American Association for Cancer Research

August 2007 CEBP Highlights

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Selected Articles from the August 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 August 2007 issue of Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers & Prevention.


Herpes Virus Inversely Associated with Prostate Cancer

Sutcliffe et al.

Page 1573

Traditionally, case-control studies of sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and prostate cancer have focused on gonorrhea and syphilis, with overall positive associations. Recent research has included additional STIs, such as Chlamydia trachomatis, human papillomavirus (HPV) and human herpesvirus type 8 (HHV-8) infections. Sutcliffe and colleagues examined each of these infections in relation to incident prostate cancer in a nested case-control study. No associations were observed between C. trachomatis, HPV-16, HPV-18, or HPV-33 antibody seropositivity and prostate cancer. A significant inverse association was observed between HHV-8 antibody seropositivity and prostate cancer.
 

SOD2 Gene Shows Increased Prostate Cancer Risk

Kang et al.

Page 1581

Superoxide dismutase (SOD) genes are good candidates to evaluate genetic susceptibility for prostate cancer since SOD plays a key role in the detoxification of superoxide free radicals. Kang and coauthors evaluated the association of prostate cancer with genetic polymorphisms in the three main isoforms of SOD (SOD1, SOD2, and SOD3) in a case-control study nested in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial (PLCO). The study indicated that the Ala variant of SOD2 Ex2+24T>C (V16A) is associated with increased risk for prostate cancer, particularly among smokers and men with lower intake of dietary and supplemental vitamin E.


Statins Do Not Affect Androgens

Hall et al.

Page 1587

In 2005, statins were among the most commonly used prescription medications in the United States. Some data suggest statins may affect cancer risk and/or disease severity. Because cholesterol is a required intermediate in sex steroid synthesis, it is possible that statins influence prostate cancer risk through effects on steroid hormone metabolism. Hall and colleagues investigated whether levels of circulating androgens and their carrier protein, sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG), varied by statin exposure among men from a population-based epidemiologic study. The authors reported that it was unlikely that statins affected circulating androgens and prostate cancer risk through a hormonal mechanism in this sample.


There is a paucity of data about the spectrum of BRCA mutations among Hispanics. Large rearrangements account for 8–15% of deleterious BRCA mutations, though none have been characterized previously in individuals of Mexican ancestry. Weitzel and colleagues identified and characterized a novel large BRCA1 deletion in five unrelated families—four of Mexican ancestry and one of African and Native American ancestry, suggesting the possibility of founder effect of Amerindian or mestizo origin. This BRCA1 rearrangement was detected in 3.8% of BRCA sequence-negative Hispanic families. An assay for this mutation should be considered for sequence-negative high-risk Hispanic patients.


Green Tea Detoxifies Carcinogens

Chow et al.

Page 1662

Green tea consumption has been associated with decreased risk of certain types of cancers in humans. Induction of detoxification enzymes has been suggested as one of the biochemical mechanisms responsible for the cancer preventive effect of green tea. Chow and colleagues conducted this clinical study to determine the effect of repeated green tea polyphenol administration on a major group of detoxification enzymes, glutathione S-transferases (GSTs). The authors concluded that green tea polyphenol intervention may enhance the detoxification of carcinogens in individuals with low baseline detoxification capacity.