Reactions 842 - 10 Mar 2001 Modest increase in breast cancer risk with DES exposure Women who took diethylstilbestrol (DES) during pregnancy in the 1940s to 1960s to prevent late complications of pregnancy ‘experience a 20–30% increased rate of breast cancer for many years thereafter’, say researchers from the US. However, these women do not appear to be at significantly increased risk of other cancers, including ovarian or endometrial cancers, they add. The researchers undertook further follow-up and a combined analysis of data from 2 previously published cohort studies of women exposed to DES during pregnancy. A total of 3844 DES-exposed women (contributing 143 567 person-years) and 3716 unexposed women (139 735 person-years) were available for the combined cancer analysis. For the combined cohort, the relative risk of breast cancer in DES-exposed women was 1.27 (95% CI 1.07–1.52); this analysis was based on over 500 breast cancer cases. The breast cancer risk was increased relative to both unexposed women and to the US population rates, and was not significantly affected by the presence of other hormonal factors such as oral contraceptive use, menopausal status and hormone replacement therapy. There was also no evidence of confounding by history of pregnancy losses or known breast cancer risk factors, such as family history of breast cancer. DES exposure was not significantly associated with specific cancer sites other than the breast. Titus-Ernstoff L, et al. Long-term cancer risk in women given diethylstilbestrol (DES) during pregnancy. British Journal of Cancer 84: 126-133, No. 1, 5 Jan 2001 800859858 1 Reactions 10 Mar 2001 No. 842 0114-9954/10/0842-0001/$14.95 Adis © 2010 Springer International Publishing AG. All rights reserved

Modest increase in breast cancer risk with DES exposure

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Reactions 842 - 10 Mar 2001

Modest increase in breast cancerrisk with DES exposure

Women who took diethylstilbestrol (DES) duringpregnancy in the 1940s to 1960s to prevent latecomplications of pregnancy ‘experience a 20–30%increased rate of breast cancer for many years thereafter’,say researchers from the US. However, these women donot appear to be at significantly increased risk of othercancers, including ovarian or endometrial cancers, theyadd.

The researchers undertook further follow-up and acombined analysis of data from 2 previously publishedcohort studies of women exposed to DES duringpregnancy. A total of 3844 DES-exposed women(contributing 143 567 person-years) and 3716unexposed women (139 735 person-years) wereavailable for the combined cancer analysis.

For the combined cohort, the relative risk of breastcancer in DES-exposed women was 1.27 (95% CI1.07–1.52); this analysis was based on over 500 breastcancer cases. The breast cancer risk was increasedrelative to both unexposed women and to the USpopulation rates, and was not significantly affected bythe presence of other hormonal factors such as oralcontraceptive use, menopausal status and hormonereplacement therapy. There was also no evidence ofconfounding by history of pregnancy losses or knownbreast cancer risk factors, such as family history ofbreast cancer.

DES exposure was not significantly associated withspecific cancer sites other than the breast.Titus-Ernstoff L, et al. Long-term cancer risk in women given diethylstilbestrol(DES) during pregnancy. British Journal of Cancer 84: 126-133, No. 1, 5 Jan2001 800859858