Environment and Breast Cancer: Science Review


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reserpine
CAS RN 50-55-5



Cancer studies: Mammary gland tumors
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Originating list
The list(s) or database(s) in which the chemical was identified as showing an increase in mammary gland tumors. CPDB: Carcinogenic Potency Database, IARC: International Agency for Research on Chemicals Monographs on the Evaluation of Carcinogenic Risk of Chemicals to Man summaries, NTP TR: National Toxicology Program (NTP) Technical Reports, NTP 11ROC: NTP 11th Report on Carcinogens, CCRIS: Chemical Carcinogenesis Research Information Service.
Carcinogenicity Potency Database, IARC Monographs, National Toxicology Program studies, Chemical Carcinogenesis Research Information System
Mammary gland tumor summary
A summary of findings related to mammary gland tumors, most often excerpted from IARC Monographs or the NTP 11th ROC, and, in some cases, supplemented by our evaluation of individual studies and reviews, is available for the priority chemicals and 67 others.
NTP 11ROC: No adequate human studies of the relationship between exposure to reserpine and human cancer have been reported. The available evidence relating exposure to reserpine with breast cancer is not consistent, both between and within studies. However, because of sampling variation, a small increase in the risk of breast cancer development cannot be eliminated. When administered in the diet, reserpine increased the incidence of mammary adenocarcinomas in female mice. When administered by subcutaneous injection, reserpine slightly increased mammary neoplasms in mice.
Only review sources are listed for this chemical because of lower likelihood of exposure.
Citation
Source Type
Notes
International Agency for Research on Cancer, Monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risk of chemicals to man.VOL.: Supplement 7 (1987) (p.330) Reserpine. Summary of Data Reported and Evaluation.
Review
When administered orally, it induced malignant tumors in female mice. When reserpine was administered either prior to and concurrently with or following treatment with 3-methylcholanthrene orally, it had a protective effect against the induction of mammary tumors in rats [ref: 10]. Concurrent subcutaneous administration of reserpine reduced mammary tumor multiplicity and increased the percentage of well-differentiated tumours induced in rats by N-methyl-N-nitrosourea given intravenously [ref: 11]. 10. Gerard, S.S., Gardner, B., Patti, J., Husain, V., Shouten, J. & Alfonso, A.E. (1980) Effects of triiodothyronine and reserpine on induction and growth of mammary tumors in rats by 3-methylcholanthrene. J. surg. Oncol., 14, 213-218 11. Verdeal, K., Ertürk, E. & Rose, D.P. (1983) Effects of reserpine administration on rat mammary tumors and uterine disease induced by N-nitrosomethylurea. Eur. J. Cancer clin. Oncol., 19, 825-834
National Toxicology Program 11th Report on Carcinogens. Reserpine
Review
When administered in the diet, increased the incidence of mammary adenocarcinomas in female mice. When administered by subcutaneous injection, slightly increased mammary neoplasms in mice (NCI 1980, IARC 1980, 1982, 1987).
National Toxicology Program Technical Report 193, 1980 (Reprinted in 1982)
Primary Literature
National Toxicology Program 11th Report on Carcinogens, Table 1. Chemicals nominated to the National Toxicology Program for in-depth toxicological evaluation for carcinogenesis testing in fiscal years 1988-2003.
Review
Not nominated for NTP testing in 1998-2003.