Abstract: Digit ratio (2D∶3D; 2D∶4D; 2D∶5D; 3D∶4D; 3D∶5D; 4D∶5D) including mean values of both hands of 256 women from Ningxia Han nationality (control and breast cancer sample of 128 each) were studied. The relationship between digit ratio and womenπs age was also analyzed, with the following results. 1) The mean values of the digit ratio of the healthy control and breast cancer samples presented the following trend - 2D∶3D < 2D∶4D < 3D∶4D < 2D∶5D < 4D∶5D < 3D∶5D. 2) The breast cancer sample had higher mean values than the control sample. Compared with the control sample, there were significant differences of 2D∶3D ( P < 0105), 2D∶4D ( P < 0101) and 2D∶5D(left P < 0105) in the breast cancer sample. There was also a higher percentage of 2D > 4D in the breast cancer sample. 3) The relationship between 2D∶4D (including left hands, right hands, and the mean values of them) and the womenπs age was significant in the breast cancer sample (P < 01001) .

Key words: Digit ratio; Breast cancer; Han nationality