Table 4.
Associations between circulating concentrations of sex hormones and SHBG with colon cancer in postmenopausal women (n = 1028), by strata of BMI
| Variable | Tertile 1 | Tertile 2 | Tertile 3 | Pt rend a | Continuous modelb | P valuec | P interaction d |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Estrone | |||||||
| Tertile cut points | <14.5 | 14.5-21.7 | ≥21.7 | – | – | – | – |
| No. (cases/controls) | 161/171 | 161/173 | 190/172 | – | – | – | – |
| BMI, multivariable-adjusted OR (95% CI)e | .07 | ||||||
| <25 kg/m2 | 1 [Referent] | 0.83 (0.39 to1.73) | 1.07 (0.36 to 3.16) | .91 | 1.05 (0.66 to 1.68) | .82 | – |
| ≥25 kg/m2 | 1 [Referent] | 0.92 (0.51 to 1.64) | 1.47 (0.83 to 2.62) | .15 | 1.33 (1.01 to 1.75) | .04 | – |
| Estradiol | |||||||
| Tertile cut points | <3.0 | 3.0-5.2 | ≥5.2 | – | – | – | – |
| No. (cases/controls) | 169/171 | 177/173 | 166/172 | – | – | – | – |
| BMI, multivariable-adjusted OR (95% CI)e | .15 | ||||||
| <25 kg/m2 | 1 [Referent] | 1.57 (0.71 to 3.45) | 0.75 (0.27 to 2.02) | .83 | 0.89 (0.64 to 1.25) | .51 | – |
| ≥25 kg/m2 | 1 [Referent] | 1.16 (0.68 to 1.97) | 1.26 (0.68 to 2.33) | .46 | 1.10 (0.87to 1.39) | .41 | – |
| Testosterone | |||||||
| Tertile cut points | <149.5 | 149.5-221.1 | ≥221.1 | – | – | – | – |
| No. (cases/controls) | 170/171 | 147/172 | 195/173 | – | – | – | – |
| BMI, multivariable-adjusted OR (95% CI)e | .51 | ||||||
| <25 kg/m2 | 1 [Referent] | 0.71 (0.32 to 1.57) | 0.97 (0.39 to 2.40) | .91 | 0.91 (0.57 to 1.45) | .69 | – |
| ≥25 kg/m2 | 1 [Referent] | 0.91 (0.54 to 1.52) | 1.21 (0.71 to 2.06) | .48 | 1.08 (0.81 to 1.44) | .59 | – |
| Androstenedione | |||||||
| Tertile cut points | <394.7 | 394.7-589.2 | ≥589.2 | – | – | – | – |
| No. (cases/controls) | 165/171 | 166/171 | 181/173 | – | – | – | – |
| BMI, multivariable-adjusted OR (95% CI)e | .12 | ||||||
| <25 kg/m2 | 1 [Referent] | 0.56 (0.27 to 1.16) | 0.77 (0.36 to 1.66) | .42 | 0.85 (0.54 to 1.35) | .50 | – |
| ≥25 kg/m2 | 1 [Referent] | 1.07 (0.63 to 1.84) | 1.23 (0.73 to 2.07) | .44 | 1.14 (0.84 to 1.55) | .41 | – |
| DHEA | |||||||
| Tertile cut points | <1414.3 | 1414.3-2482.3 | ≥2482.3 | – | – | – | – |
| No. (cases/controls) | 171/171 | 173/172 | 168/173 | – | – | – | – |
| BMI, multivariable-adjusted OR (95% CI)e | .23 | ||||||
| <25 kg/m2 | 1 [Referent] | 0.27 (0.11 to 0.66) | 0.53 (0.23 to 1.21) | .17 | 0.84 (0.62 to 1.16) | .29 | – |
| ≥25 kg/m2 | 1 [Referent] | 1.15 (0.69 to 1.93) | 0.96 (0.56 to 1.63) | .91 | 1.01 (0.81 to 1.26) | .91 | – |
| Progesterone | |||||||
| Tertile cut points | <44.1 | 44.1-65.4 | ≥65.4 | – | – | – | – |
| No. (cases/controls) | 170/172 | 168/172 | 174/172 | – | – | – | – |
| BMI, multivariable-adjusted OR (95% CI)e | .86 | ||||||
| <25 kg/m2 | 1 [Referent] | 0.50 (0.24 to 1.06) | 1.29 (0.56 to 2.95) | .73 | 1.04 (0.68 to 1.59) | .86 | – |
