Estrogen-Induced Mutations and Its Role in the Development of Tumorigenesis

Using RAPD-PCR fingerprinting, the detection of mutations induced by estrogen (E) exposure was studied in nonmalignant- and malignant cells. Cells exposed to 17α-and 17β-estradiol, diethylstilbestrol, bisphenol A, and α-zearalanol induced mutations in different regions of the genome. They consisted of insertion/deletion as a result of point or length mutations and quantitative changes as a result of hypoploidy or polyploidy. We also detected several mutated loci in tumor-free tissues, adjacent to tumors, and DES-induced tumors. The data suggest that these mutations occurred in early stages of stilbene E-induced renal carcinogenesis, and that they may be induced as a result of stilbene E tre…