DNA damage caused by reactive oxygen species originating from a copper-dependent oxidation of the 2-hydroxy catechol of estradiol

'To whom correspondence should be addressed It has previously been proposed that redox cycling between catechol estrogens and their quinones, mediated by cytochrome P450, could lead to the generation of free radicals that would subsequently cause oxidative damage to DNA and proteins that might have a role in hormonal carcinogenesis. Alternative, non-enzymatic mechanisms involving copper have been shown to participate in the oxidation of various chemicals through processes that also result in the appearance of reactive oxygen species and subsequent site-specific oxidative DNA damage. The goal of the present study was to determine whether the 2-hydroxy-catechol of estradiol (2-OH-E2) can be oxidized by copper through a process which generates reactive oxygen species that cause oxidative DNA damage a