DDE AND PCBS AS ENVIRONMENTAL FACTORS IN HUMAN CANCER

DDE和多氯联苯是高持久性、亲油性的环境化学品。 众所周知，它们具有雌激素特性，并在 动物。为了检验这些化合物可能会起到 乳腺癌的病因学作用：一项初步的病例对照研究 进行了一次。血清中DDE和多氯联苯水平升高 乳腺癌女性与非癌症对照组的比较。(在58个人中 2例在献血后6个月内确诊为癌症。 现在，为了更广泛地研究有机氯在 人类致癌，一系列三个“嵌套”病例对照研究是 建议--针对乳腺癌、结肠癌和子宫内膜癌-- 参与了一项前瞻性研究的大量女性 1985-1992年间在纽约市患上癌症。对于乳腺癌， 有240个病例发生在至少12个月后 登记；结肠癌，60-70例；子宫内膜(子宫) 癌症，35-45例。控件将分别匹配(3：1) 年龄、登记日期和绝经状态或阶段 月经周期。 多氯联苯和DDE的浓度将在符合以下条件的血清样本中进行测量 在登记时获得并被冻结存储。评估 DDE、多氯联苯和癌症之间的关联将控制潜在的 混杂因素和效果修饰物，包括饮食和生育史。 对于乳腺癌，在以后的几年中重复采集血液样本； 这些都将被分析，以绘制可能发生的血清水平的任何变化 在疾病发作期间。 使用这一研究群体获得了几个好处。血清 已经获得了样本；高质量的历史基线 关于饮食和其他潜在危险因素的信息已经掌握； 类固醇激素水平是已知的；以及人群随访的机制 都是老牌的。 这项研究的数据可能会阐明环境和环境之间的联系 毒素、膳食脂肪和激素与癌症的发生，提供 更好地了解这些疾病并抓住机会 干预。

DDE and PCBs are highly persistent, lipophilic environmental chemicals. They are known to have estrogenic properties and to be carcinogenic in animals. To test the hypothesis that these compounds might play an etiologic role in human breast cancer, a preliminary case-control study was conducted. Elevated levels of DDE and PCBs were found in serum of women with breast cancer compared with non-cancer controls. (Among the 58 cases, cancer had been diagnosed within 6 months of blood donation.) Now, to investigate more broadly the possible role of organochlorines in human carcinogenesis, a series of three "nested" case-control studies is proposed--for breast cancer, colon cancer, and endometrial cancer--among a large population of women who participated in a prospective study of cancer undertaken in New York City during 1985-1992. For breast cancer, there are 240 cases available that occurred at least 12 months after enrollment; for colon cancer, 60-70 cases; for endometrial (uterine) cancer, 35-45 cases. Controls will be individually matched (3:1) on the basis of age, date of enrollment, and either menopausal status or phase of the menstrual cycle. Concentrations of PCBs and DDE will be measured in serum specimens that were obtained at the time of enrollment and stored frozen. The evaluation of associations between DDE, PCBs and cancer will control for potential confounders and effect modifiers, including diet and reproductive history. For breast cancer, repeated blood specimens were taken in later years; these will be analyzed to chart any changes in serum levels that may occur during onset of disease. Several advantages are gained from the use of this study population. Serum specimens have already been obtained; high-quality baseline historical information on dietary and other potential risk factors is in hand; steroid hormone levels are known; and mechanisms for population followup are well established. Data from this study may illuminate the association of environmental toxins, dietary fat and hormones with occurrence of cancer, providing greater understanding of these diseases and opportunities for intervention.