Studying Environmental Influences and Breast Cancer Risk: Suggestions for an Integrated Population-based Approach

Overview

Journal Breast Cancer Res Treat

Specialty Oncology

Date 1995 Jul 1

PMID 7612908

Citations 3

Authors

R Millikan

E Devoto

B Newman

D Savitz

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Increased attention has focused in recent years on environmental exposures which may elevate risk of human breast cancer. Following a brief introduction to the topic, we present a summary of recent evidence regarding the role of chlorinated hydrocarbons (e.g. pesticides), occupational exposures (e.g. electromagnetic fields), dietary factors, and other hydrocarbons (e.g. tobacco). Next, we present suggestions for additional measurements which may help to clarify the contribution of environmental factors, including individual and ecologic level exposure histories, polymorphisms in carcinogen-metabolizing enzymes, and interactions among environmental exposures, breast tumor characteristics, and other risk factors for breast cancer. Finally, we discuss how a population-based approach may be used to integrate these sources of information and could provide new clues regarding the role of environmental influences in breast cancer.

Citing Articles

Interaction between alcohol dehydrogenase II gene, alcohol consumption, and risk for breast cancer.

Sturmer T, Wang-Gohrke S, Arndt V, Boeing H, Kong X, Kreienberg R Br J Cancer. 2002; 87(5):519-23.

PMID: 12189549 PMC: 2376160. DOI: 10.1038/sj.bjc.6600500.

Cancer risk assessment of extremely low frequency electric and magnetic fields: a critical review of methodology.

McCann J Environ Health Perspect. 1998; 106(11):701-17.

PMID: 9799185 PMC: 1533493. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.106-1533493.

Triazine herbicide exposure and breast cancer incidence: an ecologic study of Kentucky counties.

Kettles M, Browning S, Prince T, HORSTMAN S Environ Health Perspect. 1998; 105(11):1222-7.

PMID: 9370519 PMC: 1470339. DOI: 10.1289/ehp.971051222.

References

Whittemore A, Henderson B . Dietary fat and breast cancer: where are we?. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1993; 85(10):762-3; discussion 764-5. DOI: 10.1093/jnci/85.10.762. View

Sommer S, Cunningham J, McGovern R, Saitoh S, Schroeder J, Wold L . Pattern of p53 gene mutations in breast cancers of women of the midwestern United States. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1992; 84(4):246-52. DOI: 10.1093/jnci/84.4.246. View

Phillips D, Pirkle J, Burse V, Bernert Jr J, Henderson L, Needham L . Chlorinated hydrocarbon levels in human serum: effects of fasting and feeding. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 1989; 18(4):495-500. DOI: 10.1007/BF01055015. View

Longnecker M, London S . Re: Blood levels of organochlorine residues and risk of breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1993; 85(20):1696-7. DOI: 10.1093/jnci/85.20.1696. View

Moses M . Pesticide-related health problems and farmworkers. AAOHN J. 1989; 37(3):115-30. View

Nakachi K, Imai K, Hayashi S, Kawajiri K . Polymorphisms of the CYP1A1 and glutathione S-transferase genes associated with susceptibility to lung cancer in relation to cigarette dose in a Japanese population. Cancer Res. 1993; 53(13):2994-9. View

Mattison D, Wohlleb J, To T, Lamb Y, Faitak S, Brewster M . Pesticide concentrations in Arkansas breast milk. J Ark Med Soc. 1992; 88(11):553-7. View

Humphreys K . Area variations in health outcomes: artefact or ecology. Int J Epidemiol. 1991; 20(1):251-8. DOI: 10.1093/ije/20.1.251. View

Wolff M, Toniolo P, Lee E, Rivera M, Dubin N . Blood levels of organochlorine residues and risk of breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1993; 85(8):648-52. DOI: 10.1093/jnci/85.8.648. View

10.

Zhong S, Wyllie A, Barnes D, Wolf C, Spurr N . Relationship between the GSTM1 genetic polymorphism and susceptibility to bladder, breast and colon cancer. Carcinogenesis. 1993; 14(9):1821-4. DOI: 10.1093/carcin/14.9.1821. View

11.

DErcole A, Arthur R, Cain J, BARRENTINE B . Insecticide exposure of mothers and newborns in a rural agricultural area. Pediatrics. 1976; 57(6):869-74. View

12.

Burse V, Head S, Korver M, McClure P, Donahue J, Needham L . Determination of selected organochlorine pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls in human serum. J Anal Toxicol. 1990; 14(3):137-42. DOI: 10.1093/jat/14.3.137. View

13.

Olsson H, Borg A, Ferno M, Ranstam J, Sigurdsson H . Her-2/neu and INT2 proto-oncogene amplification in malignant breast tumors in relation to reproductive factors and exposure to exogenous hormones. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1991; 83(20):1483-7. DOI: 10.1093/jnci/83.20.1483. View

14.

Stevens R, Davis S, Thomas D, Anderson L, Wilson B . Electric power, pineal function, and the risk of breast cancer. FASEB J. 1992; 6(3):853-60. DOI: 10.1096/fasebj.6.3.1740235. View

15.

Acquavella J, Ireland B, Ramlow J . Organochlorines and breast cancer. J Natl Cancer Inst. 1993; 85(22):1872-5. DOI: 10.1093/jnci/85.22.1872. View

16.

Spink D, Eugster H, Lincoln 2nd D, Schuetz J, Schuetz E, Johnson J . 17 beta-estradiol hydroxylation catalyzed by human cytochrome P450 1A1: a comparison of the activities induced by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin in MCF-7 cells with those from heterologous expression of the cDNA. Arch Biochem Biophys. 1992; 293(2):342-8. DOI: 10.1016/0003-9861(92)90404-k. View

17.

Blaszyk H, Vaughn C, Hartmann A, McGovern R, Schroeder J, Cunningham J . Novel pattern of p53 gene mutations in an American black cohort with high mortality from breast cancer. Lancet. 1994; 343(8907):1195-7. DOI: 10.1016/s0140-6736(94)92403-1. View

18.

Taubes G . Electromagnetic fields. Breast cancer link claimed, criticized. Science. 1994; 264(5166):1658. DOI: 10.1126/science.8209240. View

19.

Vogelstein B, Kinzler K . Carcinogens leave fingerprints. Nature. 1992; 355(6357):209-10. DOI: 10.1038/355209a0. View

20.

Barnett R, DErcole A, Cain J, Arthur R . Organochlorine pesticide residues in human milk samples from women living in Northwest and Northeast Mississippi, 1973-75. Pestic Monit J. 1979; 13(2):47-51. View