title: Endotoxin and cancer chemo-prevention.
abstract: Reduced rates of lung cancer have been observed in several occupational groups exposed to high levels of organic dusts contaminated by endotoxin. The underlying anti-neoplastic mechanism of endotoxin may be an increased secretion of endogenous anti-neoplastic mediators and activation of the toll-like receptors (TLR). A detoxified endotoxin derivative, Monophosphoryl Lipid A (MPL(®)) is marketed in Europe since 1999 as part of the adjuvant systems in allergy vaccines for treatment of allergic rhino-conjunctivitis and allergic asthma. Over 200,000 patients have used them to date (nearly 70% in Germany). Since detailed exposure (MPL(®) dose and timing of administration) and individual data are potentially available, an observational follow-up study could be conducted in Germany to investigate the protective effect of MPL(®) against cancer, comparing cancer incidence in two groups of patients with allergic rhinitis: those treated with allergoids plus MPL(®) and those treated with a vaccine including the same allergoids but not MPL(®). The protective effect of MPL(®) could be quantified in ever and never smokers. If this proposed observational study provides evidence of protective effects, MPL(®) could be immediately used as a chemo-preventive agent since it is already in use as adjuvant in human vaccines against cancer.
authors.affiliation: Padua University, Department of Molecular Medicine, Padua, Italy.
authors.forename: Giuseppe
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Mastrangelo
authors.forename: Emanuela
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fadda
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cegolon
mesh_terms: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D004731:Endotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006801:Humans; D008050:Lipid A / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology / Q000627:therapeutic use; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data
chemical_list: D016588:Anticarcinogenic Agents; D004731:Endotoxins; D008050:Lipid A; C048436:monophosphoryl lipid A
keywords: Allergy vaccine; Cancer; Chemo-prevention; Endotoxin; Epidemiology; Monophosphoryl lipid A