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History of migraines linked to reduced breast cancer risk

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Premenopausal and postmenopausal women with a history of clinical diagnosis of migraine had a 26% reduced risk for breast cancer.

Researchers conducted a follow-up study to the Women’s Contraceptive and Reproductive Experiences study, a population-based, case-controlled study. They enrolled and interviewed 4,568 women with breast cancer and 4,678 matched controls.

Women in the breast cancer group were aged 35 to 64 and were diagnosed with invasive breast cancer between 1994 and 1998.

The risk for breast cancer was reduced among women with a previous diagnosis of migraine (OR=0.74; 95% CI, 0.66-0.82). Risk was similar for premenopausal (OR=0.79; 95% CI, 0.67-0.93) and postmenopausal (OR=0.74; 95% CI, 0.62-0.87) women.

Risk remained the same regardless of age at migraine diagnosis (P=.84) or history of prescription migraine medication-use (P=.11). Risk was not different based on whether women were black (OR=0.67) or white (OR=0.77), or whether they had a history of alcohol consumption (OR=0.79), smoking (OR=0.76), oral contraception use (OR=0.67) or hormone therapy use (OR=0.76).

Risk for ductal (OR=0.74) and lobular (OR=0.73) carcinomas was also reduced in women with a history of migraines when compared with women without migraine history.

Researchers are conducting an additional follow-up study to determine the types, timing, intensity and severity of migraines, according to a press release. – by Christen Haigh

Li CI. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2009;doi:10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-09-0291.

The association between serotonin and migraines is well known and probably underlies the increased incidence of migraines in ITP patients (possibly due to platelet serotonin release with platelet destruction). This astonishing article could suggest that serotonin decreases cancer risk. If so, (controversial) papers reporting decreased carcinogenesis in patients taking serotonin-uptake-inhibitor antidepressants maybe correct.

– Harry S. Jacob, MD

HemOnc Today Chief Medical Editor