Serum concentrations of organochlorine compounds and endometrial cancer risk (United States).
OBJECTIVE
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.
Sturgeon
S R
SR
Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA.
Brock
J W
JW
Potischman
N
N
Needham
L L
LL
Rothman
N
N
Brinton
L A
LA
Hoover
R N
RN
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D016001:Confidence Intervals; D016889:Endometrial Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D015994:Incidence; D007306:Insecticides / Q000097:blood*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated; D007306:Insecticides