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Serum concentrations of organochlorine compounds and endometrial cancer risk (United States)

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Abstract

Objectives: Endogenous and exogenous estrogens are important in the development of endometrial cancer. Several organochlorine compounds, such as o,p′-DDT, have estrogenic properties. The objective of this case-control analysis was to examine serum concentrations of organochlorine compounds and risk of endometrial cancer.

Methods: Analyses were based on a sample of 90 endometrial cancer cases and 90 individually matched community controls from a multicenter case-control study in five geographic regions of the United States. Information on potential confounders, including menstrual and reproductive factors, cigarette smoking, diet, and weight, was obtained by interview.

Results: The adjusted relative risk of endometrial cancer in the highest quartile of exposure compared with women in the lowest quartile was 0.7 (95 percent confidence interval [CI] = 0.2-2.0) for p,p′-DDE, and 0.9 for total polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (CI = 0.4-2.5).

Conclusions: These findings do not support the hypothesis that organochlorine compounds are linked to the development of endometrial cancer.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Susan R. Sturgeon, Nancy Potischman, Nathaniel Rothman, Louise A. Brinton & Robert N. Hoover

  2. Centers for Disease Control, National Center for Environmental Health, Atlanta, GA, USA

    John W. Brock & Larry L. Needham

Authors
  1. Susan R. Sturgeon
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  2. Nancy Potischman
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  3. Nathaniel Rothman
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  4. Louise A. Brinton
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  5. Robert N. Hoover
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  6. John W. Brock
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  7. Larry L. Needham
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Sturgeon, S.R., Potischman, N., Rothman, N. et al. Serum concentrations of organochlorine compounds and endometrial cancer risk (United States). Cancer Causes Control 9, 417–424 (1998). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008823802393

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1008823802393

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