ABSTRACT
Background: Aryl-carbon receptor [AhR], a ligand-activated transcription factor, is best known for its ability to mediate the effects of environmental toxins such as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. AhR is expressed in several tumor cells and regulates the expression of genes in the signal transduction pathways. In this study, we examined the soluble levels of AhR in patients with pancreatic cancer
Methods: 123 samples, including 59 [48%] samples of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma based on histological evidence and 64 [52%] healthy control samples, were evaluated to determine plasma levels of AhR by Enzyme-linked immunoassay
Results: The median of AhR among patients was 0.280 ng/mL, which differed considerably from 0.07 ng/mL in the control group [p < 0.001]. Significant differences of the AhR were observed between the plasma samples of the patients compared with the healthy group, with respect to male sex [p < 0.001], age groups [p = 0.001], diabetic status [p < 0.001], body mass index [BMI] categories [p = 0.035], and constantly smokers [p < 0.001]. We also observed significant differences between the level of AhR expression between men and women [p = 0.01] and ever to never smokers [p = 0.009] in the case group. In addition, the age of 65 and a BMI of 25 or less were significant factors in plasma AhR levels [[1.61 95%CI 1.08-2.38] and [1.84 95%CI 1.22-2.77], respectively]
Conclusion: The results of this study can add diagnostic information to pancreatic cancer involving AhR and the potential efficacy of this receptor in therapeutic strategies
ABSTRACT
Background: Pancreatic cancer [PC] is a deadly disease with a 5-year survival of less than 5%. Worldwide PC incidence rates are lower among women than men. While this suggests a protective role for steroid hormones in PC risk, results from epidemiological studies are not consistent
Methods: 153 new incident PC cases and 202 controls were recruited from a prospective case-control study, running in a referral center for endoscopic ultrasonography during 2011-2017. A structured valid and reliable questionnaire was used for data collection by a few trained interviewers. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals for reproductive factors and PC were estimated using logistic regression methods
Results: Mean age [SD] of the cases and the controls were 63.18 [11.4] and 63.37 [12.0] years, respectively. Age at menarche, age at menopause, number of parity, gravidity, and abortion were not associated with PC risk
Conclusion: This study does not support the hypothesis that menstrual and reproductive factors are associated with PC risk