Significant increases in the endocrine-based prostate cancers were found in several epidemiologic studies of pesticide-exposed workers, both farmers and pesticide applicators. In the case of prostate cancer, this increase is contrary to current etiologic theories related to the protective effects of vitamin D; thus, occupational exposures such as pesticides need to be considered as possible risk factors. Recent work has revealed that certain lipophilic and environmentally persistent pesticides (the organochlorines such as DDT) as well as other similar compounds are estrogen analogues. Furthermore, recent investigations suggest that rats exposed perinatally to high dose estrogen may have an increased risk of developing prostate cancer. Therefore, the possible role of pesticide exposure, specifically the organochlorines and their derivatives, in prostate cancer deserves to be investigated further.
This pilot nested case control study of incident prostate cancer evaluated organochlorine levels in a subpopulation from a cohort of 35,000 Florida pesticide applicators licensed since 1975. Alive prostate cancer cases living in South Florida (Monroe, Dade, Broward and Palm Beach Counties) were evaluated by an administered questionnaire and organochlorine blood sample analysis for their pesticide body burden. They were compared to age, sex and county-matched alive controls from the same pesticide applicators cohort using the same analytical methods. The risk of increased organochlorine levels by cancer status was examined.
Learning Objectives: 1. Describe the possible relationship between the estrogen analogue organochlorine pesticides and prostate cancer 2. Evaluate the relationship between organochlorine levels in a Pilot nested case control study of licensed Florida Pesticide Applicators with and without prostate cancer
Keywords: Pesticides, Cancer
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.