A new study published in the journal Cancer Epidemiology has highlighted the risk factors for ductal carcinoma in situ of the breast (DCIS) in a cohort of women in the UK.
Researchers examined risk factors for DCIS in a prospective study of 263,788 women aged 40-69 years from the UK Biobank.
Multivariable analysis showed that age, physical activity, height, family history of breast cancer, menopausal status, parity and years between menarche and first live birth had significant associations with the risk for DCIS. Among postmenopausal women not receiving hormone replacement therapy, body mass index ≥30 kg/m2 was associated with an increased risk for DCIS.
According to the authors, the risk factors for DCIS identified in this study correspond to those for invasive breast cancer. They commented: "the identification of common etiological associations for the two conditions is consistent with the concept that ductal carcinoma in situ is a precursor of invasive breast cancer."
