April 2007 CEBP Highlights

Selected Articles from the April 2007 Issue

The articles referenced in this Highlights section will be available online in HTML and PDF formats to all interested users at no charge until the next issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention is published. Click on the article title to view the complete article.

View the Table of Contents for the April 2007 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.

Biomarker Detects Pancreatic Cancers Earlier

Ohuchida et al.

Page 649

There are few reports describing the diagnostic significance of S100A6 expression in clinical samples obtained from patients with pancreatic disease. In the present study, Ohuchida et al. measured S100A6 expression in pancreatic tissues and juice to evaluate its involvement in pancreatic carcinogenesis. Their data suggested that expression of S100A6 is increased in a stepwise manner during pancreatic carcinogenesis and may be a biomarker for evaluating malignant potential. Measurement of S100A6 in pancreatic juice may be useful to detect early pancreatic cancer or identify individuals with high-risk lesions that may progress to pancreatic cancer.

Exercise Does Not Alter Estrogen Metabolism

Campbell et al.

Page 731

Regular physical activity may alter estrogen metabolism, a proposed biomarker of breast cancer risk, by shifting metabolism to favor production of 2-OHE1. Few studies, however, have examined this question using a randomized controlled trial. Campbell et al. examined the effects of 12-weeks of aerobic exercise training on 2-OHE1 and 16α-OHE1 in premenopausal women. A 12-week aerobic exercise training intervention significantly improved aerobic fitness and body composition but did not alter estrogen metabolism in premenopausal women. Interestingly, an increase in lean body mass was associated with a favorable change in 2:16α-OHE1.

Grilled Red Meat Linked to Prostate Cancer

Tang et al.

Page 803

PhIP is the major heterocyclic amine generated from cooking meats at high temperatures and dietary exposures have been shown to induce prostate cancer in rats. PhIP derives its carcinogenic potential through the formation of PhIP-DNA adducts. Tang et al. examined whether self-reported consumption and preparation doneness of grilled meats were associated with PhIP-DNA adduct levels in prostate epithelial cells. After adjusting for age at prostatectomy and race, grilled meat consumption was significantly associated with higher adduct levels in tumor cells, but this association appeared to be primarily due to consumption of grilled red meats as opposed to grilled white meat consumption.

Truncated Telomeres Increase Risk of Bladder Cancer

McGrath et al.

Page 815

Truncated telomeres are among the defining characteristics of most carcinomas. Given the role of telomeres in tumorigenesis, McGrath et al. reasoned that constitutionally short telomeres might be associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer. The real-time PCR method with leukocyte blood samples was used to determine relative telomere length. A statistically significant increased risk of bladder cancer among those individuals with shorter telomere lengths compared to those individuals with longer telomere lengths was observed. The authors also observed a statistically significant association with relative telomere length and gender and a significant association with pack years of smoking and telomere length. The findings suggested that truncated telomeres are associated with an increased risk of bladder cancer.

Can We Trust National Smoking Estimates?

West et al.

Page 820
National smoking prevalence estimates are the primary basis for assessing progress in tobacco control across the world. They are based on surveys of self-reported cigarette smoking. It has been assumed that this is sufficiently accurate for policy purposes but this assumption has not been adequately tested. West et al. found that self-reported cigarette smoking prevalence using the standard methods underestimated true tobacco smoking prevalence by an estimated 2.8% in England, 0.6% in the US and 4.4% in Poland. Cotinine concentrations in those misclassified as non-smokers were indicative of high levels of smoke intake. This study revealed the need for a review of prevalence assessment with use of biochemical markers at least in subsamples to introduce a correction for under-reporting.

April 2007 CEBP Highlights

Selected Articles from the April 2007 Issue

Biomarker Detects Pancreatic Cancers Earlier

Exercise Does Not Alter Estrogen Metabolism

Grilled Red Meat Linked to Prostate Cancer

Truncated Telomeres Increase Risk of Bladder Cancer

Can We Trust National Smoking Estimates?

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