'DES' might be one….© Laura Ruth
Sep 7, 2000
Is Diethylstilbestrol (DES) another one of many carcinogenic compounds? Genetic mutations in BRCA1 and BRCA2 genes are clearly associated with contributing to some of the 170,000 cases of breast cancer diagnosed annually in the United States. However, further research is necessary to determine the influence of potential environmental hazards, such as smoking, oral contraceptives or DES.
DES is another potential chemical compound that would increase the risk of breast and ovarian cancer for BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers. DES is a hormonal estrogenic compound. Further understanding the effect of DES on BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers might be useful for understanding other carcinogenic compounds. About 10% of pregnant women received DES to prevent spontaneous abortions. Subsequent research shows DES is a transplacental carcinogen in daughters of women who received DES and a human breast carcinogen. To investigate the potential carcinogenic effect of DES on BRCA1 and BRCA2 mutation carriers Bennett and colleagues at the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences recently created mice that carry BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations. Interestingly, the researchers found that mice that carry a BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation and are exposed to DES can develop breast cancer. Investigating the effect of DES on humans is relevant future work.
Reference Bennett, L.M., et al., "Mice Heterozygous for a Brca1 or Brca2 Mutation Display Distinct Mammary Gland and Ovarian Phenotypes in Response to Diethylstilbestrol," Cancer Research 60, 3461-3469, 2000.
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