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Polychlorinated Biphenyls and Risk of Testicular Germ Cell Tumors

¹ Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services, Bethesda, Maryland; ² Toxicology Centre, Institut National de Sante Publique du Quebec, Quebec City, Quebec, Canada; and ³ U.S. Army Center for Health Promotion and Preventive Medicine; ⁴ Global Emerging Infections Surveillance and Response System, Walter Reed Army Institute of Research, Silver Spring, Maryland

Requests for reprints: Katherine A. McGlynn, Hormonal and Reproductive Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, Department of Health and Human Services, EPS-Suite 550, 6120 Executive Boulevard, Rockville, MD 20852-7234. Phone: 301-435-4918; Fax: 301-402-0916; E-mail: mcglynnk{at}mail.nih.gov.

Key Words: polychlorinated biphenyls • testicular germ cell tumors • seminoma • nonseminoma

Exposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals, such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB), may alter hormonal balance and thereby increase risk of testicular germ cell tumors (TGCT). To study the relationship of PCBs to TGCT, prediagnostic serum samples from 736 cases and 913 controls in the Servicemen's Testicular Tumor Environmental and Endocrine Determinants study were analyzed. Adjusted odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using logistic regression. PCB levels were examined in association with all TGCT and, separately, with each histologic type (seminoma and nonseminoma). Risks associated with seven functional groupings of PCBs, as well as sum of PCBs, were also examined. There were significantly decreased risks of TGCT in association with eight PCBs (PCB-118, PCB-138, PCB-153, PCB-156, PCB-163, PCB-170, PCB-180, and PCB-187) and no association with the remaining three (PCB-99, PCB-101, and PCB-183). The same eight congeners were significantly associated with decreased risk of nonseminoma, whereas five (PCB-138, PCB-153, PCB-156, PCB-163, and PCB-170) were associated with decreased risk of seminoma. All functional groupings of PCBs were also associated with decreased risk of TGCT and of nonseminoma, whereas six of the seven functional groups were associated with decreased risk of seminoma. Sum of PCBs was significantly associated with decreased risk of TGCT (P_trend = 0.006), nonseminoma (P_trend = 0.007), and seminoma (P_trend = 0.05). Overall, these data do not support the hypothesis that PCB exposure increases the risk of TGCT. [Cancer Res 2009;69(5):1901–9]