What type of cancer are women exposed to diethylstilbestrol (DES) at an increased risk for?

Diethylstilbestrol (DES) was a synthetic estrogen prescribed to pregnant women from the late 1940s until the early 1970s to prevent pregnancy complications. Research has revealed that daughters of women who were treated with DES have an increased risk of developing clear cell adenocarcinoma of the vagina and cervix. This type of cancer is particularly associated with prenatal exposure to the drug, linking it to abnormal cellular changes and increased malignancy risks that are not observed in the general population.

The development of clear cell adenocarcinoma is attributed to the teratogenic effects of DES on fetal cells, leading to specific types of tissue changes that predispose these individuals to cancer. The relationship between DES exposure and clear cell adenocarcinoma has been well documented in clinical studies, establishing a clear causal pathway between the two.

Other types of cancer listed in the choices, while serious, do not have the same direct link to DES exposure as clear cell adenocarcinoma does.