The ROS scavenger N-acetylcysteine (NAC) significantly decreased the increased protein levels of NLRP3, cleaved CASP1 and cleaved IL-1β induced by CCH (Fig. 9b–d), thereby confirming ROS accumulation plays a critical role in the activation of the NLRP3 inflammasome after CCH. This evidence concerns the gene IL1B and columnar cell hyperplasia of the breast.