Can paternal environmental experiences affect the breast cancer risk in offspring? A systematic review

INTRODUCTION: Studies in recent years have shown that parental environmental experiences can affect their offspring’s risk of breast cancer (BC). We assessed the effect of different paternal factors on BC risk in offspring by reviewing the existing literature. METHOD: This systematic review followed the Joanna Briggs Institute’s (JBI) method for systematic reviews of qualitative evidence. The primary keywords were searched in reliable databases such as PubMed, Google Scholar, Elsevier, SID, and Wiley in English until 31 December 2021. Two authors independently examined the articles in terms of inclusion criteria and quality assessment of the articles. RESULTS: Of the 438 studies, 19 met the inclusion criteria of this systematic review and were included in the study. Paternal factors investigated in these studies included age at delivery, diet, occupational exposures, occupation type and education. The reported relationships between these factors and breast cancer varied among different studies. CONCLUSION: Studies considered in this article show that fathers’ age at the time of delivery of the child, dietary habits, overweight and occupational factors can affect the incidence of BC risk in the next generation.