Persistent endocrine-disrupting chemicals and incident uterine leiomyomata: A mixtures analysis.

Background: Uterine leiomyomata (UL; fibroids) are hormone-dependent neoplasms that can cause significant gynecologic morbidity. Studies have documented associations between concentrations of persistent endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and UL incidence; however, few have assessed the effects of EDC mixtures on UL.

Methods: In the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids, a prospective cohort study, participants attended study visits at baseline and approximately every 20 months for up to 10 years; at each visit, they completed questionnaires, provided blood samples, and underwent standardized ultrasound examinations.

Gerotherapeutics: Aging Mechanism-based Pharmaceutical and Behavioral Interventions to Reduce Cancer Racial and Ethnic Disparities.

The central premise of this article is that a portion of the established relationships between social determinants of health and racial/ethnic disparities in cancer morbidity and mortality are mediated through differences in rates of biological aging processes. We further posit that using knowledge about aging could enable discovery and testing of new mechanism-based pharmaceutical and behavioral interventions ("gerotherapeutics") to differentially improve the health of minoritized cancer survivors and reduce cancer disparities. These hypotheses are based on evidence that lifelong differences in adverse social determinants of health contribute to disparities in rates of biological aging ("social determinants of aging"), with minoritized groups having accelerated aging (ie, a steeper slope or trajectory of biological aging over time relative to chronological age) more often than non-minoritized groups.

Physical activity and cognition: longitudinal findings from the Thinking and Living with Cancer Study.

Background: Physical activity can improve cognition; however, little is known regarding the relationships between longitudinal objectively measured physical activity, cognition, and inflammation in older breast cancer survivors.

Methods: Older (aged 60 years and older) breast cancer survivors (n = 216) and frequency-matched noncancer control participants (n = 216) were assessed at baseline (presystemic therapy for survivors) and annually for up to 5 years. Assessments included hip-worn actigraphs worn for 7 days, neuropsychological tests, the Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function perceived cognitive impairment subscale, and circulating levels of C-reactive protein and interleukin-6.

Associations of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances with uterine leiomyomata incidence and growth: a prospective ultrasound study.

Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are endocrine-disrupting chemicals used in commercial and consumer products.

Objective: We evaluated PFAS exposure in relation to incidence and growth of uterine leiomyomata (UL), hormone-dependent neoplasms that are associated with severe gynecologic morbidity.

Methods: We studied 1158 participants in the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids, a Detroit-based prospective cohort study of Black females aged 23-35 years at enrollment (2010-2012).

Hair product use and urinary biomarker concentrations of non-persistent endocrine disrupting chemicals among reproductive-aged Black women.

Background: Studies have shown an association between hair product use and adverse health outcomes. Scientists have hypothesized that exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) drives these associations, but few studies have directly evaluated associations between hair product use and biomarkers of EDCs. Even more limited are studies of Black women, who frequently use EDC-containing products (e.

A prospective cohort study of persistent endocrine-disrupting chemicals and perceived stress.

Persistent endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can dysregulate the stress response. We evaluated associations between persistent EDCs and perceived stress among participants in the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids (n = 1394), a prospective cohort study of Black women. Participants completed the Perceived Stress Scale 4 (PSS-4) at baseline and every 20 months through 60 months (score range: 0-16); higher scores indicate higher stress.

Alzheimer disease-related biomarkers and cancer-related cognitive decline: the Thinking and Living with Cancer study.

Purpose: We evaluated whether plasma Alzheimer disease (AD)-related biomarkers were associated with cancer-related cognitive decline among older breast cancer survivors.

Methods: We included survivors aged 60-90 years with primary stage 0-III breast cancers (n = 236) and frequency-matched noncancer control paricipant (n = 154) who passed a cognitive screen and had banked plasma specimens. Participants were assessed at baseline (presystemic therapy) and annually for up to 60 months.

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), perceived stress, and depressive symptoms in a prospective cohort study of black women.

Background: Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are endocrine-disrupting chemicals with neurotoxic properties. PFAS have been associated with depressive symptoms among women in some studies, but little research has evaluated the effects of PFAS mixtures. Further, no study has investigated interactions of PFAS-depression associations by perceived stress, which has been shown to modify the effects of PFAS on other health outcomes.

