MEAT INTAKE, HETEROCYCLIC AMINES, AND RISK OF BREAST-CANCER - A CASE-CONTROL STUDY IN URUGUAY

To study the effects of meat intake, including heterocyclic amine expo sure, on the risk of breast cancer, we conducted a hospital-based case -control study involving 352 patients with breast cancer and 382 contr ols. A strong effect of red meat, total meat, beef, fried meat, and he terocyclic amine exposure was found, after controlling for potential c onfounders. The odds ratio for the highest quartile of 2-amino-3-methy limidazo [4,5-f]quinoline exposure was 3.34 (95% confidence interval 1 .85-6.02). According to these results, meat intake and chemicals forme d during the cooking process appear to be strong risk factors in human breast carcinogenesis.