THE ROLE OF PEROXIDASE-CATALYZED ACTIVATION OF AROMATIC-AMINES IS BREAST-CANCER - DISCUSSION

Aromatic amines are mammary carcinogens in rodents and exposure to aro matic amines may be associated with increased risk of breast cancer in women, Peroxidases present in milk can oxidize aromatic amines to rea ctive electrophiles which bind to DNA and induce mutations, Hydrogen p eroxide, required for peroxidase-dependent oxidations, is supplied by milk xanthine oxidase and by the respiratory burst of neutrophils, cel ls which are present in milk and activated by exposure to it. In this paper, I propose that lactoperoxidase and myeloperoxidase activate aro matic amines, within the breast ducts, and that these enzymes play a c rucial role in the chemical induction of breast cancer.