Hormones and dietary fat as promoters in mammary carcinogenesis.
Hormones, particularly ovarian steroids and pituitary prolactin, promote mammary carcinogenesis in rats treated with a carcinogen. Hormones also play a critical role during the initiation process as demonstrated by mammary carcinogenesis in ovariectomized rats. A diet high in fat content, especially polyunsaturated fat, promotes mammary tumorigenesis when it is fed to carcinogen-treated rats for a prolonged period of time. Although a high fat diet is not essential for neoplastic transformation of the mammary cells, its effect on initiation is demonstrated when it is fed to rats for a long duration. Thus, both hormones and high dietary fat play a dual function in mammary carcinogenesis. There are indications that dietary fat may modulate endocrine activities, but a relationship between dietary fat and endocrine function remains to be conclusively demonstrated.
D000818:Animals; D002273:Carcinogens; D002369:Castration; D004041:Dietary Fats / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D008325:Mammary Neoplasms, Experimental / Q000209:etiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal; D011388:Prolactin / Q000097:blood; D051381:Rats
D002273:Carcinogens; D004041:Dietary Fats; D004967:Estrogens; D011388:Prolactin