High levels of xenoestrogens in patients with low-grade endometrial stromal sarcoma--report of two cases.
BACKGROUND
Endometrial stromal sarcomas (ESS) are rare uterine tumors with unknown etiological risk factors, but estrogen-dependent growth promotion.


METHODS
We present two patients with advanced ESS, who had increased levels of p,p-DDE; hexachlorobenzene; PCB 28; PCB 52; PCB 101; PCB 138; PCB 153 and PCB 180 in abdominal adipose tissue. Other xenoestrogens were within expected limits for the non-exposed European population.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased levels of xenoestrogens in patients with ESS may be involved in the pathogenesis of ESS. Chronic exposure to xenoestrogens may be a risk factor for tumor progression.
Reich
O
O
Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Medical University of Graz, Austria. olaf.reich@meduni-graz.at
Regauer
S
S
Scharf
S
S
D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene / Q000032:analysis; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D004967:Estrogens / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009376:Neoplasms, Hormone-Dependent / Q000737:chemistry*; D010575:Pesticides / Q000032:analysis*; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls / Q000032:analysis; D018203:Sarcoma, Endometrial Stromal / Q000737:chemistry*; D014594:Uterine Neoplasms / Q000737:chemistry*; D015262:Xenobiotics / Q000032:analysis*
D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D004967:Estrogens; D010575:Pesticides; D015262:Xenobiotics; D003633:Dichlorodiphenyl Dichloroethylene; D006581:Hexachlorobenzene; D011078:Polychlorinated Biphenyls