Abstract 3589: Serum organochlorine insecticide concentrations and risk of aggressive prostate cancer
Authors: Deborah A. Tadesse, Lauren M. Hurwitz, Richard B. Biritwum, Yao Tettey, Andrew Adjei, Evelyn Tay, Andreas Sjodin, Richard Jones, Mark Davis, Florence Menegaux, Mustapha Abubakar, Evans A. Akpakli, Kenneth Klufio, James E. Mensah, Sonja Berndt, Stella Koutros
Journal: Cancer Research (2025)

Introduction: Prostate cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer morbidity and mortality among men worldwide, with heightened rates in Western, Central and Southern Africa, and the Caribbean. Although few risk factors have been identified, studies have shown positive associations with exposure to persistent organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) and aggressive prostate cancer. Few studies have yet been conducted in Africa despite the greater burden of prostate cancer and continued OCP use for vector control. Here we described predictors of serum levels of OCPs in 300 prostate cancer cases and 300 population-based controls from Ghana. Methods: Serum concentrations of three DDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane) metabolites were measured: p,p’-dichlorodiphenyldichloro-ethylene(pp’-DDE), p,p'-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane(pp’-DDT), and o,p’-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane(op’-DDT). Chi-Square tests were used to examine the relationship between quartiles of DDT and demographic/lifestyle factors in controls. Levels were reported in cancer cases by clinical factors, including high-grade (Gleason≥8) and advanced stage (T3 or T4) disease. Results: Among 300 controls, the geometric means (and percent detected) of pp’-DDE, pp’-DDT, and op’-DDT were at 737.6 ng/g lipid (99.7% detect), 48.4 ng/g lipid (95.6% detect), and 16.7 ng/g lipid (45.3% detect), respectively. Increasing BMI was associated with higher serum levels of pp’-DDE and pp’-DDT (chi-square p-value=0.064 and 0.002, respectively). Among prostate cancer cases, higher mean levels of pp’-DDE were observed in men with high-grade compared to low-grade disease (1109.3 ng/g lipid vs. 760.4 ng/g lipid, p-value=0.038) and in men with advanced disease (1139.2 ng/g lipid vs. 838.7 ng/g lipid, p=value=0.028). Conclusion: OCPs are a class of insecticides that are banned in most countries due to their slow degradation and ability to bioaccumulate. Measurable levels of DDT were abundant in serum samples in men from Ghana (pp’-DDE =737.6 ng/g lipid vs. 262 ng/g lipid and nondetectable op’-DDT in Black men in the U.S. as reported by the 2003-2004 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey), suggesting ongoing exposure. Consistent with reports that DDT is highly fat soluble, higher BMI was associated with higher serum concentrations. Serum levels of pp’-DDE were higher for those with aggressive prostate cancer, offering evidence of a plausible link between exposure and aggressive prostate cancer risk in Africa. Results from the ongoing case-control analysis will be presented. Citation Format: Deborah A. Tadesse, Lauren M. Hurwitz, Richard B. Biritwum, Yao Tettey, Andrew Adjei, Evelyn Tay, Andreas Sjodin, Richard Jones, Mark Davis, Florence Menegaux, Mustapha Abubakar, Evans A. Akpakli, Kenneth Klufio, James E. Mensah, Sonja Berndt, Stella Koutros. Serum organochlorine insecticide concentrations and risk of aggressive prostate cancer [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting 2025; Part 1 (Regular Abstracts); 2025 Apr 25-30; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2025;85(8_Suppl_1):Abstract nr 3589.