Menstrual and reproductive factors, and hormonal contraception use: associations with non-Hodgkin lymphoma in a pooled analysis of InterLymph case-control studies

E V Kane, E Roman, N Becker, L Bernstein, P Boffetta, P M Bracci, J R Cerhan, B C-H Chiu, P Cocco, L Costas, L Foretova, E A Holly, C La Vecchia, K Matsuo, M Maynadie, S Sanjose, J J Spinelli, A Staines, R Talamini, S S WangY Zhang, T Zheng, A Kricker, for the InterLymph Consortium

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

Abstract

BackgroundThe two most common forms of non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) exhibit different sex ratios: diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) occurs more frequently in men and follicular lymphoma (FL) more frequently in women. Looking among women alone, this pooled analysis explores the relationship between reproductive histories and these cancers.Materials and methodsSelf-reported reproductive histories from 4263 women with NHL and 5971 women without NHL were pooled across 18 case-control studies (1983-2005) from North America, Europe and Japan. Study-specific odd ratios (ORs) and confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated using logistic regression and pooled using random-effects meta-analyses.ResultsAssociations with reproductive factors were found for FL rather than NHL overall and DLBCL. In particular, the risk of FL decreased with increasing number of pregnancies (pooled OR(trend) = 0.88, 95% CI 0.81-0.96). FL was associated with hormonal contraception (pooled OR = 1.30, 95% CI 1.04-1.63), and risks were increased when use started after the age of 21, was used for 20 years before diagnosis. DLBCL, on the other hand, was not associated with hormonal contraception (pooled OR = 0.87, 95% CI 0.65-1.16).ConclusionsHormonal contraception is associated with an increased risk of FL but not of DLBCL or NHL overall.
Original languageEnglish
Article numbermds171
Pages (from-to)2362-2374
Number of pages13
JournalAnnals of oncology : official journal of the European Society for Medical Oncology / ESMO
Volume23
Issue number9
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Sept 2012

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