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Cancer Causes & Control

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Open Access 01-07-2010 | Original paper

Cancer risk in DES daughters

Authors: Janneke Verloop, Flora E. van Leeuwen, Theo J. M. Helmerhorst, Hester H. van Boven, Matti A. Rookus

Published in: Cancer Causes & Control | Issue 7/2010

Abstract

Objective

We examined long-term risk of cancer in women exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) in utero.

Methods

A total of 12,091 DES-exposed women in the Netherlands were followed prospectively from December 1992 till June 2008. Cancer incidence was assessed through linkage with the Dutch pathology database (PALGA) and the Netherlands Cancer Registry and compared with the Dutch female population.

Results

A total of 348 medically verified cancers occurred; median age at end of follow-up was 44.0 years. No overall increased risk of cancer was found (standardized incidence ratio [SIR] = 1.01; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.91, 1.13). The risk of clear cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina and cervix (CCA) was statistically significantly increased (SIR = 24.23; 95% CI = 8.89, 52.74); the elevated risk persisted above 40 years of age. The risk of melanoma diagnosed before age 40 was increased (SIR = 1.59; 95% CI = 1.08, 2.26). No excess risks were found for other sites, including breast cancer.

Conclusions

Except for an elevated risk of CCA, persisting at older ages, and an increased risk of melanoma at young ages, we found no increased risk of cancer. Longer follow-up is warranted to examine cancer risk at ages when cancer occurs more frequently.

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Title: Cancer risk in DES daughters
Authors: Janneke Verloop
Flora E. van Leeuwen
Theo J. M. Helmerhorst
Hester H. van Boven
Matti A. Rookus
Publication date: 01-07-2010
Publisher: Springer Netherlands
Published in: Cancer Causes & Control / Issue 7/2010
Print ISSN: 0957-5243
Electronic ISSN: 1573-7225
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-010-9526-5

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