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Evaluation of ecological and in vitro effects of boron on prostate cancer risk (United States)

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An Erratum to this article was published on 01 March 2007

Abstract

Objective

To determine: (1) the correlation of prostate cancer incidence and mortality with groundwater boron and selenium concentrations; and (2) the impact of boron on prostate cancer cell proliferation during co-treatment with alternative chemo-preventative agents, along with boron pre-treatment effects on cell sensitivity to ionizing radiation.

Methods

For regression analysis, data on prostate cancer incidence and mortality were obtained from the Texas Cancer Registry, while groundwater boron and selenium concentrations were derived from the Texas Water Development Board. Cultured DU-145 prostate cancer cells were used to assess the impact of boric acid on cell proliferation when applied in combination with selenomethionine and genistein, or preceding radiation exposure.

Results

Groundwater boron levels correlated with a decrease in prostate cancer incidence (R = 0.6) and mortality (R = 0.6) in state planning regions, whereas selenium did not (R = 0.1; R = 0.2). Growth inhibition was greater during combined treatments of boric acid and selenomethionine, or boric acid and genistein, versus singular treatments. 8-day boric acid pre-exposure enhanced the toxicity of ionizing radiation treatment, while dose-dependently decreasing the expression of anti-apoptotic protein Bcl-2.

Conclusions

Increased groundwater boron concentrations, across the state of Texas, correlate with reduced risk of prostate cancer incidence and mortality. Also, boric acid improves the anti-proliferative effectiveness of chemo-preventative agents, selenomethionine and genistein, while enhancing ionizing radiation cell kill.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Allan Pantuck and Randy Kallilew for their expertise concerning the culturing of prostate cancer cells, along with Kurt Hafer and Cecelia Chan for aiding in the administration of ionizing radiation. Funding for this research was provided by: DOD prostate idea grant DAMD17–03-1-0067 (CD Eckhert) and UC TRS&TP (WT Barranco). In the spirit of full disclosure, we declare that since 1997 the National Institutes of Health has without exception declined funding of all grant applications submitted by CE on the role of boron in biology or cancer with recent applications triaged prior to full review.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of California, Los Angeles, CA, 90095-1772, USA

    Wade T. Barranco & Curtis D. Eckhert

  2. Department of Geography and Environmental Science Program, University of North Texas, Post Office Box 305279, Denton, TX, 76203-5279, USA

    Paul F. Hudak

Authors
  1. Wade T. Barranco
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  2. Paul F. Hudak
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  3. Curtis D. Eckhert
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Correspondence to Curtis D. Eckhert.

Additional information

An erratum to this article is available at http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10552-007-9023-7.

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Barranco, W.T., Hudak, P.F. & Eckhert, C.D. Evaluation of ecological and in vitro effects of boron on prostate cancer risk (United States). Cancer Causes Control 18, 71–77 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-006-0077-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10552-006-0077-8

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