The Relationship of Ochratoxin A to Upper Tract TCC Malignancies, Testicular Cancer, and Renal Cell Cancer
Ochratoxin A (OTA, a ubiquitous mycotoxin) is a common food contaminant that enters the food
chain from plants such as cereals. OTA can be inhaled or ingested and livestock and humans
feeding on OTA contaminated food have been found to have detectable levels of this chemical
in their sera, liver, and kidneys.
There is risk for occupational and environmental exposure to OTA. Thus, exposure to this
mycotoxin may be a poorly recognized problem in our society. OTA has been classified as a
group 2b possible carcinogen. Exposure to OTA has been implicated in teratogenesis (fetal
malformation), nephrotoxicity, gonadotoxicity and carcinogenesis. The mechanisms for these
effects of OTA have not been fully explained. There is an increasing incidence of testis
cancer in Western societies combined with the increasing OTA exposures being reported. As
well as studying the relationship of OTA to TCC initially, we also plan to examine a
possible relationship between OTA and testicular cancer as well as renal cell carcinoma
(RCC). To date, very little research into the effects of mycotoxins in humans has been
performed. We plan to apply proven techniques of serum analysis using:
1. ELISA or Enzyme Linked Immuno-absorbent Assay which is used to measure the presence of
an antibody or antigen in the bloodstream
2. Immunohistochemistry (pathological analysis from resected tumors)
3. High -pressure liquid chromatography (HPLC) of tumor tissue to investigate the role of
OTA in human genitourinary cancers. A group of subjects without cancer will be used as
a control group.
Observational
Observational Model: Cohort, Time Perspective: Prospective
Stephen Pautler, MD, FRCSC
Study Director
Lawson Health Research Institute
Canada: Ethics Review Committee
R-05-082
NCT00216801
September 2005
April 2007
Name | Location |
---|