Sex hormones and neoplasia: genotoxic effects in short term assays. 1987

G H Degen, and M Metzler

The mechanism of the tumorigenic effects of sex hormones in the liver and in other organs is still unclear. Clues towards an understanding of this action of sex hormones can be gained from short-term assays suitable for revealing adverse effects at different molecular levels relevant to the process of neoplastic transformation. The available data on the effects of sex hormones indicating gene mutations, unscheduled DNA synthesis, sister chromatid exchange, chromosomal anomalies, induction of aneuploidy and cell transformation are reviewed. Although the data base is scant, in particular for androgens and progestins and in systems other than the mutational assays, it can be concluded that sex hormones, in general, fail to induce gene mutations. On the other hand, recent evidence shows that diethylstilbestrol and steroidal estrogens are capable of inducing neoplastic transformation in vitro. In this context, the induction of aneuploidy is discussed as non-mutational but genotoxic effect of estrogens responsible for the neoplastic transformation. Morphological transformation and scoring for chromosomal anomalies can provide useful endpoints for further evaluation of sex hormones with suspected carcinogenic properties.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009152 Mutagenicity Tests Tests of chemical substances and physical agents for mutagenic potential. They include microbial, insect, mammalian cell, and whole animal tests. Genetic Toxicity Tests,Genotoxicity Tests,Mutagen Screening,Tests, Genetic Toxicity,Toxicity Tests, Genetic,Genetic Toxicity Test,Genotoxicity Test,Mutagen Screenings,Mutagenicity Test,Screening, Mutagen,Screenings, Mutagen,Test, Genotoxicity,Tests, Genotoxicity,Toxicity Test, Genetic
D009374 Neoplasms, Experimental Experimentally induced new abnormal growth of TISSUES in animals to provide models for studying human neoplasms. Experimental Neoplasms,Experimental Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Experimental
D002471 Cell Transformation, Neoplastic Cell changes manifested by escape from control mechanisms, increased growth potential, alterations in the cell surface, karyotypic abnormalities, morphological and biochemical deviations from the norm, and other attributes conferring the ability to invade, metastasize, and kill. Neoplastic Transformation, Cell,Neoplastic Cell Transformation,Transformation, Neoplastic Cell,Tumorigenic Transformation,Cell Neoplastic Transformation,Cell Neoplastic Transformations,Cell Transformations, Neoplastic,Neoplastic Cell Transformations,Neoplastic Transformations, Cell,Transformation, Cell Neoplastic,Transformation, Tumorigenic,Transformations, Cell Neoplastic,Transformations, Neoplastic Cell,Transformations, Tumorigenic,Tumorigenic Transformations
D002869 Chromosome Aberrations Abnormal number or structure of chromosomes. Chromosome aberrations may result in CHROMOSOME DISORDERS. Autosome Abnormalities,Cytogenetic Aberrations,Abnormalities, Autosome,Abnormalities, Chromosomal,Abnormalities, Chromosome,Chromosomal Aberrations,Chromosome Abnormalities,Cytogenetic Abnormalities,Aberration, Chromosomal,Aberration, Chromosome,Aberration, Cytogenetic,Aberrations, Chromosomal,Aberrations, Chromosome,Aberrations, Cytogenetic,Abnormalities, Cytogenetic,Abnormality, Autosome,Abnormality, Chromosomal,Abnormality, Chromosome,Abnormality, Cytogenetic,Autosome Abnormality,Chromosomal Aberration,Chromosomal Abnormalities,Chromosomal Abnormality,Chromosome Aberration,Chromosome Abnormality,Cytogenetic Aberration,Cytogenetic Abnormality
D004247 DNA A deoxyribonucleotide polymer that is the primary genetic material of all cells. Eukaryotic and prokaryotic organisms normally contain DNA in a double-stranded state, yet several important biological processes transiently involve single-stranded regions. DNA, which consists of a polysugar-phosphate backbone possessing projections of purines (adenine and guanine) and pyrimidines (thymine and cytosine), forms a double helix that is held together by hydrogen bonds between these purines and pyrimidines (adenine to thymine and guanine to cytosine). DNA, Double-Stranded,Deoxyribonucleic Acid,ds-DNA,DNA, Double Stranded,Double-Stranded DNA,ds DNA
D005796 Genes A category of nucleic acid sequences that function as units of heredity and which code for the basic instructions for the development, reproduction, and maintenance of organisms. Cistron,Gene,Genetic Materials,Cistrons,Genetic Material,Material, Genetic,Materials, Genetic
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000782 Aneuploidy The chromosomal constitution of cells which deviate from the normal by the addition or subtraction of CHROMOSOMES, chromosome pairs, or chromosome fragments. In a normally diploid cell (DIPLOIDY) the loss of a chromosome pair is termed nullisomy (symbol: 2N-2), the loss of a single chromosome is MONOSOMY (symbol: 2N-1), the addition of a chromosome pair is tetrasomy (symbol: 2N+2), the addition of a single chromosome is TRISOMY (symbol: 2N+1). Aneuploid,Aneuploid Cell,Aneuploid Cells,Aneuploidies,Aneuploids,Cell, Aneuploid,Cells, Aneuploid
D000818 Animals Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA. Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D012739 Gonadal Steroid Hormones Steroid hormones produced by the GONADS. They stimulate reproductive organs, germ cell maturation, and the secondary sex characteristics in the males and the females. The major sex steroid hormones include ESTRADIOL; PROGESTERONE; and TESTOSTERONE. Gonadal Steroid Hormone,Sex Hormone,Sex Steroid Hormone,Sex Steroid Hormones,Sex Hormones,Hormone, Gonadal Steroid,Hormone, Sex,Hormone, Sex Steroid,Hormones, Gonadal Steroid,Hormones, Sex Steroid,Steroid Hormone, Gonadal,Steroid Hormone, Sex,Steroid Hormones, Gonadal,Steroid Hormones, Sex

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