Urinary strontium and the risk of breast cancer: A case-control study in Guangzhou, China

Journal Article · Sun Jan 15 04:00:00 EST 2012 · Environmental Research

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/J.ENVRES.2011.11.005· OSTI ID:22156254

Chen, Li-Juan ^[1]; Tang, Lu-Ying ^[1]; He, Jian-Rong ^[1]; Su, Yi; Cen, Yu-Ling; Yu, Dan-Dan ^[1]; Wu, Bang-Hua ^[2]; Lin, Ying ^[3]; Chen, Wei-Qing ^[1]; Song, Er-Wei ^[4]; Ren, Ze-Fang ^[1]

---

1. The School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, 74 Zhongshan 2nd Rd, Guangzhou 510080 (China)
2. The Guangdong Prevention and Treatment Center for Occupational Diseases, Guangzhou 510300 (China)
3. The First Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080 (China)
4. The Second Affiliated Hospital, Sun Yat-sen University, 107 Yanjiang West, Guangzhou 510120 (China)

Strontium has been widely used in industries like electronic and pharmacy. It has a carcinogenic potential, however, and no study has been conducted to evaluate its effects on cancer risk. The aim of this study was to explore the possible association between strontium and breast cancer risk in a case-control study including 240 incident invasive breast cancer patients and 246 age-matched controls. We measured the urinary concentrations of strontium by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry, and conducted face-to-face interviews to obtain information on potential breast cancer risk factors. Multivariable analysis was used to estimate the association. Creatinine-adjusted levels [median (25th, 75th) {mu}g/g] of strontium were 155.59 (99.05, 230.70) in the breast cancer patients and 119.62 (81.97, 163.76) in the controls. Women in the highest tertile of strontium showed 124% increased risk of breast cancer, when compared with those in the lowest tertile after adjustment for the potential risk factors [OR (95% CI): 2.24 (1.42-3.81)]. This association was particularly strong for HER2 positive breast cancer [OR (95% CI): 10.92 (3.53-33.77)], and only occurred among premenopausal women. These results suggest a potential role of strontium in the development of breast cancer and urge further studies on the environmental contamination and the physiological and pathological mechanisms of strontium.

• OSTI ID: 22156254
• Journal Information: Environmental Research, Journal Name: Environmental Research Vol. 112; ISSN ENVRAL; ISSN 0013-9351
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
62 RADIOLOGY AND NUCLEAR MEDICINE
CREATININE
HEALTH HAZARDS
ICP MASS SPECTROSCOPY
MAMMARY GLANDS
NEOPLASMS
PATIENTS
STRONTIUM
URINE