Genital-tract cancers in adolescents and young adults

Stilbesterol exposure possibly linked to cancers of the testis in the 20+ year old

1972 Study Abstract

In a review of the California Tumor Registry from 1950-1969, which records 1/3 of all cancer cases in California,

• there was an increase in the number of cancers of the vagina, corpus uteri, prostate, testis, and bladder (male) for the 10-19 year old age group. There was no increase in cancers of the vulva, ovary, cervix, breast, stomach, colon, rectum, and bladder (female).
• However, for the 20-24 year old age group, cancer of the vulva and testis increased from 1962-1969.

The increases are compatible with other observations which indicate a possible association between stilbesterol and other cervical sites besides the vagina. There is a need for cancer surveillance to determine disease patterns and stimulate examination of existing data.

References

• Genital-tract cancers in adolescents and young adults, The New England journal of medicine, NCBI PubMed, PMID: 5025778, 1972.
• Featured image credit California Cancer Registry.

DES DIETHYLSTILBESTROL RESOURCES

• Source DES and testicular cancer studies.
• Diethylstilbestrol DES studies by topics.