Passive and active smoking may be important risk factors for breast cancer
The review by McPherson, Steel and Dixon (1) states "Smoking is of no
importance in the aetiology of breast cancer." The authors appear unaware
of the mounting evidence in support of a tobacco smoke-breast cancer
relationship.
Seven of the eight published studies examining passive smoking and
breast cancer suggest an increased risk of breast cancer associated with
long term passive smoke exposure among women who have never smoked,
particularly premenopausal breast cancer.(2,3,4) Furthermore, when
passive smoke exposure is controlled for in these studies, active smoking
also appears to be a risk factor for breast cancer.(2,3) Both long term
passive smoking among never-smoking women and active smoking may almost
double breast cancer risk.(2,3) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)
are found in tobacco smoke, cause mammary cancer experimentally and may
contribute to the development of human breast cancer.(5)
Given the high prevalence of regular passive smoke exposure and of
active smoking among women in most industrialized nations, smoking may, in
fact, turn out to be of considerable importance in the aetiology of breast
cancer.
1. McPherson K, Steel CM, Dixon JM. Breast cancer- epidemiology,
risk factors, and genetics. Clinical Review, BMJ 321(624-628)
2. Wells AJ. Re: "Breast cancer, cigarette smoking, and passive
smoking". Am J Epidemiol. 1998 May 15;147(10):991-2.
3. Johnson KC, Hu J, Mao Y and The Canadian Cancer Registries
Epidemiology Research Group. Passive and Active Smoking and Breast
Cancer Risk in Canada 1994-97. Cancer Causes and Control. 11: 211-221.
2000.
4. Jee SH, Ohrr H, Kim IS, Effects of husbands' smoking on the
incidence of lung cancer in Korean women. Int J Epidemiol. 1999
Oct;28(5):824-8.
5. Rundle A, Tang D, Hibshoosh H, Estabrook A, Schnabel F, Cao W,
Grumet S, Perera FP. The relationship between genetic damage from
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in breast tissue and breast cancer.
Carcinogenesis 2000 Jul;21(7):1281-9
Competing interests:
No competing interests
12 September 2000
Kenneth C Johnson
Senior Epidemiologist
Cancer Bureau, Centre for Chronic Disease Prevention and Control
Rapid Response:
Passive and active smoking may be important risk factors for breast cancer
The review by McPherson, Steel and Dixon (1) states "Smoking is of no
importance in the aetiology of breast cancer." The authors appear unaware
of the mounting evidence in support of a tobacco smoke-breast cancer
relationship.
Seven of the eight published studies examining passive smoking and
breast cancer suggest an increased risk of breast cancer associated with
long term passive smoke exposure among women who have never smoked,
particularly premenopausal breast cancer.(2,3,4) Furthermore, when
passive smoke exposure is controlled for in these studies, active smoking
also appears to be a risk factor for breast cancer.(2,3) Both long term
passive smoking among never-smoking women and active smoking may almost
double breast cancer risk.(2,3) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)
are found in tobacco smoke, cause mammary cancer experimentally and may
contribute to the development of human breast cancer.(5)
Given the high prevalence of regular passive smoke exposure and of
active smoking among women in most industrialized nations, smoking may, in
fact, turn out to be of considerable importance in the aetiology of breast
cancer.
1. McPherson K, Steel CM, Dixon JM. Breast cancer- epidemiology,
risk factors, and genetics. Clinical Review, BMJ 321(624-628)
2. Wells AJ. Re: "Breast cancer, cigarette smoking, and passive
smoking". Am J Epidemiol. 1998 May 15;147(10):991-2.
3. Johnson KC, Hu J, Mao Y and The Canadian Cancer Registries
Epidemiology Research Group. Passive and Active Smoking and Breast
Cancer Risk in Canada 1994-97. Cancer Causes and Control. 11: 211-221.
2000.
4. Jee SH, Ohrr H, Kim IS, Effects of husbands' smoking on the
incidence of lung cancer in Korean women. Int J Epidemiol. 1999
Oct;28(5):824-8.
5. Rundle A, Tang D, Hibshoosh H, Estabrook A, Schnabel F, Cao W,
Grumet S, Perera FP. The relationship between genetic damage from
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in breast tissue and breast cancer.
Carcinogenesis 2000 Jul;21(7):1281-9
Competing interests: No competing interests