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A case control study to identify agricultural chemicals associated with increased risk of prostate cancer and in vitro screening of their endocrine disruption activities
March 2004
| Principal Investigator: | Nhu Le, BC Cancer Agency |
| Co-investigators: | Richard Gallagher; Barbara Lang, BC Cancer Agency; Joel Bert, University of British Columbia |
For more information about this study, please contact Dr. Nhu Le.
Issue
Several studies have identified associations between farming occupations
and increased risk of prostate cancer. A potential risk factor is exposure
to pesticides, insecticides, fertilizers, herbicides and other agricultural
chemicals.
Key findings
- The findings suggest that a number of substances used in agriculture in B.C. are associated with a higher risk of prostate cancer.
- Some of these substances were found to have endocrine-disruption properties, which may be related to prostate cancer development.
Objectives
- To identify chemical substances used in the B.C. agriculture industry that are associated with an increased risk for prostate cancer.
- To evaluate whether these substances have the ability to disrupt the endocrine system and what their role might be in the development and progression of prostate cancer.
Method
A matched case-control study was conducted to compare the occupational agricultural exposures of prostate cancer patients (cases) with those of patients with other types of cancer (controls), with the same age and year of diagnosis. Potential confounding risk factors adjusted for included smoking, alcohol consumption, and education level.
The agricultural exposures of cases and controls were assessed by linking job histories with a job exposure matrix that estimates exposures for B.C. agricultural work.
The chemicals associated with an increased risk of prostate cancer were tested in the laboratory with in vitro screening to evaluate whether these chemicals have endocrine-disruption properties.
Results
Increased risk of prostate cancer with evidence of dose-response relationships were observed for several substances, including: 2,4D; 2,4-DB; Azinphosmethyl; Captan; Carbaryl; DDT; Dichlone; Dinoseb amine; Dodine; Ferbam; Maneb; MCPA;Simazine and natural gas.
Several of the substances, including Carbaryl, DDT, Dichlone, Captan, and Dodine, were found to generate endocrine-disruption activities.
Conclusions
The results from the case-control study indicate that a small subset of substances used in agricultural industry have statistically significant associations with the risk of developing prostate cancer. The results of in vitro screening suggest that several of these substances have endocrine-disruption properties, which may have a role in prostate cancer development. The findings could be used for planning future in vivo studies to examine effects of the substances on androgen-regulated prostate cancer progression.
Future directions
More research is needed to examine whether these substances act individually or synergistically in the development of prostate cancer. The data showed that participants exposed to one substance during their work history tended to have been exposed to several others as well.
The laboratory study findings will enable further research to more fully understand the potential role of these substances in hormonal processes related to prostate cancer.
Publications
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