TY - JOUR
T1 - DDT (dicophane) and postmenopausal breast cancer in Europe
T2 - Case-control study
AU - Van 'T Veer, Pieter
AU - Lobbezoo, Irene E.
AU - Martín-Moreno, José M.
AU - Guallar, Eliseo
AU - Gómez-Aracena, Jorge
AU - Kardinaal, Alwine F.M.
AU - Kohlmeier, Lenore
AU - Martin, Blaise C.
AU - Strain, John J.
AU - Thamm, Michael
AU - Van Zoonen, Piet
AU - Baumann, Bert A.
AU - Huttunen, Jussi K.
AU - Kok, Frans J.
PY - 1997
Y1 - 1997
N2 - Objective: To examine any possible links between exposure to DDE (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl)ethylene), the persistent metabolite of the pesticide dicophane DDT), and breast cancer. Design: Multicentre study of exposure to DDE by measurement of adipose tissue aspirated from the buttocks. Laboratory measurements were conducted in a single laboratory. Additional data on risk factors for breast cancer were obtained by standard questionnaires. Setting: Centres in Germany, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Switzerland, and Spain. Subjects: 265 postmenopausal women with breast cancer and 341 controls matched for age and centre. Main outcome measure: Adipose DDE concentration. Results: Women with breast cancer had adipose DDE concentrations 9.2% lower than control women. No increased risk of breast cancer was found at higher concentration. The odds ratio of breast cancer, adjusted for age and centre, for the highest versus the lowest fourth of DDE distribution was 0.73 (95% confidence interval 0.44 to 1.21) and decreased to 0.48 (0.25 to 0.95; P for trend = 0.02) after adjustment for body mass index, age at first birth, and current alcohol drinking. Adjustment for other risk factors did not materially affect these estimates. Conclusions: The lower DDE concentrations observed among the women with breast cancer may be secondary to disease inception. This study does not support the hypothesis that DDE increases risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women in Europe.
AB - Objective: To examine any possible links between exposure to DDE (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis (p-chlorophenyl)ethylene), the persistent metabolite of the pesticide dicophane DDT), and breast cancer. Design: Multicentre study of exposure to DDE by measurement of adipose tissue aspirated from the buttocks. Laboratory measurements were conducted in a single laboratory. Additional data on risk factors for breast cancer were obtained by standard questionnaires. Setting: Centres in Germany, the Netherlands, Northern Ireland, Switzerland, and Spain. Subjects: 265 postmenopausal women with breast cancer and 341 controls matched for age and centre. Main outcome measure: Adipose DDE concentration. Results: Women with breast cancer had adipose DDE concentrations 9.2% lower than control women. No increased risk of breast cancer was found at higher concentration. The odds ratio of breast cancer, adjusted for age and centre, for the highest versus the lowest fourth of DDE distribution was 0.73 (95% confidence interval 0.44 to 1.21) and decreased to 0.48 (0.25 to 0.95; P for trend = 0.02) after adjustment for body mass index, age at first birth, and current alcohol drinking. Adjustment for other risk factors did not materially affect these estimates. Conclusions: The lower DDE concentrations observed among the women with breast cancer may be secondary to disease inception. This study does not support the hypothesis that DDE increases risk of breast cancer in postmenopausal women in Europe.
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U2 - 10.1136/bmj.315.7100.81
DO - 10.1136/bmj.315.7100.81
M3 - Article
C2 - 9240045
AN - SCOPUS:8544281629
SN - 0959-8146
VL - 315
SP - 81
EP - 85
JO - British Medical Journal
JF - British Medical Journal
IS - 7100
ER -