1. Methylation-based markers of aging and lifestyle-related factors and risk of breast cancer: a pooled analysis of four prospective studies
- Author
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Dugue, P-A, Bodelon, C, Chung, FF, Brewer, HR, Ambatipudi, S, Sampson, JN, Cuenin, C, Chajes, V, Romieu, I, Fiorito, G, Sacerdote, C, Krogh, V, Panico, S, Tumino, R, Vineis, P, Polidoro, S, Baglietto, L, English, D, Severi, G, Giles, GG, Milne, RL, Herceg, Z, Garcia-Closas, M, Flanagan, JM, Southey, MC, Dugue, P-A, Bodelon, C, Chung, FF, Brewer, HR, Ambatipudi, S, Sampson, JN, Cuenin, C, Chajes, V, Romieu, I, Fiorito, G, Sacerdote, C, Krogh, V, Panico, S, Tumino, R, Vineis, P, Polidoro, S, Baglietto, L, English, D, Severi, G, Giles, GG, Milne, RL, Herceg, Z, Garcia-Closas, M, Flanagan, JM, and Southey, MC
- Abstract
BACKGROUND: DNA methylation in blood may reflect adverse exposures accumulated over the lifetime and could therefore provide potential improvements in the prediction of cancer risk. A substantial body of research has shown associations between epigenetic aging and risk of disease, including cancer. Here we aimed to study epigenetic measures of aging and lifestyle-related factors in association with risk of breast cancer. METHODS: Using data from four prospective case-control studies nested in three cohorts of European ancestry participants, including a total of 1,655 breast cancer cases, we calculated three methylation-based measures of lifestyle factors (body mass index [BMI], tobacco smoking and alcohol consumption) and seven measures of epigenetic aging (Horvath-based, Hannum-based, PhenoAge and GrimAge). All measures were regression-adjusted for their respective risk factors and expressed per standard deviation (SD). Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated using conditional or unconditional logistic regression and pooled using fixed-effects meta-analysis. Subgroup analyses were conducted by age at blood draw, time from blood sample to diagnosis, oestrogen receptor-positivity status and tumour stage. RESULTS: None of the measures of epigenetic aging were associated with risk of breast cancer in the pooled analysis: Horvath 'age acceleration' (AA): OR per SD = 1.02, 95%CI: 0.95-1.10; AA-Hannum: OR = 1.03, 95%CI:0.95-1.12; PhenoAge: OR = 1.01, 95%CI: 0.94-1.09 and GrimAge: OR = 1.03, 95%CI: 0.94-1.12, in models adjusting for white blood cell proportions, body mass index, smoking and alcohol consumption. The BMI-adjusted predictor of BMI was associated with breast cancer risk, OR per SD = 1.09, 95%CI: 1.01-1.17. The results for the alcohol and smoking methylation-based predictors were consistent with a null association. Risk did not appear to substantially vary by age at blood draw, time to diagnosis or tumour characteristics. CONCLUSION
- Published
- 2022