Associations of Plasma Concentrations of Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene and Polychlorinated Biphenyls with Prostate Cancer: A Case–Control Study in Guadeloupe (French West Indies)

Elise Emeville (1) , Arnaud Giusti (2) , Xavier Coumoul (3, 4) , Jean-Pierre Thome (2) , Pascal Blanchet (5, 1) , Luc Multigner (1)

1 Irset - Institut de recherche en santé, environnement et travail
2 Université de Liège
3 T3S - UMR_S 1124 - Toxicité environnementale, cibles thérapeutiques, signalisation cellulaire
4 U747 - Pharmacologie, toxicologie et signalisation cellulaire
5 CHU Pointe-à-Pitre/Abymes [Guadeloupe]

Background - Long-term exposure to persistent pollutants with hormonal properties (endocrine-disrupting chemicals; EDCs) may contribute to the risk of prostate cancer (PCa). However, epidemiological evidence remains limited. Objectives - We investigated the relationship between PCa and plasma concentrations of universally widespread pollutants, in particular p,p'-dichlorodiphenyl dichloroethene (DDE) and the non-dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyl congener 153 (PCB-153). Methods - We evaluated 576 men with newly diagnosed PCa (before treatment) and 655 controls in Guadeloupe (French West Indies). Exposure was analyzed according to case-control status. Associations were assessed by unconditional logistic regression analysis, controlling for confounding factors. Missing data were handled by multiple imputation. Results - We estimated a significant positive association between DDE and PCa [adjusted odds ratio (OR) = 1.53; 95% CI: 1.02, 2.30 for the highest vs. lowest quintile of exposure; p trend = 0.01]. PCB-153 was inversely associated with PCa (OR = 0.30; 95% CI: 0.19, 0.47 for the highest vs. lowest quintile of exposure values; p trend < 0.001). Also, PCB-153 was more strongly associated with low-grade than with high-grade PCa. Conclusions - Associations of PCa with DDE and PCB-153 were in opposite directions. This may reflect differences in the mechanisms of action of these EDCs; and although our findings need to be replicated in other populations, they are consistent with complex effects of EDCs on human health.

Domains: Life Sciences [q-bio]; Biochemistry, Molecular Biology; Molecular biology; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Biochemistry, Molecular Biology; Biochemistry [q-bio.BM]; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Biochemistry, Molecular Biology; Genomics [q-bio.GN]; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Cellular Biology; Subcellular Processes [q-bio.SC]; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Cancer; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Ecology, environment; Health; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Toxicology; Life Sciences [q-bio]; Toxicology; Toxicology and food chain; Environmental Sciences; Environmental Sciences; Environmental and Society

Elise Emeville, Arnaud Giusti, Xavier Coumoul, Jean-Pierre Thome, Pascal Blanchet, et al.. Associations of Plasma Concentrations of Dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene and Polychlorinated Biphenyls with Prostate Cancer: A Case–Control Study in Guadeloupe (French West Indies). Environmental Health Perspectives, 2015, 123 (4), pp.317-323. ⟨10.1289/ehp.1408407⟩. ⟨hal-02195806⟩