title: Reduced COMT activity as a possible environmental risk factor for breast cancer. Opinion.
abstract: Recent genetic epidemiological studies implicate a low activity form of catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) with increased risk factor for breast cancer. Taking into account, the role of COMT in the metabolism of otherwise carcinogenic catecholestrogens, it is reasonable to propose that environmental or dietary products that inhibit COMT pose a risk for breast cancer.
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Chemistry, NIDDK, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20814-4008, USA. CrevelingB@extra.niddk.nih.gov
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Creveling
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000201:enzymology* / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase / Q000235:genetics*; D004777:Environment; D004967:Estrogens / Q000378:metabolism; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D002394:Catechol O-Methyltransferase