Puberty as a Window of Susceptibility

Abstract

Recent studies have begun to address the relationship between environmental exposures to pubertal development and to later risk of breast cancer. This chapter will review how physiologic changes could define puberty as a window of susceptibility. For example, although many studies have reported the relationship between age of menarche and breast cancer, the underlying physiologic mechanism may be related to pubertal growth characteristics, such as timing of or degree of peak height velocity. The maturing breast also contains cells that might be especially susceptible to toxic exogenous agents. The chapter will also discuss how environmental exposures, including dietary factors, could impact timing of puberty or subsequent risk of breast cancer.