Cancer risk associated with early and late maternal age at first birth

Objective. This paper provides a review of the literature associating maternal age at first birth and cancer. Potential mechanisms explaining associations between maternal age at first birth and cancer are also discussed. Method. Systematic review of English language literature using searches on established databases (e.g., Medline, Popline) and the references of materials identified in these databases. Results. Older age (typically defined as 35 years or older) at first birth is associated with increased risk of breast and brain cancers. Conversely, younger age (typically defined as 19 years or Younger) at first birth is associated with an increased risk of cervical and endometrial cancers. There is an unclear correlation between maternal age at first birth and site-specific malignancies such as ovarian, colorectal, thyroid, pancreatic, and kidney cancers. Causal mechanisms linking age at first birth and cancer were identified and reported for breast, brain, cervical, and endometrial cancers. Conclusion. Older age at first birth increases the risk for breast and brain cancers but decreases the risk of cervical and endometrial cancers. (c) 2004 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.