Preliminary application: Hormones and Breast Cancer Consortium
Previous research has shown that hormonal factors are important determinants of breast cancer risk, but understanding of these effects is far from complete. We propose a research programme on hormonal, reproductive and dietary factors and breast cancer risk; this will extend the work of two existing consortia co-ordinated in the Cancer Epidemiology Unit Oxford, the Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors and Breast Cancer, and the Endogenous Hormones and Breast Cancer Collaborative Group.
In phase 1 we will describe the distributions of established and potential breast cancer risk factors in the UK Biobank, including reproductive factors, anthropometry, hormone use, alcohol intake and physical activity.
In phase 2 we will examine the associations of established and potential risk factors with the concentrations of serum biomarkers relevant to breast cancer, which are soon to be measured for all participants by UK Biobank, including sex hormones and growth factors.
In phase 3, when at least 2000 incident breast cancer cases have accrued, we will examine the associations of breast cancer risk with reproductive and lifestyle factors, and serum hormones.
In phase 4, the data accrued will be combined with the data collected by the Collaborative Group on Hormonal Factors and Breast Cancer, and the Endogenous Hormones and Breast Cancer Collaborative Group and new analyses of the worldwide evidence will be produced.