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Human breast biomonitoring and environmental chemicals: use of breast tissues and fluids in breast cancer etiologic research

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 17, pages 525–540 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

Extensive research indicates that the etiology of breast cancer is complex and multifactorial and may include environmental risk factors. Breast cancer etiology and exposure to xenobiotic compounds, diet, electromagnetic fields, and lifestyle have been the subject of numerous scientific inquiries, but research has yielded inconsistent results. Biomonitoring has been used to explore associations between breast cancer and levels of environmental chemicals in the breast. Research using breast tissues and fluids to cast light on the etiology of breast cancer is, for the most part, predicated on the assumption that the tissue or fluid samples either contain measurable traces of the environmental agent(s) associated with the cancer or that they retain biological changes that are biomarkers of such exposure or precursors of carcinogenic effect. In this paper, we review breast cancer etiology research utilizing breast biomonitoring. We first provide a brief synopsis of the current state of understanding of associations between exposure to environmental chemicals and breast cancer etiology. We then describe the published breast cancer research on tissues and fluids, which have been used for biomonitoring, specifically human milk and its components, malignant and benign breast tissue, nipple aspirate fluid (NAF) and breast cyst fluid. We conclude with a discussion on recommendations for biomonitoring of breast tissues and fluids in future breast cancer etiology research. Both human milk and NAF fluids, and the cells contained therein, hold promise for future biomonitoring research into breast cancer etiology, but must be conducted with carefully delineated hypotheses and a scientifically supportable epidemiological approach.

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Abbreviations

PhIP:

2-Amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine

B[a]P:

Benzo[a]pyrene

DDD:

1,1-Dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane

DDE:

1,1-Dichloro-2,2- bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene

DDT:

dichloro-diphenyl-trichloroethane

ER:

estrogen receptor

HCB:

hexachlorobenzene

HCH:

hexachorocyclohexane

8-OHdG:

8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine

NAF:

Nipple aspirate fluid

PCBs:

Polychlorinated biphenyls

PAHs:

polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

PR:

progesterone receptor

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Acknowledgements

The views expressed in this paper are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the US Environmental Protection Agency. We acknowledge comments and suggestions from Dr. Suzanne Fenton and Dr. Babasaheb Sonawane. Dr. LaKind consults to both private industry and government, and received funding from the US Environmental Protection Agency for this research.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. LaKind Associates LLC, 106 Oakdale Ave, Catonsville, 21228, MD, USA

    Judy S Lakind

  2. Department of Pediatrics, Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, Pennsylvania State College of Medicine, Hershey, 17033, PA, USA

    Judy S Lakind

  3. US Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Research and Development, National Center for Environmental Assessment, 1200 Pennsylvania Ave, NW (8623N), Washington, 20460, DC, USA

    Amy A Wilkins

  4. Division of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, 94720, CA, USA

    Michael N Bates

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  1. Judy S Lakind
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  2. Amy A Wilkins
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Correspondence to Judy S Lakind.

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Lakind, J., Wilkins, A. & Bates, M. Human breast biomonitoring and environmental chemicals: use of breast tissues and fluids in breast cancer etiologic research. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 17, 525–540 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jes.7500548

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jes.7500548

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