From Bittner to Barr: a viral, diet and hormone breast cancer aetiology hypothesis
-
* Corresponding author: James S Lawson James.Lawson@unsw.edu.au
1 Center for Public Health, School of Health Services Management, University of New South Wales, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
2 Anatomical Pathology, St Vincents Hospital, Darlinghurst, New South Wales, Australia
3 Division of Virology, Prince of Wales Hospital, Randwick, New South Wales, Australia
Breast Cancer Res 2001, 3:81-85 doi:10.1186/bcr275
Published: 18 December 2000Abstract
It is hypothesized that the human homologue of the mouse mammary tumour virus (HHMMTV) and other viruses, such as human papillomavirus (HPV) and Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), act as cofactors with diet, oestrogens and other hormones in the initiation and promotion of some types of breast cancer in genetically susceptible women. It is further hypothesized that diet influences the risk of breast cancer, through its influence on oestrogen metabolism and that of other hormones, in combination with genetic and infectious agents.