Case-control study of PCBs, other organochlorines and breast cancer in Eastern Slovakia

Marian Pavuk; James R Cerhan; Charles F Lynch; Anton Kocan; Jan Petrik; Jana Chovancova

doi:10.1038/sj.jea.7500277

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Case-control study of PCBs, other organochlorines and breast cancer in Eastern Slovakia

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Case-control study of PCBs, other organochlorines and breast cancer in Eastern Slovakia

Marian Pavuk, James R Cerhan, Charles F Lynch, Anton Kocan, Jan Petrik and Jana Chovancova

Journal of exposure analysis and environmental epidemiology, Vol.13(4), pp.267-275

07/2003

DOI: 10.1038/sj.jea.7500277

PMID: 12923553

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Abstract

This case-control study was designed to investigate association between polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and risk of breast cancer in an area of high environmental exposure in the Michalovce district of eastern Slovakia. Incident breast cancer cases from the Michalovce district diagnosed between May 1997 and May 1999 were recruited through the Oncology Department of the District Hospital. A total of 15 individual PCB congeners, 2,2'-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene (DDE), 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane (DDT), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were measured in the serum of 24 breast cancer patients and 88 population controls in 1998-1999. The median levels of total PCBs were similar in cases (2586 ng/g of lipid) and controls (2682 ng/g of lipid). Higher serum levels (highest vs. lowest tertile) of total PCBs (odds ratio (OR)=0.42, 95% CI 0.10-1.82, p-for trend=0.31), group 1 congeners (OR=0.37, 95% CI 0.10-1.43, P-for trend=0.02), group 2 congeners (OR=0.32, 95% CI 0.07-1.56, P-for trend=0.60), and group 3 congeners (OR=0.49, 95% CI 0.12-2.04, P-for trend=0.51) were inversely associated with risk of breast cancer. Higher serum levels of DDE (OR=3.04, 95% CI 0.65-14.3, P-for trend=0.10) were positively associated with risk of breast cancer, while there was no association for DDT (OR=1.19, 95% CI 0.27-5.23, P-for trend=0.68), and an inverse association for HCB (OR=0.45, 95% CI 0.06-3.19, P-for trend=0.67). While generally not statistically significant, PCB and HCB levels were inversely associated with risk of breast cancer in this highly exposed population. DDE, but not DDT, was positively associated with risk.

Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene - blood

Humans

Polychlorinated Biphenyls - blood

Case-Control Studies

Environmental Pollutants - blood

Insecticides - blood

DDT - toxicity

Hexachlorobenzene - blood

Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene - toxicity

Female

Registries

Environmental Pollutants - toxicity

Environmental Pollutants - classification

Slovakia - epidemiology

Breast Neoplasms - epidemiology

Environmental Monitoring

Risk Factors

Body Burden

Hexachlorobenzene - toxicity

Environmental Exposure - adverse effects

Epidemiological Monitoring

Polychlorinated Biphenyls - toxicity

Polychlorinated Biphenyls - classification

Breast Neoplasms - chemically induced

DDT - blood

Insecticides - toxicity

Details

Title: Subtitle: Case-control study of PCBs, other organochlorines and breast cancer in Eastern Slovakia
Creators: Marian Pavuk - University of Texas School of Public Health, Regional Campus, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, V8.112M, Dallas, Texas 75235-9128, USA. Marian.Pavuk@UTSouthwestern.edu
James R Cerhan
Charles F Lynch
Anton Kocan
Jan Petrik
Jana Chovancova
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Journal of exposure analysis and environmental epidemiology, Vol.13(4), pp.267-275
DOI: 10.1038/sj.jea.7500277
PMID: 12923553
NLM abbreviation: J Expo Anal Environ Epidemiol
ISSN: 1053-4245
eISSN: 1476-5519
Publisher: England
Grant note: K07 CA64220 / NCI NIH HHS 5 D43 TW/ES00621-04 / FIC NIH HHS P30 ES05605-PILOT / NIEHS NIH HHS
Language: English
Date published: 07/2003
Academic Unit: Epidemiology
Record Identifier: 9983995018702771

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