Natural killer cells in in utero diethylstilbesterol-exposed patients

The observations that limited neonatal diethylstilbesterol (DES) exposure in mice produces persistent natural killing defects and that natural killer (NK) cells have an origin early in gestation suggested the possibility that NK abnormalities may exist in in utero DES-exposed women. However, when compared to controls, these women showed slightly higher NK activity with no evidence of stimulation by accessory mononuclear cells. Altered natural killing cannot be invoked in this population as a contributing factor to increased cancer risk.