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Environmental and Biological Monitoring Pilot Study for Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Linxian, China

NCT00342472 · Status: COMPLETED · Type: OBSERVATIONAL · Enrollment: 81

Last updated 2020-12-11

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

The overall goal of this project is to determine whether polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are contributing to the high rate of esophageal cancer in Linxian, China.

Esophageal cancer is one of the most fatal cancers worldwide with Linxian, China having one of the highest rates in the world. In the United States esophageal cancer causes approximately 10,000 deaths each year. It is the fourth most common cause of cancer death in black males and the eighth leading cause of cancer death in men of all races. Although several recent studies have identified some of the molecular changes associated with esophageal cancer, its prevention and treatment within high risk groups continues to be limited by our inability to identify specific etiologic agents.

Human exposure to PAHs, including benzo \[a\]pyrene (B\[a\]P), is associated with an increased rate of skin, lung, and upper GI tumors and also with an increased mortality from causes related to atherosclerosis. Evidence, including the preliminary results from histologic and food analysis pilot studies, supports the idea that this region's high rate of esophageal cancer may be related to long-term, high-level exposure to PAHs via inhalation of air-borne pollution and ingestion of food cooked with soft coal.

Thus, to assess the association of PAHs with the high rate of esophageal cancer in Linxian, China, we plan to analyze samples of food for the presence of PAHs, samples of blood for Hb adducts (a marker of long-term PAH exposure), samples of urine for 1-OH-Pyrene glucuronide (a maker of short-term PAH exposure), and samples of coal for characteristics that may be associated with increased carcinogenesis. We will also administer environmental questionnaires that will include questions about the type of fuel used for cooking and heating, the location and type of stove and/or heating unit (i.e., vented versus unvented), and time spent cooking.

Conditions

  • Esophageal Cancer

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • National Cancer Institute (NCI)

    lead NIH

Principal Investigators

  • Sanford M Dawsey, M.D. · National Cancer Institute (NCI)

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
80 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
1998-02-12
Primary Completion
2020-01-01
Completion
2020-06-05

Countries

  • China

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT00342472 on ClinicalTrials.gov