title: Bulky DNA adducts and breast cancer risk in the prospective EPIC-Italy study.
abstract: The role of environmental carcinogen exposure in breast cancer development has long been suspected, but no specific association has been identified so far. A few molecular epidemiology studies reported that DNA adducts detected by different methods are associated with a modest increase of breast cancer risk. We aimed to evaluate the association between bulky DNA adducts, detected by the (32)P-postlabelling method in peripheral leukocytes, and the risk of developing breast cancer in the female Italian cohorts of the EPIC (European Prospective Investigation into Cancer and nutrition) study. By using a nested case-control design, breast cancer cases identified in the follow-up of over 30,000 women of EPIC-Italy study have been matched to controls by specific criteria. We measured the levels of bulky DNA adducts by the (32)P-postlabelling method in peripheral leukocytes donated at enrolment. Conditional regression analyses adjusted for selected potential confounders were used. Results on DNA adduct levels were available for 292 cases and 292 matched controls. The mean DNA adduct levels were similar in both groups (P=0.62). Multivariate regression analyses failed to show any significant association between bulky DNA adducts and breast cancer. Our results do not support any association of breast cancer risk with exposure to environmental carcinogens as measured through the levels of bulky DNA adducts in pre-diagnostic white blood cells. Larger studies by using different methods and/or biomarkers are needed to better evaluate the role of specific environmental carcinogens in breast carcinogenesis.
authors: Molecular and Nutritional Epidemiology Unit, ISPO (Cancer Research and Prevention Institute), Ponte Nuovo, Via delle Oblate 2, 50139, Florence, Italy.
authors: Calogero
authors: C
authors: Saieva
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Peluso
authors: Giovanna
authors: G
authors: Masala
authors: Armelle
authors: A
authors: Munnia
authors: Marco
authors: M
authors: Ceroti
authors: Sara
authors: S
authors: Piro
authors: Francesco
authors: F
authors: Sera
authors: Benedetta
authors: B
authors: Bendinelli
authors: Valeria
authors: V
authors: Pala
authors: Sabina
authors: S
authors: Sieri
authors: Rosario
authors: R
authors: Tumino
authors: Maria Concetta
authors: MC
authors: Giurdanella
authors: Salvatore
authors: S
authors: Panico
authors: Amalia
authors: A
authors: Mattiello
authors: Paolo
authors: P
authors: Vineis
authors: Silvia
authors: S
authors: Polidoro
authors: Giuseppe
authors: G
authors: Matullo
authors: Domenico
authors: D
authors: Palli
mesh_terms: D001943:Breast Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000235:genetics*; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental / Q000009:adverse effects*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D018736:DNA Adducts / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000187:drug effects*; D008875:Middle Aged; D017720:Molecular Epidemiology; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012042:Registries; D012044:Regression Analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D018736:DNA Adducts