Semiparametric Bayesian analysis of case-control data under conditional gene-environment independence

Biometrics. 2007 Sep;63(3):834-44. doi: 10.1111/j.1541-0420.2007.00750.x. Epub 2007 May 8.

Abstract

In case-control studies of gene-environment association with disease, when genetic and environmental exposures can be assumed to be independent in the underlying population, one may exploit the independence in order to derive more efficient estimation techniques than the traditional logistic regression analysis (Chatterjee and Carroll, 2005, Biometrika92, 399-418). However, covariates that stratify the population, such as age, ethnicity and alike, could potentially lead to nonindependence. In this article, we provide a novel semiparametric Bayesian approach to model stratification effects under the assumption of gene-environment independence in the control population. We illustrate the methods by applying them to data from a population-based case-control study on ovarian cancer conducted in Israel. A simulation study is conducted to compare our method with other popular choices. The results reflect that the semiparametric Bayesian model allows incorporation of key scientific evidence in the form of a prior and offers a flexible, robust alternative when standard parametric model assumptions do not hold.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Bayes Theorem
  • Biometry / methods
  • Case-Control Studies*
  • Computer Simulation
  • Data Interpretation, Statistical*
  • Effect Modifier, Epidemiologic
  • Female
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / epidemiology*
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics*
  • Humans
  • Israel / epidemiology
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / epidemiology*
  • Ovarian Neoplasms / genetics*
  • Risk Assessment / methods*
  • Risk Factors