Abstract PL-1: Hormones and the Breast: Local and Environmental Interactions

A woman9s reproductive history affects her risk to get breast cancer. In particular, the number of menstrual cycles she experiences correlates with risk. We use tissue recombination experiments and different mouse mutant models to discern the roles of the ovarian hormones estrogens and progesterone act in the mammary gland. While estrogens drive pubertal development, progesterone is the major driver of proliferation in the adult mammary epithelium. Both steroids rely strongly on paracrine signaling to elicit cell proliferation and other biological effects. Perinatal exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of a high production volume chemical, bisphenol A, that is detected in human due to exposure through consumer products, results in persistent changes in the mammary gland. The cell number is increased in in adult females as is the response to progesterone. Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr PL-1.