title: Case-control study of PCBs, other organochlorines and breast cancer in Eastern Slovakia.
abstract: This case-control study was designed to investigate association between polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and risk of breast cancer in an area of high environmental exposure in the Michalovce district of eastern Slovakia. Incident breast cancer cases from the Michalovce district diagnosed between May 1997 and May 1999 were recruited through the Oncology Department of the District Hospital. A total of 15 individual PCB congeners, 2,2'-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene (DDE), 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1,1-trichloroethane (DDT), and hexachlorobenzene (HCB) were measured in the serum of 24 breast cancer patients and 88 population controls in 1998-1999. The median levels of total PCBs were similar in cases (2586 ng/g of lipid) and controls (2682 ng/g of lipid). Higher serum levels (highest vs. lowest tertile) of total PCBs (odds ratio (OR)=0.42, 95% CI 0.10-1.82, p-for trend=0.31), group 1 congeners (OR=0.37, 95% CI 0.10-1.43, P-for trend=0.02), group 2 congeners (OR=0.32, 95% CI 0.07-1.56, P-for trend=0.60), and group 3 congeners (OR=0.49, 95% CI 0.12-2.04, P-for trend=0.51) were inversely associated with risk of breast cancer. Higher serum levels of DDE (OR=3.04, 95% CI 0.65-14.3, P-for trend=0.10) were positively associated with risk of breast cancer, while there was no association for DDT (OR=1.19, 95% CI 0.27-5.23, P-for trend=0.68), and an inverse association for HCB (OR=0.45, 95% CI 0.06-3.19, P-for trend=0.67). While generally not statistically significant, PCB and HCB levels were inversely associated with risk of breast cancer in this highly exposed population. DDE, but not DDT, was positively associated with risk.
authors.affiliation: University of Texas School of Public Health, Regional Campus, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, V8.112M, Dallas, Texas 75235-9128, USA. Marian.Pavuk@UTSouthwestern.edu
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Pavuk
authors.forename: James R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Cerhan
authors.forename: Charles F
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Lynch
authors.forename: Anton
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kocan
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Petrik
authors.forename: Jana
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Chovancova
mesh_terms: D001822:Body Burden; D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000453:epidemiology; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003634:DDT / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification / Q000633:toxicity*; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D006801:Humans; D007306:Insecticides / Q000097:blood / Q000633:toxicity*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000097:blood / Q000145:classification / Q000633:toxicity*; D012042:Registries; D012307:Risk Factors; D018154:Slovakia / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D007306:Insecticides; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene; D003634:DDT; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls