Urinary biomarkers suggest that estrogen-DNA adducts may play a role in the aetiology of non-Hodgkin lymphoma

Abstract

A variety of evidence suggests that estrogens may induce non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL). The reaction of catechol estrogen quinones with DNA to form depurinating estrogen-DNA adducts is hypothesized to initiate this process. These adducts are released from DNA, shed from cells into the bloodstream and excreted in urine. The aim of this study was to determine whether or not the depurinating estrogen-DNA adducts might be involved in the aetiology of human NHL. Estrogen metabolites, conjugates and depurinating DNA adducts were identified and quantified in spot urine samples from 15 men with NHL and 30 healthy control men by using ultraperformance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry. The levels of estrogen-DNA adducts were significantly higher in the men with NHL than in the healthy control men. Thus, formation of estrogen-DNA adducts may play a critical role in the aetiology of NHL, and these adducts could be potential biomarkers of NHL risk.

Keywords::

• Non-Hodgkin lymphoma
• depurinating estrogen-DNA adducts
• urinary biomarkers
• solid-phase extraction

Acknowledgements

This research was supported by Prevention LLC. Core support at the Eppley Institute was provided by grant P30 CA36727 from the National Cancer Institute.

Declaration of interest: The authors report no conflict of interest. The authors alone are responsible for the content and writing of the paper.