Hypothesis: does breast cancer originate in utero?
Factors that increase the risk of cancer during adult life may also increase the risk of cancer when they act in utero (eg, ionising radiation and diethylstilboestrol in human beings and chemicals in animals). The existing empirical data seem to be compatible with the hypothesis that increased concentrations of oestrogens in pregnancy increase the probability of future occurrence of breast cancer in daughters.
Trichopoulos
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Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, Harvard University, Boston, Massachusetts 02115.
D000328:Adult; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology*; D004032:Diet / Q000009:adverse effects; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000097:blood*; D011297:Prenatal Exposure Delayed Effects; D012307:Risk Factors
D004967:Estrogens; D004054:Diethylstilbestrol