Underarm cosmetics and breast cancer

Although risk factors are known to include the loss of function of the susceptibility genes BRCA1/BRCA2 and lifetime exposure to oestrogen, the main causative agents in breast cancer remain unaccounted for. It has been suggested recently that underarm cosmetics might be a cause of breast cancer, bec...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of applied toxicology 2003-03, Vol.23 (2), p.89-95
Main Author: Darbre, P. D.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
aluminium
antiperspirant
Axilla - physiopathology
Biological and medical sciences
breast cancer
breast cyst
Breast Neoplasms - chemically induced
Breast Neoplasms - epidemiology
Breast Neoplasms - genetics
Breast Neoplasms, Male - chemically induced
Breast Neoplasms, Male - epidemiology
Carcinogenesis, carcinogens and anticarcinogens
Cell Division - drug effects
Chemical agents
Cosmetics - adverse effects
deodorant
DNA Damage
Domestic and cosmetic products toxicology
environmental oestrogen
Female
Fibrocystic Breast Disease - chemically induced
Genes, BRCA1 - drug effects
Genes, BRCA2 - drug effects
Humans
Incidence
Male
Medical sciences
paraben
Sweat - drug effects
Sweat - physiology
Toxicology
Tumors
underarm cosmetic
United Kingdom - epidemiology
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Summary:Although risk factors are known to include the loss of function of the susceptibility genes BRCA1/BRCA2 and lifetime exposure to oestrogen, the main causative agents in breast cancer remain unaccounted for. It has been suggested recently that underarm cosmetics might be a cause of breast cancer, because these cosmetics contain a variety of chemicals that are applied frequently to an area directly adjacent to the breast. The strongest supporting evidence comes from unexplained clinical observations showing a disproportionately high incidence of breast cancer in the upper outer quadrant of the breast, just the local area to which these cosmetics are applied. A biological basis for breast carcinogenesis could result from the ability of the various constituent chemicals to bind to DNA and to promote growth of the damaged cells. Multidisciplinary research is now needed to study the effect of long‐term use of the constituent chemicals of underarm cosmetics, because if there proves to be any link between these cosmetics and breast cancer then there might be options for the prevention of breast cancer. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
ISSN:0260-437X
1099-1263
DOI:10.1002/jat.899