Polymorphism in the androgen receptor and mammographic density in women taking and not taking estrogen and progestin therapy

Cancer Res. 2004 Feb 15;64(4):1237-41. doi: 10.1158/0008-5472.can-03-2887.

Abstract

There is some evidence that women with a higher number of CAG repeat lengths on the androgen receptor (AR) gene have increased breast cancer risk. We evaluated the association between AR-CAG repeat length and mammographic density, a strong breast cancer risk factor, in 404 African-American and Caucasian breast cancer patients. In postmenopausal estrogen progestin therapy users, carriers of the less active AR-CAG had statistically significantly higher mean percentage of density (41.4%) than carriers of the more active AR-CAG (25.7%; P = 0.04). Our results raise the question of whether the number of AR-CAG repeats predicts breast cancer risk in estrogen progestin therapy users.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Breast Neoplasms / etiology*
  • Estrogens / administration & dosage*
  • Female
  • Hormone Replacement Therapy / adverse effects*
  • Humans
  • Mammography*
  • Middle Aged
  • Polymorphism, Genetic*
  • Progestins / administration & dosage*
  • Receptors, Androgen / genetics*
  • Trinucleotide Repeats

Substances

  • Estrogens
  • Progestins
  • Receptors, Androgen