Van Beneden R J
Department of Zoology, University of Maine, Orono 04469-5751, USA.
Environ Health Perspect. 1997 Apr;105 Suppl 3(Suppl 3):669-74. doi: 10.1289/ehp.97105s3669.
Cancers of the reproductive system are among the leading causes of mortality in women in the United States. While both genetic and environmental factors have been implicated in their etiology, the extent of the contribution of environmental factors to human diseases remains controversial. To better address the role of environmental exposures in cancer etiology, there has been an increasing focus on the development of nontraditional, environmentally relevant models. Our research involves the development of one such model. Gonadal tumors have been described in the softshell clam (Mya arenaria) in Maine and the hardshell clam (Mercenaria spp.) from Florida. Prevalence of these tumors is as high as 40% in some populations in eastern Maine and 60% in some areas along the Indian River in Florida. The average tumor prevalence in Maine and Florida is approximately 20 and 11%, respectively. An association has been suggested between the use of herbicides and the incidence of gonadal tumors in the softshell clam in Maine. The role of environmental exposures in the development of the tumors in Mercenaria in Florida is unknown; however, there is evidence that genetic factors may contribute to its etiology. Epidemiologic studies of human populations in these same areas show a higher than average mortality rate due to cancers of the reproductive system in women, including both ovarian and breast cancer. The relationship, if any, among these observations is unknown. Our studies on the molecular basis of this disease in clams may provide additional information on environmental exposures and their possible link to cancer in clams and other organisms, including humans.
在美国，生殖系统癌症是女性死亡的主要原因之一。虽然遗传和环境因素都被认为与它们的病因有关，但环境因素对人类疾病的贡献程度仍存在争议。为了更好地探讨环境暴露在癌症病因中的作用，人们越来越关注开发非传统的、与环境相关的模型。我们的研究涉及开发这样一种模型。在缅因州的软壳蛤（砂海螂）和佛罗里达州的硬壳蛤（美东帘蛤属）中都发现了性腺肿瘤。在缅因州东部的一些种群中，这些肿瘤的患病率高达40%，在佛罗里达州印第安河沿岸的一些地区则为60%。缅因州和佛罗里达州的肿瘤平均患病率分别约为20%和11%。有人认为在缅因州软壳蛤中使用除草剂与性腺肿瘤的发病率之间存在关联。环境暴露在佛罗里达州美东帘蛤肿瘤发生中的作用尚不清楚；然而，有证据表明遗传因素可能与其病因有关。对这些相同地区人群的流行病学研究表明，女性生殖系统癌症（包括卵巢癌和乳腺癌）导致的死亡率高于平均水平。这些观察结果之间的关系（如果有的话）尚不清楚。我们对蛤类这种疾病分子基础的研究可能会提供有关环境暴露及其与蛤类和其他生物（包括人类）癌症可能联系的更多信息。
