The expression of the estrogen receptor in obese patients with high breast density (HBD)

Abstract

Objective: Obesity has been associated with increased risk for breast cancer (BC) mortality. Verifying in women with high breast density (HBD) post-menopausal, the frequency of polymorphisms of estrogen receptor (ER)α-PvuII, ERα-XbaI and if they influence the body mass index (BMI).

Methods: Study with 308 women with HBD post-menopause divided into two groups according to BMI: 1st group = BMI < 25 kg/m², 2nd group = BMI ≥ 25 kg/m². It was characterized in the clinical history: menarche, menopause, parity, family history of BC, smoking and alcohol intake.

Results: Allele and genotype frequencies for the ERα-397-Pvull and ERα-351-XbaI: P = 43.99%, p = 56.01%, pp = 32.14%, Pp = 47.73%, PP = X = 20.13% and X = 41.56%, x = 58.44%; xx = 33.44%; Xx = 50.00%; XX = 16.56%, respectively. Both PvuII and XbaI influenced BMI. When XbaI is mutated the tendency is toward higher BMI (0.039), and women with lower BMI were more frequent in PvuII genotype (p = 0.002). More frequent risk factors for BC: menarche before the age of 12 years (35.38%), nulliparity or 1st child after 28 years old (41.66%), family history of BC (19.16%) and overweight/obesity (62.01%).

Conclusion: Variations in the ERα gene affected the BMI in women with HBD, who already are at increased risk for BC.

• Breast cancer
• estrogen receptors
• genetic polymorphism
• mammography
• obesity
• risk factors