42) were assessed at baseline, 3, 6 (primary timepoint), and 9 months. Linear regression models and linear mixed models for repeated measures were calculated. At baseline, participants were 55.4 ± 11.2 years old, 52.4% were undergoing endocrine therapy, and 25.4% chemotherapy. Baseline sexual functioning was low, with 94.3% reporting no or little sexual activity. Age and depressive symptoms were negatively associated with sexual functioning. Among sexually active women, 46.2% felt no or little sexual enjoyment and 37.3% suffered from vaginal dryness. Body image was reported as low by 23.7%. Exercise significantly improved sexual functioning (6-months between-group difference (BGD) = 5.6, 95% CI [1.9, 9.4], effect size (ES) = 0.28) and vaginal symptoms (BGD = -7.1 [-11.7, -2.5], ES = 0.25), compared to usual care. Effects on body image were marginal (BGD = 4.0 [-0.2, 8.3], ES = 0.14). Among participants undergoing chemotherapy (n = 90), exercise reduced chemotherapy side-effects (BGD = -8.2 [-15.4, -1.0], ES = 0.48). In conclusion, women with mBC often experience sexual and vaginal problems and other treatment-related side-effects. A 9-month supervised exercise program vs. control was effective in improving sexual functioning and vaginal symptoms among women with mBC.</p>","PeriodicalId":180,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cancer","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143778562","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Florian Perner, Tobias Berg, Daniel Sasca, Sophie-Luise Mersiowsky, Jayant Y Gadrey, Johanna Thomas, Michael W M Kühn, Michael Lübbert
{"title":"Therapeutic targeting of chromatin alterations in leukemia and solid tumors.","authors":"Florian Perner, Tobias Berg, Daniel Sasca, Sophie-Luise Mersiowsky, Jayant Y Gadrey, Johanna Thomas, Michael W M Kühn, Michael Lübbert","doi":"10.1002/ijc.35389","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.35389","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Alterations in chromatin conformation and post-translational modification of histones have become increasingly recognized as critical drivers of cancer development, progression, and therapy resistance. Recent advances in drug development have led to the establishment of several highly selective small molecule inhibitors, several of which are currently under investigation in clinical trials. These compounds allow the precise interrogation of specific chromatin features and functions, transforming the field of epigenetic cancer therapy from rather unselective approaches, like histone deacetylase inhibition or demethylating agents, toward the use of true targeted therapeutics. Recently, several compounds altering histone methylation have been investigated in preclinical and clinical trials. We summarize the current state of development for inhibitors against Menin-KMT2A, DOT1L, KDM1A, and Polycomb complexes, and the arginine methyltransferase PRMT5 for the treatment of myeloid malignancies, lymphoma, and different solid tumors. Inhibitors of IDH1/2 act at the interface of epigenetic and metabolic vulnerabilities and have been FDA-approved for the treatment of IDH-mutant glioma, cholangiocarcinoma, and myeloid malignancies. Several clinical trials investigating effective combination therapy regimens are ongoing and summarized herein. Drugs targeting components of SWI/SNF chromatin remodeling complexes, such as inhibitors of SMARCA4, have entered the clinic. Members of SWI/SNF complexes are among the most frequently mutated genes across all cancer entities, and novel selective inhibitors for the first time allow pharmacologic interrogation of aberrant chromatin remodeling. Overall, the therapeutic interrogation of chromatin-related processes plays an increasing role in cancer therapy. This chapter reviews recent developments and future directions in the field of epigenetic cancer therapy.</p>","PeriodicalId":180,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cancer","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143778573","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Gestational colorectal cancer: Mechanisms, treatments, and prognosis.","authors":"Xingnan Ge, Yanru Feng, Shisheng Tan, Wei Mao, Yanlin Wang, Ji Zhu, Qianping Chen","doi":"10.1002/ijc.35425","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.35425","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Although colorectal cancer (CRC) in pregnancy is extremely rare, occurring in only 0.002% of women during pregnancy, the risk of that is progressively increasing as the incidence of early-stage CRC rises and the age of pregnancy is delayed. Any indicator of change during pregnancy could be responsible for accelerating the development of cancer. The contradiction between the survival demands of the fetus and maternal energy expenditure makes gestational colorectal cancer (GCRC) not only a medical but also a complex social issue with strong emotional and moral conflicts. This means that physicians, surgeons, radiotherapists, and nutritionists must work closely together to balance the mother and the fetus with the limited treatment experience and data available, and to make win-win choices regarding the appropriate timing, treatment modality, and dosage of medications. This article briefly discusses the mechanisms, treatment options, and prognosis of CRC during pregnancy in order to provide evidence-based medicine for the distinct pathogenesis, prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of GCRC.