Organochlorine pesticides and prostate cancer
Seance of wednesday 09 april 2025 (Cancer environnement)
DOI number : 10.26299/1wqa-0t17/2025.14.03
Abstract
Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been widely used in agriculture and pest control, and most of them have now been banned for decades in Western countries, but their poor ability to degrade leads to their persistence in the environment. As a result, populations are still exposed to them, primarily through food.
The risk of prostate cancer (PCA) varies by ethnicity, with a higher incidence among men of African descent. In the French West Indies, PCA is twice as common as in mainland France. While genetic factors are recognized as playing a determining role, environmental factors such as pesticides are also suspected.
Mechanistic studies show that certain OCPs, notably β-HCH, DDT/DDE, and chlordecone, have the ability to interact with prostate hormonal regulation through agonist/antagonist action on hormone receptors.
Epidemiological studies investigating the association between OCPs exposure and the risk of aggressive PCa are often inconsistent, and few studies have evaluated the cocktail effect. Only one study in general population in Guadeloupe reported an association between chlordecone exposure and the risk of PCa, particularly aggressive PCa, although some questions remain. The possible interaction of OCPs exposure with serum PSA concentration (a diagnostic marker for PCa) could constitute a bias in the identification of the control group.
A multidisciplinary research program on the link between chlordecone and PCa in the French West Indies is currently underway, combining epidemiological, mechanistic, and human sciences components.
The risk of prostate cancer (PCA) varies by ethnicity, with a higher incidence among men of African descent. In the French West Indies, PCA is twice as common as in mainland France. While genetic factors are recognized as playing a determining role, environmental factors such as pesticides are also suspected.
Mechanistic studies show that certain OCPs, notably β-HCH, DDT/DDE, and chlordecone, have the ability to interact with prostate hormonal regulation through agonist/antagonist action on hormone receptors.
Epidemiological studies investigating the association between OCPs exposure and the risk of aggressive PCa are often inconsistent, and few studies have evaluated the cocktail effect. Only one study in general population in Guadeloupe reported an association between chlordecone exposure and the risk of PCa, particularly aggressive PCa, although some questions remain. The possible interaction of OCPs exposure with serum PSA concentration (a diagnostic marker for PCa) could constitute a bias in the identification of the control group.
A multidisciplinary research program on the link between chlordecone and PCa in the French West Indies is currently underway, combining epidemiological, mechanistic, and human sciences components.