FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 4, 2004

CONTACT: Jim Tobin
919-653-2582

Certain PCBs Linked to Increased Risk of Cancer
Study in Environmental Health Perspectives Suggests that Exposure to Mono-ortho PCBs May Cause Colorectal Cancer

[RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, NC] Exposure to a specific class of organochlorine compounds (OCs) is linked to increased risk of colorectal cancer, according to a study published today in the November issue of the peer-reviewed journal Environmental Health Perspectives (EHP). The study of 132 cases and 76 hospital controls utilized data from a larger case-control study in Barcelona, Spain. Research found that an elevated risk of colorectal cancer was associated with higher concentrations of mono-ortho polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) in a person's blood. The magnitude of the association and the specific toxic action of these PCBs, linked with genetic mutations also found during the study, suggest that this finding may be causal.

Colorectal cancer is the third most common human cancer, and the second biggest cause of cancer-related death in Western countries, affecting men and women about equally. The causes of colorectal cancer are relatively poorly understood, although diet is thought to play an important role.

Diet is an important source of exposure to many synthetic organic chemicals used in industry and agriculture. Several of these, including PCBs, have been classified as 'probably' or 'possibly' carcinogenic to humans. PCBs were banned in 1976 in the United States. However, these highly toxic chemicals are very stable over time. They are widely present in the environment and are still considered a serious health threat.

In addition to considering the increased risk of colorectal cancer, the researchers looked specifically for mutation of two genes that might play a part in development of the disease. The risk associated with mono-ortho PCBs was slightly higher for tumors that also contained mutations of the p53 gene, but was not changed by mutations in the gene known as K-ras.

"Although colorectal cancer cannot be considered a hormone-dependent cancer, there is evidence that hormones play a role, at least in women," the study authors write. "Studies of cancers of the pancreas and breast have shown that OCs may interact with genetic alterations in tumors. Research on these interactions is relevant because they are frequent in colorectal cancer and one potential mechanism of OC toxicity may be the induction of mutations in these genes."

Given the frequency of colorectal cancer, the findings should be considered further, according to the publisher.

"The hypothesis in this paper certainly merits evaluation in further studies. It would also be helpful to know if other types of PCBs and other dioxins are found to impact the incidence of this disease," said Dr. Jim Burkhart, science editor for EHP.

The lead author of this study was Mike Howsam of the Laboratoire Universitaire de Medecine du Travail, in Lille, France. Other authors include Joan O. Grimalt, Elisabeth Guino, Matilde Navarro, Juan Marti-Rague, Miguel A. Peinado, Gabriel Capella, and Victor Moreno. The article is available free of charge at http://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/docs/2004/7143/abstract.html.

EHP is published by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, part of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. EHP became an Open Access journal in January 2004. More information is available online at http://www.ehponline.org/.

Editor's note: Working media can register to receive press releases via e-mail by visiting http://www.ehponline.org/press/, calling 919-653-2582, or e-mailing ehpmedia@brogan.com.