Exposure Biomarkers as Tools for Breast Cancer Epidemiology, Biomonitoring, and Prevention

Abstract

Exposure Biomarkers as Tools for Breast Cancer Epidemiology, Biomonitoring, and PreventionAbstract Number:2726 Ruthann Rudel*, Janet Ackerman, Kathleen Attfield, Robin Dodson, and Julia Brody Ruthann Rudel* Silent Spring Institute, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Janet Ackerman Silent Spring Institute Search for more papers by this author , Kathleen Attfield Harvard School of Public Health, United States, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , Robin Dodson Silent Spring Institute, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author , and Julia Brody Silent Spring Institute, E-mail Address: [email protected] Search for more papers by this author AbstractBackground Some breast cancer risk factors involve chemicals that share characteristics with a range of other common chemicals that cause mammary gland tumors in rodents. For example, pharmaceutical hormones, alcoholic beverages, and tobacco smoke are risk factors for breast cancer; hormone disruptors, solvents, and PAHs/nitro-PAHs cause mammary gland tumors in rodent studies. These mammary carcinogens are priorities for breast cancer epidemiology and biomonitoring.Methods We performed structured literature searches for biomonitoring methods and exposure information for 102 rodent mammary carcinogens and summarized analytical methods and exposure sources. To evaluate the relevance of rodent test results to breast cancer, we compared laboratory and epidemiologic findings for agents that have been evaluated in both. Finally, we summarized cohort studies that have information about breast cancer outcomes as well as archived biological samples in which these exposure methods could potentially be applied.Results We identified methods to measure exposure to 64 of the mammary carcinogens via parent compounds, metabolites, and adducts in human blood and urine. Twenty-three of them are included in CDC’s NHANES or planned for inclusion. We grouped many of the chemicals based on common sources of exposure, including gasoline, vehicle exhaust, and paint removers. Studies of cancer in humans and studies of tumors in rodents are generally consistent, although fewer agents have been studied in humans. We identified 44 relevant cohort studies with a total of over 3.5 million enrolled women.Conclusions Using a systematic approach based on animal evidence of mammary gland carcinogens, we highlight promising directions for breast cancer epidemiology. Exposure measurement methods and cohort study resources are available to expand biomonitoring and epidemiology related to breast cancer etiology and prevention.