Levels of prostaglandin E metabolite, the major urinary metabolite of prostaglandin E2, are increased in smokers.
OBJECTIVE
Increased levels of cyclooxygenase-2 and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) have been observed in tobacco-related malignancies of the upper aerodigestive tract. Moreover, exposure to tobacco smoke can stimulate the synthesis of PGE2. Recent evidence suggests that urinary PGE metabolite (PGE-M) can be used as an index of systemic PGE2 production. In this study, we investigated whether levels of urinary PGE-M were increased in smokers and in patients with head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC).


METHODS
Fifty-eight HNSCC cases and 29 age- and gender-matched healthy controls were prospectively enrolled in the study. A detailed smoking history and single void urine specimen were obtained from each participant. Levels of urinary PGE-M were quantified in a blinded fashion using mass spectrometry and compared with smoking history and tumor status.


RESULTS
Adjusted for case-control matching, median urinary PGE-M levels were significantly higher in ever smokers (15.7 ng/mg creatinine) compared with never smokers (9.9 ng/mg creatinine) for the entire study population (n = 87, P = 0.005). Concentrations of urinary PGE-M were nearly doubled in ever smokers (15.2 ng/mg creatinine) versus never smokers (7.8 ng/mg creatinine) among healthy controls (P = 0.001). Higher PGE-M levels were observed in current versus former smokers and in those with greater pack-year exposure. A significant difference in amounts of PGE-M was not observed in patients with HNSCC versus healthy controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Increased levels of urinary PGE-M were observed in smokers. Urinary PGE-M may have use as a noninvasive biomarker of the effects of tobacco smoke exposure.
Gross
Neil D
ND
Department of Surgery (Head and Neck Service), Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, NY, USA.
Boyle
Jay O
JO
Morrow
Jason D
JD
Williams
Myles K
MK
Moskowitz
Chaya S
CS
Subbaramaiah
Kotha
K
Dannenberg
Andrew J
AJ
Duffield-Lillico
Anna J
AJ
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000652:urine; D002294:Carcinoma, Squamous Cell / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015232:Dinoprostone / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry / Q000379:methods; D008875:Middle Aged; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000652:urine; D011458:Prostaglandins E / Q000378:metabolism / Q000652:urine*; D012907:Smoking
D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D011453:Prostaglandins; D011458:Prostaglandins E; C060526:7-hydroxy-5,11-dioxotetranorprostane-1,16-dioic acid; D015232:Dinoprostone