Work

Lifestyle and genetic risk factors for postmenopausal breast cancer in the multiethnic cohort

Year: 2026

Type: article

Study design: Observational Study

Abstract: BACKGROUND: Adherence to a healthy lifestyle has been consistently associated with reduced breast cancer risk, but whether this benefit varies by genetic susceptibility remains unclear, particularly among racially and ethnically diverse populations. METHODS: In this prospective cohort analysis, we evaluated the association between a healthy lifestyle index score (HLIS), constructed from diet, alcohol consumption, body mass index, waist circumference, physical activity, and smoking, and risk of invasive breast cancer among postmenopausal women. We used multivariable Cox proportional hazards models to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) among 22,725 postmenopausal women in the Multiethnic Cohort (MEC), self-identified as White (22%), African American (13%), Native Hawaiian (8%), Japanese American (38%), and Latino (19%). We also evaluated effect modification by a 313-variant polygenic risk score (PRS) for breast cancer. RESULTS: Higher HLIS was associated with a decreased risk of postmenopausal breast cancer. Compared with women in the low HLIS, those in the high HLIS had a 33% lower risk of breast cancer (HR = 0.67; 95% CI: 0.57 to 0.79). Results were similar across the two PRS strata, and we did not observe a multiplicative interaction between HLIS and PRS (low-PRS group: HR = 0.63, 95% CI: 0.48 to 0.82; high-PRS group: HR = 0.70; 95% CI: 0.57 to 0.85; P-interaction=0.48). In race/ethnicity-stratified analyses, the inverse associations were most evident among White and Japanese American women. CONCLUSION: In this multiethnic cohort of postmenopausal women, adherence to a healthy lifestyle was associated with a reduced risk of postmenopausal breast cancer, regardless of inherited genetic susceptibility.

Source: JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute

DOI: 10.1093/jnci/djag394

Authors: Chenya Zhao, Eric S Kawaguchi, Gertraud Maskarinec, David V Conti, Christopher A Haiman, Loïc Le Marchand, Lynne R Wilkens, Anna H Wu, Fei Chen, Eunjung Lee

Institutions: University of Southern California, Hawaii Pacific University, Cancer Center of Hawaii, Colorado School of Public Health

Language: English

Topic: Cancer Risks and Factors

Subfield: Oncology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDGs: Good health and well-being, Reduced inequalities

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $5,436

Funders: California Department of Public Health, University of Southern California, National Institutes of Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, University of California, San Francisco, National Cancer Institute

Awards: G1131105677, G1352184354, G1395202410, G2337224928, CALIFORNIA COORDINATED CANCER PREVENTION AND CONTROL PROGRAM; CALFORNIA COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CONTROL PROGRAM; CALIFORNIA CANCER REGISTRY - THE CALIFORNIA DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC HEALTH (CDPH) HAS CONDUCTED CANCER PREVENTION AND CONTROL ACTIVITIES FUNDED BY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL FOR MORE THAN 35 YEARS. THESE INCLUDE HIGH PERFORMING, NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED PROGRAMS, INCLUDING THE CALIFORNIA CANCER REGISTRY (CCR) AND THE CALIFORNIA COMPREHENSIVE CANCER CONTROL PROGRAM (CCCCP). THESE PROGRAMS SAVE LIVES OF CALIFORNIANS BY PREVENTING AND REDUCING THE DEVASTATING EFFECTS OF CANCER ACROSS THE CANCER CONTROL CONTINUUM (PREVENTION TO SURVIVORSHIP) THROUGH ADVANCING POLICY, EDUCATION, EARLY DETECTION, DIAGNOSIS, TREATMENT, AND SURVIVORSHIP WITH AN INTEGRATED FOCUS ON REDUCING HEALTH DISPARITIES. AT ITS CORE, THE PURPOSE OF CCR IS TO MONITOR THE BURDEN OF CANCER ACROSS THE ENTIRE STATE, ASSIST IN CANCER CONTROL PROGRAM EVALUATION AND GUIDANCE, RESPOND TO PUBLIC CONCERNS ABOUT CANCER, AND PROVIDE HIGH QUALITY STRUCTURED DATA IN SUPPORT OF RESEARCH, PREVENTIVE AND CLINICAL CARE, AND IMPROVING CANCER OUTCOMES FOR ALL SURVIVORS. CCCCP’S OVERARCHING GOALS ARE TO PROVIDE THE INFRASTRUCTURE TO ENSURE COORDINATION OF CANCER CONTROL EFFORTS IN CALIFORNIA, ENGAGEMENT OF ALL CANCER CONTROL CONSTITUENTS THROUGH THE CALIFORNIA DIALOGUE ON CANCER AND DEVELOP OUR STATE’S CANCER CONTROL PLAN TO GUIDE AND EVALUATE OTHER PROGRAMS’ AND STAKEHOLDERS’ ACTIVITIES BASED ON THE LATEST EVIDENCE BASED STRATEGIES. THE TWO PROGRAMS DESCRIBED IN THIS PROPOSAL ARE HIGHLY COMMITTED TO COLLABORATION AMONG THEMSELVES, WITH THE CALIFORNIA EARLY BEAST AND CERVICAL CANCER SCREENING PROGRAM, AS WELL AS OTHER PARTNERS BOTH INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE STATE. BASED ON THESE PRINCIPLES, THE CCR AND CCCP WILL SUCCESSFULLY APPLY THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION PROGRAM STANDARDS TO ACHIEVE THE ULTIMATE GOAL OF REDUCING THE CANCER BURDEN OF CALIFORNIA AND THE NATION., G2612351997, G3448447748, G3467199957, G3509688676, G4332884407, G4428815567, G4450071017, G4833454936, G4854421162, G504639888, G671936517, G6951404960, G7290139498, G8083727551, G8380263711, G8509442309, G9000061520, G946791773

OpenAlex ID: W7222290940

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