</p>","PeriodicalId":180,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cancer","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143778558","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Epigenetic reprogramming in multiple myeloma-Challenges and opportunities.","authors":"Subhasree Kumar, Lev M Kats, Emily Gruber","doi":"10.1002/ijc.35426","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.35426","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>In cancer, mutational processes act in concert with epigenetic reprogramming to endow malignant cells with hallmark properties that underpin tumorigenesis. Compared with the relatively rigid and slow processes of genetic evolution, the plastic nature of chromatin enables cells to adapt to a changing environment more rapidly. Multiple myeloma is characterised by high levels of inter- and intra-patient heterogeneity at both the genetic and epigenetic levels. Understanding the many layers of genetic and non-genetic evolution and their interplay is crucial to improve patient outcomes. In this short review, we discuss the most common and extensively characterised epigenetic alterations that occur during myeloma development. We also touch on emerging approaches to reverse the aberrant epigenome of myeloma cells as a treatment strategy.</p>","PeriodicalId":180,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cancer","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-02","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143762485","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Margherita Pizzato, Valerie McCormack, Laure Dossus, Umaima Al-Alem, Cyrille Delpierre, Sebastien Lamy, Alessandra Macciotta, Fulvio Ricceri, Lene Mellemkjær, Anne Tjønneland, Christina C Dahm, Christian S Antoniussen, Pascal Guénel, Agnès Fournier, Pauline Frenoy, Matthias B Schulze, Rudolf Kaaks, Renée Turzanski Fortner, Pietro Ferrari, Valeria Pala, Salvatore Panico, Rosario Tumino, Giovanna Masala, Karina Standahl Olsen, Inger Torhild Gram, Tonje Braaten, Carlota Castro, Pilar Amiano Etxezarreta, Amaia Atxega, José María Huerta, Maria-José Sánchez, Marcela Guevara, Toral Gathani, Sabina Rinaldi, Paolo Vineis, Salvatore Vaccarella
{"title":"Education level and risk of breast cancer by tumor subtype in the EPIC cohort.","authors":"Margherita Pizzato, Valerie McCormack, Laure Dossus, Umaima Al-Alem, Cyrille Delpierre, Sebastien Lamy, Alessandra Macciotta, Fulvio Ricceri, Lene Mellemkjær, Anne Tjønneland, Christina C Dahm, Christian S Antoniussen, Pascal Guénel, Agnès Fournier, Pauline Frenoy, Matthias B Schulze, Rudolf Kaaks, Renée Turzanski Fortner, Pietro Ferrari, Valeria Pala, Salvatore Panico, Rosario Tumino, Giovanna Masala, Karina Standahl Olsen, Inger Torhild Gram, Tonje Braaten, Carlota Castro, Pilar Amiano Etxezarreta, Amaia Atxega, José María Huerta, Maria-José Sánchez, Marcela Guevara, Toral Gathani, Sabina Rinaldi, Paolo Vineis, Salvatore Vaccarella","doi":"10.1002/ijc.35413","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1002/ijc.35413","url":null,"abstract":"<p><p>Breast cancer (BC) is a heterogeneous disease with subtypes based on receptor status (estrogen receptor [ER], progesterone receptor [PR], and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 [HER2]), influencing prognosis and treatment. A higher socioeconomic position (SEP) is associated with an increased BC risk, but its relation to BC subtypes is less clear. This study analyzed 311,631 women from the EPIC cohort, focusing on the incidence of in situ and invasive BC (overall and by receptor status and subtype). Educational attainment was used as a proxy for SEP, and hazard ratios (HRs) were calculated using Cox regression models. Mediation analyses were performed to evaluate the extent to which selected risk factors explained the educational gradient. Over 14 years, 14,432 BC cases were identified, including 12,863 invasive cases. Lower education was associated with a reduced risk of both in situ and invasive BCs. The HRs for primary versus tertiary education were 0.61 (95% CI 0.49-0.73) for in situ and 0.81 (95% CI 0.75-0.87) for invasive BC overall, with similar reductions across ER-positive, PR-positive, HER2-positive, Luminal A, BH-, and BH+. No significant association was found between education and ER-negative, and HER2-enriched BCs. Reproductive and lifestyle factors explained 20-40% of the educational differences in BC risk. While many of the risk factors through which education impacts the development of subtype-specific BC were identified, others remain to be fully elucidated. Differences in screening attendance could partially explain the higher ER-positive BC risk among highly educated; this study further contributes to the understanding of the complex nature of BC in terms of its social gradient and aetiology.</p>","PeriodicalId":180,"journal":{"name":"International Journal of Cancer","volume":" ","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.7,"publicationDate":"2025-04-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143762478","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}