A STUDY OF THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN SQUAMOUS-CELL CARCINOMA AND ADENOCARCINOMA IN THE LUNG, AND HISTORY OF MENSTRUATION IN SHANGHAI WOMEN, CHINA

The menstrual history of 162 cases of female lung adenocarcinoma and 1 9 cases of squamous cell carcinoma was compared with 187 age-matched f emale controls, and analyzed for statistical significant differences t hat may exist between the two groups using the Epi-infor program, the Chi-square test, and the Bartlett test for homogeneity of variance. Pa rameters related to menstrual history included: age of menarche, menst rual cycle, number of days of menstrual period, amount of menstrual fl ow, menstrual pain, breast bloating/tenderness, and total number of me nstrual cycles prior to menopause or diagnosis of lung cancer. The res ults show that cases of squamous cell carcinoma have a higher total nu mber of menstrual cycles than controls, raising the possibility that e strogen may play a role in the induction of squamous cell carcinoma. C ases with adenocarcinoma were found to have shorter menstrual periods than controls, suggesting that activity of the corpus luteum may be re lated to the occurrence of adenocarcinoma. Progesterone (PR) and estro gen (ER) receptor levels were also measured in 21 adenocarcinoma surgi cal specimens. A positive ER and PR receptor expression was correlated with later menarche and earlier menopause.