Study on the serum organochlorine pesticides residues levels in breast cancer patients with different estrogen receptor

Abstract

Objective To evaluate the serum organochlorine pesticides residues levels in breast cancer pa-tients with different estrogen receptor(ER). Methods 93 patients of breast cancer from Fengnan districtand 65 pa-tients from Tanghai county in Tangshan were selected,whose ER were detected by pathology and serum organochlo-fine pesticides (DDTs and HCHs) levels were detected and compared with gas chromatography/electron capture. Results The orders of detection rate of HCH isomer in breast cancer patients in two areas were β-HCH >δ-HCH > α-HCH >γ-HCH. The orders of detection rate of DDT isomer in breast cancer patients in two areas were PP'-DDE > PP'-DDT > OP'-DDT > PP'-DDD. The serum levels of β-HCH, PP'-DDE in breast cancer patients in two are-as were positively correlated with age (r=0.272 ,0.330 , P<0.01) or BMI (r=0.312,0.187, P <0.01, <0.05). There were statistical differences in the serum β-HCH,δ-HCH,PP'-DDE levels between the estrogen receptor posi-tive breast cancer patients and the estrogen receptor negative breast cancer patients in two areas (P<0.05 for each). Conclusion The serum organochlorine pesticides residues levels in breast cancer patients with positive es-trogen receptor are higher than that with negative estrogen receptor, implicating that breast cancer is dependent on es-trogen. The cause of breast cancer is likely due to estrogen-like effect of serum organochlorine pesticides residues. Key words: Breast cancer; Estrogen receptor; Hexachlorocyclohexane; Dichloro-diphenyl-trichloro-ethane