Associations of persistent organic pollutants in serum and adipose tissue with breast cancer prognostic markers

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 566-567; pp. 41 - 49
• Main Authors: Arrebola, J.P., Fernández-Rodríguez, M., Artacho-Cordón, F., Garde, C., Perez-Carrascosa, F., Linares, I., Tovar, I., González-Alzaga, B., Expósito, J., Torne, P., Fernández, M.F., Olea, N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01.10.2016
• Subjects: Adipose tissue; Adipose Tissue - chemistry; Adult; Aged; Biomarkers - blood; Biomarkers - metabolism; Breast cancer; Breast Neoplasms - diagnosis; Cancer prognosis markers; Environmental Exposure; Environmental Pollutants - blood; Environmental Pollutants - metabolism; Female; Humans; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated - blood; Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated - metabolism; Middle Aged; Persistent organic pollutants; Pesticides - blood; Pesticides - metabolism; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - blood; Polychlorinated Biphenyls - metabolism; Prognosis; Receptor, ErbB-2 - blood; Receptor, ErbB-2 - metabolism; Receptors, Estrogen - blood; Receptors, Estrogen - metabolism; Receptors, Progesterone - blood; Receptors, Progesterone - metabolism; Serum; Spain, Granada; ANE, Spain; Cancer prognosis markers; Serum; Breast cancer; Adipose tissue; Persistent organic pollutants
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.04.188

This study aimed to evaluate associations between exposure to a group of persistent organic pollutants, measured in both adipose tissue and serum samples from breast cancer patients, and a set of tumor prognostic markers. The study population comprised 103 breast cancer patients recruited in Granada, Southern Spain. Data for tumor prognostic markers were retrieved from hospital clinical records and socio-demographic information was gathered by questionnaire. Persistent organic pollutants were quantified by gas chromatography with electron capture detection. Exposure levels were categorized in quartiles, and associations were evaluated using unconditional logistic regression. Adipose tissue HCB concentrations were associated positively with ER and PR expression (p-trends=0.044 and 0.005, respectively) and negatively with E-Cadherin and p53 expression (p-trends=0.012 and 0.027, respectively). PCB-180 adipose tissue concentrations were positively associated with HER2 expression (p-trend=0.036). Serum PCB-138 concentrations were positively associated with ER and PR expression (p-trends=0.052 and 0.042, respectively). The risk of p53 expression was higher among women in the lowest quartile of serum PCB-138 concentrations, but no significant trend was observed (p-trend=0.161). These findings indicate that human exposure to certain persistent organic pollutants might be related to breast cancer aggressiveness. We also highlight the influence on exposure assessment of the biological matrix selected, given that both serum and adipose tissue might yield relevant information on breast cancer prognosis. [Display omitted] •The role of POP exposure on the pathogenesis breast cancer is still controversial.•POPs were analyzed in serum and adipose tissue from breast cancer patients.•POP concentrations were associated with breast cancer prognostic markers.•POPs in serum and adipose tissue of breast cancer patients may provide different clues.