Dietary Patterns and Breast Density

Marilyn Tseng, Ph.D. - Principal Investigator
Mary B. Daly, M.D., Ph.D. - Co-Investigator
Shreekanth Mandayam, Ph.D. - Co-Investigator
Kathryn Evers, M.D. - Radiologist
Etyia Faison - Data Coordinator
Kathleen Gillespie - Appointment Secretary


Interest in diet modification to prevent breast cancer persists despite the inconsistent results of epidemiologic studies.  Most studies, however, focus on single nutrients, such as dietary fat.  Few studies have addressed the broader issue of whether overall diet or dietary patterns can affect breast cancer risk.

One useful marker for breast cancer risk is breast density.  Breast density, the percentage of total breast area that appears dense on a mammogram, is strongly associated with breast cancer risk in most studies -- more strongly than other, better-known risk factors.

The objective of this research is to examine the association between dietary patterns and breast density among women enrolled in the Family Risk Assessment Program (FRAP) at Fox Chase Cancer Center between 1991 and 1998.

PRELIMINARY FINDINGS
 

Dietary patterns in FRAP participants

We identified two main dietary patterns among 997 women who completed a diet questionnaire upon enrollment into FRAP:
 

"VEGETABLE - FRUIT" PATTERN

vegetables
broccoli, zucchini, yellow squash, lettuce, tomato, cabbage, spinach, cauliflower, alfalfa sprouts, carrots, celery, beans, yams, mixed vegetables, beets, Brussels sprouts

fruits
cantaloupe, bananas, peaches, apple, berries, oranges, watermelon, grapefruit

grains
dark bread, bran

fish
tuna, dark meat fish, other fish

other foods
oil and vinegar, garlic, jam
"RED MEAT - STARCH" PATTERN

red meats
beef, processed meats, bacon, hamburger, hot dog

starches and sweets
potato chips, white bread, mashed potatoes, cake, sweet rolls, pie, donuts, candy, pancakes

eggs and dairy
eggs, cheese, ice cream, butter

other foods
mayonnaise, salt, clam chowder, corn

Women with high intake of the "vegetable-fruit" pattern were more physically active, conducted breast self-exams more frequently, and perceived their risk of getting breast cancer as being higher than average.  Women with high intake of the "red meat-starch" pattern were less physically active.

In the next phase of our research, we will examine how these patterns relate to breast density.
 

Dietary patterns and breast density (in progress)

Between October, 2000, and June, 2002, we invited close to 200 women aged 40 or above to receive mammographic examinations at Fox Chase Cancer Center.  Mammograms are being evaluated for breast density by Dr. Kathryn Evers at Fox Chase.  In addition, Dr. Shreekanth Mandayam at Rowan University is developing an automated technique to assess breast density in digitized images of the mammograms.  Associations between dietary patterns and breast density will be examined in all participants with complete dietary and mammographic data.

This work is funded by a grant from the American Institute for Cancer Research.
 

Last updated August 1, 2002.