Correlation between reproductive factors and pancreatic cancer in northwest China

AIM: To assess the correlation between reproductive factors and pancreatic cancer in Chinese female Hans from northwest China, in order to find a new strategy for the prevention and treatment of pancreatic cancer. METHODS: A total of 154 female pancreatic cancer patients treated at the Second Affiliated Hospital of Xi’an Jiaotong University from 2008 to 2014 were included in a case group, and 251 gender and age matched hospitalized patients without gynecological and endocrine disease were included in a control group. A case-control study was carried out, and odds ratio (OR) and its 95% confidence interval (95%CI) estimating the relative risk of each factor (including parity, age at menarche and age at menopause) to pancreatic cancer were calculated to assess their correlation. RESULTS: In the female Han population, compared with the hospitalized patients without gynecological and endocrine disease, multiple births (≥3) was a risk factor for pancreatic cancer (OR = 2.42, 95%CI: 1.43-4.10). In univariate analysis, compared with nonmenopausal women, menopausal woman had a higher risk to develop pancreatic cancer (OR = 4.65), and menarche at age less than or equal to 14 years was associated with a lower risk to develop pancreatic cancer. In multivariate analysis, age at menarche and age at menopause were not associated with the incidence of pancreatic cancer. When distribution characteristics of parity in patients with pancreatic cancer were studied, compared with the control group of patients, patients with pancreatic cancer had a significantly higher proportion of multiple births (≥3) compared with the control group (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: In the female Han population, multiple births may be a risk factor for pancreatic cancer. Age at menarche and age at menopause are not significantly associated with the incidence of pancreatic cancer. Compared with hospitalized patients without gynecological and endocrine disease, patients with pancreatic cancer have a higher proportion of multiple births.