Non-persistent endocrine disrupting chemical mixtures and uterine leiomyomata in the study of environment, lifestyle and fibroids (SELF).

Background: Results of studies investigating associations between individual endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) and incidence of uterine leiomyomata (UL), a hormone-dependent gynecological condition, have been inconsistent. However, few studies have evaluated simultaneous exposure to a mixture of EDCs with UL incidence.

Methods: We conducted a case-cohort analysis (n = 708) of data from the Study of the Environment, Lifestyle and Fibroids (SELF), a prospective cohort study.

A scoping review of racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and geographic disparities in the outcomes of older adults with cancer.

Introduction: Cancer health disparities are widespread. Nevertheless, the disparities in outcomes among diverse survivors of cancer ages 65 years and older ("older") have not been systematically evaluated.

Methods: We conducted a scoping review of original research articles published between January 2016 and September 2023 and indexed in Medline (Ovid), Embase, Scopus, and CINAHL databases.

Prediction of cognitive decline in older breast cancer survivors: the Thinking and Living with Cancer study.

Purpose: Cancer survivors commonly report cognitive declines after cancer therapy. Due to the complex etiology of cancer-related cognitive decline (CRCD), predicting who will be at risk of CRCD remains a clinical challenge. We developed a model to predict breast cancer survivors who would experience CRCD after systematic treatment.

Personal Care Products, Socioeconomic Status, and Endocrine-Disrupting Chemical Mixtures in Black Women.

Personal care products (PCPs) are sources of exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) among women, and socioeconomic status (SES) may influence these exposures. Black women have inequitable exposure to EDCs from PCP use, but no study has investigated how exposure to EDCs through PCPs may vary by SES, independent of race. Using data from the Study of Environment, Lifestyle, and Fibroids, a cohort of reproductive-aged Black women ( = 751), we quantified associations between PCPs and urinary biomarker concentrations of EDC mixtures (i.

Beauty Beware: Associations between Perceptions of Harm and Safer Hair-Product-Purchasing Behaviors in a Cross-Sectional Study of Adults Affiliated with a University in the Northeast.

(1) Background: Widespread personal care product (PCP) use can expose individuals to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) associated with adverse health outcomes. This study investigated the association between harm perceptions and hair-product-purchasing behaviors in adults enrolled in a cross-sectional study. (2) Methods: Respondents rated their agreement with five PCP-related harm statements using a five-point Likert scale.

Opportunities, challenges, and future directions for simulation modeling the effects of structural racism on cancer mortality in the United States: a scoping review.

Purpose: Structural racism could contribute to racial and ethnic disparities in cancer mortality via its broad effects on housing, economic opportunities, and health care. However, there has been limited focus on incorporating structural racism into simulation models designed to identify practice and policy strategies to support health equity. We reviewed studies evaluating structural racism and cancer mortality disparities to highlight opportunities, challenges, and future directions to capture this broad concept in simulation modeling research.

Depressive symptom trajectories in older breast cancer survivors: the Thinking and Living with Cancer Study.

Purpose: To identify trajectories of depressive symptoms in older breast cancer survivors and demographic, psychosocial, physical health, and cancer-related predictors of these trajectories.

Methods: Recently diagnosed nonmetastatic breast cancer survivors (n = 272), ages 60-98 years, were evaluated for depressive symptoms (Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, CES-D; scores ≥16 suggestive of clinically significant depressive symptoms). CES-D scores were analyzed in growth-mixture models to determine depression trajectories from baseline (post-surgery, pre-systemic therapy) through 3-year annual follow-up.

Menopausal hormone therapy use and risk of ovarian cancer by race: the ovarian cancer in women of African ancestry consortium.

Background: Most studies examining post-menopausal menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) use and ovarian cancer risk have focused on White women and few have included Black women.

Methods: We evaluated MHT use and ovarian cancer risk in Black (n = 800 cases, 1783 controls) and White women (n = 2710 cases, 8556 controls), using data from the Ovarian Cancer in Women of African Ancestry consortium. Logistic regression was used to estimate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the association of MHT use with ovarian cancer risk, examining histotype, MHT type and duration of use.

Developing a culturally tailored digital health intervention for insomnia in Black women.

Insomnia disorder is highly prevalent among Black women. Cognitive-behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBT-I) is considered the optimal treatment, but very little efficacy research has been conducted in minority populations. Culturally tailoring intervention content may increase participant engagement and improve treatment outcomes.

