DES exposure in utero is strongly associated with:
Prenatal exposure to diethylstilbestrol during organogenesis of reproductive tract produces long-term carcinogenic outcome. Daughters exposed in utero develop vaginal adenosis where glandular epithelium persists in vagina, progressing to clear-cell adenocarcinoma rare gynecologic malignancy normally occurring postmenopausally. Risk appears between ages fifteen to twenty-two illustrating fetal origin of adult cancer. DES induces epigenetic alterations in HOXA and WNT genes, persistent changes in estrogen receptor expression, leading to neoplastic transformation decades after exposure. Associati
Ref: Gilbert, Developmental Biology, 12th ed., Chapter 20: DES association clear-cell adenocarcinoma.
