Study on the levels of serum organochlorine pesticides residues in breast cancer patients from Tangshan areas

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the levels of serum organochlorine pesticide residues in breast cancer patients and benign breast disease patients from Tangshan areas. Methods One hundred fifty-eight breast cancer patients and 129 benign breast disease patients from two districts of TangShan were entrolled in the study. The levels of serum organochlorine pesticides ( DDTs and HCHs) were detected through gas chromatography/electron capture. Spearman's rank correlation was used between age, BMI and the level of serum organochlorine pesticide residues in patients. Results The serum levels of a-HCH, p-HCH and PP'-DDE between breast cancer patients and benign breast disease patients were statistically different(P <0. 05). The serum levels of p-HCH and PP'-DDE were positively correlated with age and BMI in both groups, with correlation coefficients of 0. 272 and 0. 330 for age and 0. 207 and 0. 313 for BMI in the breast cancer patients,as well as correltion coefficients of 0. 339 and 0. 260 for age and 0. 227 and 0. 209 for BMI in the benign breast disease patients. Conclusions The levels of organochlorine pesticide residues in serum in breast cancer patients were higher than those in benign breast disease patients and were positively correlated with age and BMI. The results offer more information to the pathogenesis, prevention and control measures of breast cancer. Key words: Breast cancer; organochlorine pesticides; HCH; DDT; BMI