Diethylstilbestrol exposure: evaluation of the doses received in France

Excerpt

In an analysis of two prospective studies on the relationship between DES exposure in utero and breast cancer, Adami et al. [1] oppose a dose dependent excess risk after the age of 40 years [2] and the absence of evidence of such an excess risk [3]. Indeed, the American study [2] suggested an excess risk of breast cancer for women exposed in utero aged 40 years or more. The Incidence Rate Ratio (IRR) was 1.91 (95 % CI 1.09–3.33) relative to unexposed cohorts. Nevertheless, IRR was significant for high dose exposure (IRR = 2.16, 95 % CI, 1.18–3.96) but not for low-dose exposure (IRR = 1.63, 95 % CI, 0.87–3.08) relative to unexposed cohort. The Dutch study [3] by contrast revealed no increase of breast cancer for DES-exposed daughters. …