Epigenetic aging in older breast cancer survivors and noncancer controls: preliminary findings from the Thinking and Living with Cancer Study.

Background: Cancer and its treatments may accelerate aging in survivors; however, research has not examined epigenetic markers of aging in longer term breast cancer survivors. This study examined whether older breast cancer survivors showed greater epigenetic aging than noncancer controls and whether epigenetic aging related to functional outcomes.

Methods: Nonmetastatic breast cancer survivors (n = 89) enrolled prior to systemic therapy and frequency-matched controls (n = 101) ages 62 to 84 years provided two blood samples to derive epigenetic aging measures (Horvath, Extrinsic Epigenetic Age [EEA], PhenoAge, GrimAge, Dunedin Pace of Aging) and completed cognitive (Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy-Cognitive Function) and physical (Medical Outcomes Study Short Form-12) function assessments at approximately 24 to 36 and 60 months after enrollment.

Racial Differences in the Association of Endometriosis and Uterine Leiomyomas With the Risk of Ovarian Cancer.

Objective: To evaluate associations between endometriosis and uterine leiomyomas with ovarian cancer risk by race and the effect of hysterectomy on these associations.

Methods: We used data from four case-control studies and two case-control studies nested within prospective cohorts in the OCWAA (Ovarian Cancer in Women of African Ancestry) consortium. The study population included 3,124 Black participants and 5,458 White participants, of whom 1,008 Black participants and 2,237 White participants had ovarian cancer.

Plasma levels of interleukin-6 mediate neurocognitive performance in older breast cancer survivors: The Thinking and Living With Cancer study.

Background: Immune activation/inflammation markers (immune markers) were tested to explain differences in neurocognition among older breast cancer survivors versus noncancer controls.

Methods: Women >60 years old with primary breast cancer (stages 0-III) (n = 400) were assessed before systemic therapy with frequency-matched controls (n = 329) and followed annually to 60 months; blood was collected during annual assessments from 2016 to 2020. Neurocognition was measured by tests of attention, processing speed, and executive function (APE).

Association between major discrimination and deficit accumulation in African American cancer survivors: The Detroit Research on Cancer Survivors Study.

Background: Discrimination can adversely affect health and accelerate aging, but little is known about these relationships in cancer survivors. This study examines associations of discrimination and aging among self-identified African American survivors.

Methods: A population-based sample of 2232 survivors 20-79 years old at diagnosis were enrolled within 5 years of breast (n = 787), colorectal (n = 227), lung (n = 223), or prostate (n = 995) cancer between 2017 and 2022.

Associations between quantitative measures of TDLU involution and breast tumor molecular subtypes among breast cancer cases in the Black Women's Health Study: a case-case analysis.

Background: Terminal duct lobular units (TDLUs) are the structures in the breast that give rise to most breast cancers. Previous work has shown that TDLU involution is inversely associated with TDLU metrics, such as TDLU count/100mm, TDLU span (µm), and number of acini/TDLU, and that these metrics may be elevated in the normal breast tissue of women diagnosed with triple-negative (TN) compared with luminal A breast tumors. It is unknown whether this relationship exists in Black women, who have the highest incidence of TN breast cancer and the highest overall breast cancer mortality rate.

Elevated C-Reactive Protein and Subsequent Patient-Reported Cognitive Problems in Older Breast Cancer Survivors: The Thinking and Living With Cancer Study.

Purpose: To examine longitudinal relationships between levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) and cognition in older breast cancer survivors and noncancer controls.

Methods: English-speaking women age ≥ 60 years, newly diagnosed with primary breast cancer (stage 0-III), and frequency-matched controls were enrolled from September 2010 to March 2020; women with dementia, neurologic disorders, and other cancers were excluded. Assessments occurred presystemic therapy/enrollment and at annual visits up to 60 months.

Racial differences in the association of body mass index and ovarian cancer risk in the OCWAA Consortium.

Background: Obesity disproportionately affects African American (AA) women and has been shown to increase ovarian cancer risk, with some suggestions that the association may differ by race.

Methods: We evaluated body mass index (BMI) and invasive epithelial ovarian cancer (EOC) risk in a pooled study of case-control and nested case-control studies including AA and White women. We evaluated both young adult and recent BMI (within the last 5 years).