Hormone linked to rise in breast cancer risk

WOMEN with high blood levels of a particular hormone are more likely to develop breast cancer, research suggests.

The hormone, identified as insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), has been linked to breast cancer before in smaller studies.

But the latest research by Cancer Research UK – an analysis of the worldwide evidence to date – shows that the 20 per cent of women with the highest blood levels of this growth factor were 28 per cent more likely to develop breast cancer than the 20 per cent with the lowest levels.

Professor Tim Key, lead researcher from the University of Oxford, said: "Over the last few years there has been increasing interest in the possible link between growth factors and breast cancer, but the results have been inconsistent."

Dr Lesley Walker, director of cancer information at Cancer Research UK, said: "

We'll have to wait and see if particular changes to a woman's diet can affect her levels of this hormone, this study has revealed some very interesting information that adds to our knowledge about the disease."