title: Prostate-specific antigen levels in relation to background factors: are there links to endocrine disrupting chemicals and AhR expression?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Prostate-specific antigen (PSA) is a potential biomarker for early detection of prostate cancer (PCa) but its level is known to be affected by many background factors and roles of ubiquitous toxicants have not been determined. Endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) are ubiquitous reproductive toxicants used in consumer products, which promote tumor formation in some reproductive model systems by binding to AhR, but human data on its expression in prostate cancer as well as its association with PSA levels are not clear. This study aimed to evaluate the expression levels of AhR and its association with serological levels of PSA and to detect possible effects of background factors and EDC exposure history on PSA levels in PCa cases.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted on the tissue levels of AhR and serum levels of PSA in 53 PCa cases from 2008-2011 and associations between each and background and lifestyle related factors were determined.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Although the AhR was overexpressed in PCa and correlated with the age of patients, it did not correlate with PSA levels.Of nutritional factors, increased intake of polysaturated fats and fish in the routine regimen of PCa cases increased the PSA levels significantly.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  AhR overexpression in PCa pontws to roles of EDCs in PCa but without any direct association with PSA levels. However, PSA levels are affected by exposure to possible toxicants in foods whichneed to be assessed as possible risk factors of PCa in future studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Toxicology and Pharmacology, Pharmaceutical Sciences Branch (IAUPS) , Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran E-mail : sepideharbabi@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Sepideh Arbabi
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Bidgoli
authors.forename: Nasim
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jabari
authors.forename: Mansour Djamali
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Zavarhei
mesh_terms: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007124:Immunoenzyme Techniques; D008297:Male; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011467:Prostate / Q000378:metabolism*; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen / Q000097:blood* / Q000187:drug effects; D011471:Prostatic Neoplasms / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000378:metabolism; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon / Q000378:metabolism*; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D051792:Basic Helix-Loop-Helix Proteins; D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor; D052244:Endocrine Disruptors; D017430:Prostate-Specific Antigen; D018336:Receptors, Aryl Hydrocarbon; C111235:AHR protein, human