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Table 2 Summary of clinical studies investigating the association of cholesterol with breast cancer

From: Updating the role of obesity and cholesterol in breast cancer

Reference

Study type

Results

Measure of association*

Touvier 2015 [33]

Meta-analysis

Cholesterol associates with a reduced risk of breast cancer: total cholesterol (dose response)

Total cholesterol (highest vs. lowest)

HDL-C (dose–response)

HDL-C (highest vs. lowest)

HR, 0.94; 95%CI, 0.89–0.99

HR, 0.82; 95%CI, 0.66–1.02

HR, 0.81; 95%CI, 0.65–1.02

HR 0.82; 95%CI, 0.69–0.98

Bahl 2005 [52]

Prospective

Higher total cholesterol associates with a trend towards increased risk of recurrence

p = 0.03

Carter 2017 [35]

Retrospective

Hyperlipidaemia associates with a reduced risk of breast cancer

OR, 0.67; 95%CI, 0.48–0.92

Ha 2009 [39]

Retrospective

Positive association between cholesterol levels and breast cancer:

In postmenopausal women (age-adjusted model)

In postmenopausal women after adjusting for BMI

p-trend = 0.0024

p-trend = 0.0684

Borgquist 2017 [53]

Phase III

Cholesterol-lowering medication associates with improved:

Disease-free-survival

Breast cancer-free interval

Distant recurrence-free interval

HR, 0.79; 95%CI, 0.66–0.95

HR, 0.76; 95%CI, 0.60–0.97

HR, 0.74; 95%CI, 0.56–0.97

Li 2016 [55]

Meta-analysis

Dietary cholesterol associates with increased risk of breast cancer

RR, 1.29; 95%CI, 1.06–1.56

Hu 2012 [57]

Population-based

Association of high cholesterol intake with risk of breast cancer:

Postmenopausal women

Premenopausal women

OR, 1.48; 95%CI, 1.07–2.07

OR, 1.10; 95%CI, 0.75–1.72

Undela 2012 [65]

Meta-analysis (observational studies)

Statin use does not significantly impact breast cancer risk

Long-term statin use does not significantly impact breast cancer risk

RR, 0.99; 95%CI, 0.94–1.04

RR, 1.03; 95%CI, 0.96–1.11

Mansourian 2016 [66]

Meta-analysis (observational studies)

Statin use associates with reduced:

Breast cancer recurrence

Breast cancer mortality

OR, 0.79; 95%CI, 0.73–0.85

OR, 0.84; 95%CI, 0.82–0.87

Islam 2017 [38]

Meta-analysis (observational studies)

Statin use does not associate with reduced breast cancer risk

RR, 0.94; 95%CI, 0.86–1.03

  1. *Statistically significant associations are highlighted in italics