Table 2.
Associations of stem cell markers’ expression in normal terminal duct-lobular units (weighted average across cores) with breast cancer risk (odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals)a
| Stem cell marker expression | CD44 | CD24 | ALDH1A1 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
|
|
|
||||
| N cases/controls | OR (95% CI) | N cases/controls | OR (95% CI) | N cases/controls | OR (95% CI) | |
| Stroma | ||||||
| Continuous, per 10% increase | 94/324 | 0.95 (0.87-1.05) | 95/333 | 0.87 (0.71-1.06) | 90/315 | 0.92 (0.76-1.11) |
| <10% | 67/197 | Ref | 71/248 | Ref | 59/191 | Ref |
| ≥10% | 27/127 | 0.58 (0.34-1.00) | 24/85 | 0.85 (0.48-1.49) | 31/124 | 0.81 (0.49-1.36) |
| 0-10% | 67/197 | Ref | 71/249 | Ref | 59/191 | Ref |
| >10-50% | 13/76 | 0.47 (0.23-0.94) | 24/67 | 1.12 (0.63-1.99) | 29/114 | 0.86 (0.51-1.46) |
| >50% | 14/51 | 0.75 (0.37-1.51) | 0/17 | NE | 2/10 | 0.37 (0.06-2.26) |
| p-trend | 94/324 | 0.28 | 95/333 | 0.10 | 90/315 | 0.24 |
| Epithelium | ||||||
| Continuous, per 10% increase | 91/300 | 0.96 (0.90-1.03) | 92/312 | 0.96 (0.86-1.08) | 90/299 | 1.01 (0.89-1.16) |
| <10% | 30/93 | Ref | 26/63 | Ref | 26/67 | Ref |
| ≥10% | 61/207 | 1.03 (0.61-1.76) | 66/249 | 0.67 (0.38-1.19) | 64/132 | 0.66 (0.37-1.19) |
| 0-10% | 30/93 | Ref | 26/63 | Ref | 26/67 | Ref |
| >10-50% | 35/96 | 1.42 (0.77-2.59) | 48/188 | 0.66 (0.36-1.20) | 52/196 | 0.63 (0.34-1.14) |
| >50% | 26/111 | 0.73 (0.39-1.38) | 18/61 | 0.69 (0.32-1.47) | 12/36 | 0.86 (0.36-2.02) |
| p-trend | 91/300 | 0.17 | 92/312 | 0.48 | 90/299 | 0.70 |
| Stroma + epithelial | ||||||
| Continuous, per 10% change | 94/325 | 0.96 (0.88-1.04) | 96/335 | 0.94 (0.81-1.08) | 96/326 | 0.99 (0.83-1.16) |
| <10% | 43/144 | Ref | 38/129 | Ref | 29/90 | Ref |
| ≥10% | 51/181 | 1.06 (0.64-1.75) | 58/206 | 0.90 (0.55-1.48) | 67/236 | 0.79 (0.46-1.38) |
| 0-10% | 44/144 | Ref | 38/129 | Ref | 29/91 | Ref |
| >10-50% | 28/99 | 1.17 (0.66-2.09) | 56/177 | 1.03 (0.62-1.70) | 64/220 | 0.82 (0.47-1.42) |
| >50% | 22/82 | 0.83 (0.44-1.56) | 2/29 | 0.17 (0.04-0.81) | 3/15 | 0.61 (0.15-2.43) |
| p-trend | 94/325 | 0.51 | 96/335 | 0.03 | 96/326 | 0.39 |
Abbreviations: CI, confidence interval; OR, odds ratio; NE, not estimable.
Adjusted for age (continuous), BMI (continuous), a family history of breast cancer (Yes/No), menopausal status/postmenopausal hormone use (premenopausal, postmenopausal/no hormones, postmenopausal/past hormones, postmenopausal/current hormones, postmenopausal/unknown hormone use status, unknown menopausal status), age at menarche (<12, 12, 13, >13, unknown), combined parity/age at first birth (parous with first birth before age 25, parous with first birth at or after age 25, nulliparous, unknown), alcohol use (none, >0-<5, ≥5 g/day), and NHS cohort.