Grant Details
Grant Number: |
1R03CA094745-01 Interpret this number |
Primary Investigator: |
Rossing, Mary |
Organization: |
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center |
Project Title: |
Use of Antidepressants and Risk of Breast Cancer |
Fiscal Year: |
2002 |
Abstract
DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant):
Diagnosis of depression is increasing in the United States, and women are
twice as likely as men to suffer from depressive symptoms. With the advent of
the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), antidepressant use has
increased dramatically during the 1980s and 1990s, and the types of
antidepressants prescribed have changed. Recent evidence that antidepressants
can reduce the occurrence of menopausal hot flashes has led to predictions
that antidepressant use may increase still further, particularly among women
who are reluctant to take hormone replacement therapy due to concerns about
breast cancer risk. Thus, better understanding of any possible role of
antidepressants in breast cancer etiology is of substantial and growing public
health importance.
Initial concern about a role of antidepressants in human carcinogenesis was
sparked by reports of increased occurrence of mammary tumors in rats
administered tricyclic antidepressants or SSRIs. Epidemiologic findings have
been inconsistent, but have not dispelled this concern. Two recent studies
reported an elevated risk of breast cancer among users of some
antidepressants; however, the class or type of antidepressant associated with
increased risk differed. These studies were limited by the potential for error
in self-reported drug use, and by relatively small numbers of exposed women.
We propose to conduct a population-based, case control study to examine the
association between antidepressant use and risk of breast cancer within the
Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound (GHC). Approximately 3,652 women
diagnosed with first primary breast cancer (3,080 with invasive disease)
during 1990-2000 and 7,304 randomly selected, matched controls will be
included. Antidepressant use will be ascertained through the GHC pharmacy
database, and information on potential confounding factors will be obtained
from risk factor surveys routinely administered by GHC. The large study size
and broad, recent interval of diagnosis years of cases will allow examination
of the type, timing, and duration of use of antidepressants overall, classes
of drugs (e.g., SSRIs or tricyclics), and individual drugs such as fluoxetine
and paroxetine. Use of the pharmacy database will provide unbiased and
complete exposure data relative to previous studies based on self-reported
drug use.
Publications
Use Of Antidepressant Medications In Relation To The Incidence Of Breast Cancer
Authors: Fulton-Kehoe,D.
, Rossing,M.A.
, Rutter,C.
, Mandelson,M.T.
, Weiss,N.S.
.
Source: British Journal Of Cancer, 2006-04-10 00:00:00.0; 94(7), p. 1071-8.
PMID: 16523201
Related Citations