Abstract

Background Breast cancer incidence is increasing rapidly in Latin America, with a higher proportion of cases among young women than in developed countries. Studies have linked inflammation to breast cancer development, but data is limited in premenopausal women, especially in Latin America. Methods We investigated the associations between serum biomarkers of chronic inflammation (interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, IL-10, tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma), leptin, adiponectin) and risk of premenopausal breast cancer among 453 cases and 453 matched, population-based controls from Chile, Colombia, Costa Rica, and Mexico. Odds ratios (OR) were estimated using conditional logistic regression models. Analyses were stratified by size and hormonal receptor status of the tumors. Results IL-6 (ORper standard deviation (SD) = 1.33 (1.11-1.60)) and TNF-alpha (ORper SD = 1.32 (1.11-1.58)) were positively associated with breast cancer risk in fully adjusted models. Evidence of heterogeneity by estrogen receptor (ER) status was observed for IL-8 (P-homogeneity = 0.05), with a positive association in ER-negative tumors only. IL-8 (P-homogeneity = 0.06) and TNF-alpha (P-homogeneity = 0.003) were positively associated with risk in the largest tumors, while for leptin (P-homogeneity = 0.003) a positive association was observed for the smallest tumors only. Conclusions The results of this study support the implication of chronic inflammation in breast cancer risk in young women in Latin America. Largest studies of prospective design are needed to confirm these findings in premenopausal women.