Cramer, DanielWilliams, KristinaVitonis, Allison F.Yamamoto, Hidemi S.Stuebe, AlisonWelch, WilliamTitus, LindaFichorova, Raina2017-02-032013Cramer, Daniel W., Kristina Williams, Allison F. Vitonis, Hidemi S. Yamamoto, Alison Stuebe, William R. Welch, Linda Titus, and Raina N. Fichorova. 2013. “Puerperal Mastitis: a Reproductive Event of Importance Affecting Anti-Mucin Antibody Levels and Ovarian Cancer Risk.” Cancer Causes & Control 24 (11) (August 8): 1911–1923. doi:10.1007/s10552-013-0266-1.0957-5243http://nrs.harvard.edu/urn-3:HUL.InstRepos:30194043Purpose: Test the hypothesis that puerperal mastitis may alter immunity related to the mucin (MUC) family of glycoproteins and lower risk of ovarian cancer. Methods: In two case–control studies conducted in New England between 1998 and 2008, we examined the association between self-reported mastitis and ovarian cancer in 1,483 women with epithelial ovarian cancer and 1,578 controls. IgG1 antibodies against (MUC1) CA15.3 and (MUC16) CA125 were measured using electrochemiluminescence assays in a subset of controls (n = 200). Preoperative CA125 was recorded in 649 cases. The association between ovarian cancer and mastitis was assessed using unconditional logistic regression to calculate adjusted odds ratios, OR, and 95 % confidence intervals (CI). Associations between mastitis and anti-CA15.3 and anti-CA125 antibodies and preoperative CA125 levels were evaluated using adjusted linear regression models. Results: Prior mastitis was associated with a significantly lower risk of ovarian cancer: OR (and 95 % CI) of 0.67 (0.48, 0.94) adjusted for parity, breastfeeding, and other potential confounders. The association was strongest with 2 or more episodes of mastitis, and risk declined progressively with increasing number of children and episodes of mastitis. Among controls, prior mastitis was associated with significantly higher anti-CA15.3 and anti-CA125 antibody levels and, among cases, with significantly lower preoperative CA125 levels. Conclusion: Puerperal mastitis may produce long-lasting anti-mucin antibodies that may lower the risk of ovarian cancer, plausibly through enhanced immune surveillance. Studying immune reactions related to MUC1 and MUC16 in the 10–20 % of breastfeeding women who develop mastitis may suggest ways to duplicate its effects through vaccines based on both antigens.en-USCA125CA15.3Ovarian cancerPuerperal mastitisJournal Article2014-01-06Cramer D, Williams K, Vitonis A, Yamamoto H, Stuebe A, Welch W, Titus L, Fichorova R.2017-02-0310.1007/s10552-013-0266-1