| ≥25 kg/m2 | 1 [Referent] | 1.27 (0.73 to 2.21) | 1.27 (0.74 to 2.16) | .39 | 1.01 (0.75 to 1.36) | .95 | – |
| SHBG | |||||||
| Tertile cut points | <46.0 | 46.0-63.7 | ≥63.7 | – | – | – | – |
| No. (cases/controls) | 195/172 | 131/172 | 186/172 | – | – | – | – |
| BMI, multivariable-adjusted OR (95% CI)e | .73 | ||||||
| <25 kg/m2 | 1 [Referent] | 0.75 (0.26 to 2.17) | 0.95 (0.37 to 2.39) | .91 | 1.31 (0.73 to 2.36) | .36 | – |
| ≥25 kg/m2 | 1 [Referent] | 0.70 (0.41 to 1.19) | 1.04 (0.59 to 1.84) | .94 | 0.94 (0.68 to 1.30) | .69 | – |
| Free estradiol | |||||||
| Tertile cut points | <69.5 | 69.5-123.4 | ≥123.4 | – | – | – | – |
| No. (cases/controls) | 185/171 | 152/172 | 175/173 | – | – | – | – |
| BMI, multivariable-adjusted OR (95% CI)e | .07 | ||||||
| <25 kg/m2 | 1 [Referent] | 1.21 (0.53 to 2.77) | 0.51 (0.19 to 1.39) | .29 | 0.85 (0.62 to 1.16) | .30 | – |
| ≥25 kg/m2 | 1 [Referent] | 0.74 (0.43 to 1.28) | 1.07 (0.60 to 1.91) | .70 | 1.09 (0.88 to 1.35) | .46 | – |
| Free testosterone | |||||||
| Tertile cut points | <3.9 | 3.9-6.6 | ≥6.6 | – | – | – | – |
| No. (cases/controls) | 157/171 | 161/172 | 194/173 | – | – | – | – |
| BMI, multivariable-adjusted OR (95% CI)e | .55 | ||||||
| <25 kg/m2 | 1 [Referent] | 0.99 (0.47 to 2.11) | 1.11 (0.50 to 2.47) | .81 | 0.85 (0.62 to 1.16) | .30 | – |
| ≥25 kg/m2 | 1 [Referent] | 1.07 (0.63 to 1.83) | 1.23 (0.72 to 2.10) | .45 | 1.09 (0.88 to 1.35) | .46 | – |
| Estradiol-to-testosterone ratio | |||||||
| Tertile cut points | <0.22 | 0.22-0.31 | ≥0.31 | – | – | – | – |
| No. (cases/controls) | 168/171 | 175/172 | 169/173 | – | – | – | – |
| BMI, multivariable-adjusted OR (95% CI)e | .20 | ||||||
| <25 kg/m2 | 1 [Referent] | 1.24 (0.60 to 2.54) | 0.67 (0.24 to 1.87) | .69 | 0.42 (0.05 to 3.93) | .45 | – |
| ≥25 kg/m2 | 1 [Referent] | 1.06 (0.61 to 1.82) | 1.43 (0.76 to 2.71) | .26 | 2.10 (0.37 to 11.87) | .40 |
Statistical tests for trend (2-sided) were calculated using ordinal tertile variables entered into the model as a single continuous variable. BMI = body mass index; CI = confidence interval; DHEA = dehydroepiandrosterone; OR = odds ratio; SHBG = sex hormone–binding globulin.
Serologic variables were log2 transformed in a continuous model.
Statistical tests (2-sided) were calculated as a continuous variable.
Heterogeneity by BMI categories were tested using χ2 tests. The test was 2-sided.
Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated by conditional logistic regression models. Models were adjusted for BMI (underweight, normal, overweight, or obese), smoking status (never, former, current, or unknown), physical activity (inactive, moderately inactive, moderately active, active, or unknown), ever use hormone therapy (yes, no, or unknown/missing), and alcohol consumption (continuous). Estrone, estradiol, and testosterone were adjusted for SHBG and vice versa.