DF/HCC Program Affiliation

Gynecologic Cancer
Cancer Epidemiology

Research Abstract

I am currently engaged in working on various studies of ovarian cancer prevention and etiology. One specific interest is in dietary intake, including intake of folate and related nutrients, caffeine, and alcohol. I also am examining the role of various contraceptive methods and infertility and risk of ovarian cancer in the Nurses' health Study.

In addition, I am working with Dr. Susan Hankinson to better understand the role of vitamin D, the insulin-like growth factor pathway, androgens, and other biomarkers in the etiology of ovarian cancer, using a prospective nested case-control study in three large female cohorts.

I am also working with a gynecologic pathologist to use tissue microarrays to better understand protein expression in ovarian tumors and how it relates to risk factors for ovarian cancer and to examine risk factors for a potential ovarian cancer precursor.

I also am interested in understanding the influence of genetic and environmental exposures on reproductive hormones in women, as well as how these hormones relate to both ovarian and breast cancer risk. For example, one project involves examining the relationship of premenopausal sex hormone levels with birthweight and body size in childhood, adolescence and adulthood and adult physical activity and inactivity.

I am also interested in the role of prolactin in breast cancer etiology in both postmenopausal women and premenopausal women, and am working on a combined analysis of over 1,500 cases. In a collaboration with Dr. Anne McTiernan at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center I am examining the effect of a 12-month randomized exercise trial on prolactin concentrations. Further I have examined how DHEA/DHEAS and adiponectin are associated with breast cancer risk. Further, I am interested in epidemiologic methods, particularly in the area of biomarker usage.

Publications

• Danforth KN, Tworoger SS, Hecht JL, Rosner BA, Colditz GA, Hankinson SE.A prospective study of postmenopausal hormone use and ovarian cancer risk.Br J Cancer 2007 Jan 15;96(1):151-6.
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• Pinheiro SP, Schernhammer ES, Tworoger SS, Michels KB.A prospective study on habitual duration of sleep and incidence of breast cancer in a large cohort of women.Cancer Res 2006 May 15;66(10):5521-5.
  16707482
• Tworoger SS, Missmer SA, Eliassen AH, Spiegelman D, Folkerd E, Dowsett M, Barbieri RL, Hankinson SE.The association of plasma DHEA and DHEA sulfate with breast cancer risk in predominantly premenopausal women.Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2006 May;15(5
  16702378
• Eliassen AH, Missmer SA, Tworoger SS, Hankinson SE.Endogenous steroid hormone concentrations and risk of breast cancer: does the association vary by a woman's predicted breast cancer risk?.J Clin Oncol 2006 Apr 20;24(12):1823-30.
  16567770
• Tworoger SS, Hankinson SE.Prolactin and breast cancer risk.Cancer Lett 2006 Mar 9.
  16530327
• Tworoger SS, Sluss P, Hankinson SE.Association between plasma prolactin concentrations and risk of breast cancer among predominately premenopausal women.Cancer Res 2006 Feb 15;66(4):2476-82.
  16489055
• Tworoger SS, Davis S, Vitiello MV, Lentz MJ, McTiernan A.Factors associated with objective (actigraphic) and subjective sleep quality in young adult women.J Psychosom Res 2005 Jul;59(1):11-9.
  16126091
• Tworoger SS, Missmer SA, Barbieri RL, Willett WC, Colditz GA, Hankinson SE.Plasma sex hormone concentrations and subsequent risk of breast cancer among women using postmenopausal hormones.J Natl Cancer Inst 2005 Apr 20;97(8):595-602.
  15840882
• Tworoger SS, Eliassen AH, Rosner B, Sluss P, Hankinson SE.Plasma prolactin concentrations and risk of postmenopausal breast cancer.Cancer Res 2004 Sep 15;64(18):6814-9.
  15375001
• Tworoger SS, Chubak J, Aiello EJ, Ulrich CM, Atkinson C, Potter JD, Yasui Y, Stapleton PL, Lampe JW, Farin FM, Stanczyk FZ, McTiernan A.Association of CYP17, CYP19, CYP1B1, and COMT polymorphisms with serum and urinary sex hormone concentrations in postme
  14744739
• Tworoger SS, Yasui Y, Vitiello MV, Schwartz RS, Ulrich CM, Aiello EJ, Irwin ML, Bowen D, Potter JD, McTiernan A.Effects of a yearlong moderate-intensity exercise and a stretching intervention on sleep quality in postmenopausal women.Sleep 2003 Nov 1;26(7)
  14655916