Expressions of Intent for IPY 2007-2008 Activities

Expression of Interest Details

PROPOSAL INFORMATION

Does Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs) Increase the Risk of Breast Cancer?  (POP-CANCER-RISK)

Outline
Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer for women in the western world that have been increasing since 1940. The established BC risk factors can only explain less than a third of all cases. The risk of BC is thought to be modified by lifestyle and environment. In Denmark approximately each 10th of women develop breast cancer, and the incidence has doubled the last 30 years – also in Greenland a clear increasing incidence was observed. Before 1966 BC was reported absent from the western and central Canadian Arctic, whereas studies over a 20-year period (1969-88) in Inuits the circumpolar region showed an increase of approximately 10%. Our hypothesis is that BC risk in Inuit’s is interplay among changes in diet, increase and changes in profile of persistent organic pollutants (POPs), and decreases in certain trace elements and marine fatty acids, and genetic polymorphisms. The aim of the project is to undertake an epidemiological case-control investigation of the risk of BC in relation to exposure to POPs carried out on samples from BC cases taken from Greenlandic women. Data of cases will be compared to matched controls with respect to e.g. age and lifestyle, and evaluated for correlations to blood level and hormone disrupting bioactivity of POPs including new biomarkers such as PFCs (perfluorinated compounds), serum trace elements, fatty acids and hormone metabolites in urine. Genetic susceptibility will be analysed by gene polymorphism relevant for POP excretion and BC risk. To our knowledge this is the first study to include multiple exposure assessment tools and hypothesis-generating toxicological studies and believe that the study can contribute to prophylactic and preventive actions.

What significant advance(s) in relation to the IPY themes and targets can be anticipated from this project?
The project set up is new: The traditional diet of Polar populations and its content of persistent organics pollutants (POPs) and the risk of human breast cancer including new POP biomarkers not previously used for risk assessment. The international collaboration (Canada, Greenland, Denmark) facilitate the research project both concerning expertise and economically.

What international collaboration is involved in this project?
The project group is multidisciplinary (chemists, cellular & molecular biologists, and clinic doctors) from different institutions in Denmark, Greenland and Canada.

FIELD ACTIVITY DETAILS

Geographical location(s) for the proposed field activities:
The human INUIT samples are collected in different districts in Greenland.

Approximate timeframe(s) for proposed field activities:
Arctic: 01/08 – 06/10            
Antarctic: n/a

Significant facilities will be required for this project:
The proposed project will give information about the main route of the contaminants e.g. Pfos– to the humans in different district - by air or marine diet – and also might be the basis for further human risk assessment studie with focus on breast cancer.

Will the project leave a legacy of infrastructure?
The project focuses on environmental contaminants and health and the risk of cancer. The data is expected to contribute to preventive recommendations.

How is it envisaged that the required logistic support will be secured?

The applicant will in cooperation with experienced polar scientist carry out the research work on samples already sampled and ready for analyses

Has the project been "endorsed" at a national or international level?
The project has obtained the Ethical acceptance from Kommissionen for Videnskabelige Undersøgelser i Grønland (KVUG)

PROJECT MANAGEMENT AND STRUCTURE

Is the project a short-term expansion (over the IPY 2007-2008 timeframe) of an existing plan, programme or initiative or is it a new autonomous proposal?
Yes
The proposed is a new project, however the contacts between the involved scientists is started and accomplished through cooperation in the AMAP Human Health group.

How will the project be organised and managed?
The applicant will be the coordinator and responsible for analyses performance. Professor Eric Dewailly Environmental health, Laval University, Québec, Canada will be contribute with epidemiological expertise and control samples. Physician Gert Mulvad, Nuuk, Greenland, has been responsible for the collection of cases samples. Senior Scientist Teddy Krongaard and Rossana Bossi, National Environmental Research Institute, University of Aarhus, Roskilde, will be responsible for the Pfos analyses. Senior Scientist Gert Asmund, Department of Arctic Environment, National Environmental Research Institute, University of Aarhus, Roskilde, will be responsible for trace element analyses. Adresses as the applicant: PhD Student Philip Hjelmborg, will be responsible for SPE-HPLC chemical fractionation of serum for xenobiotic activity measurements. PhD student Mandana Ghisari, PhD student Tanja Krüger and Assistant professor Manhai Long, will be responsible for xenobiotic serum activity determinations.

What are the initial plans of the project for addressing the education, outreach and communication issues outlined in the Framework document?
The Outreach and Communication (EOC) is firstly to publish the obtained data in international scientific journals, inform stakeholders and health authorities in Denmark and Greenland and hopefully contribute to preventive lifestyle and recommendation how to decrease the risk of breast cancer

What are the initial plans of the project to address data management issues (as outlined in the Framework document)?
Please see 3.3. Moreover the data will be a part of the AMAP data bank and be available for health researches and health authorities in DK, Greenland and Canada

How is it proposed to fund the project?
The proposed project can be carried out if the applied cost is obtained. Moreover, the Institute of Public Health and the National Environmental Research Institute, University of Aarhus, contribute with the salary of the applicant, the needed laboratory and office facilities to carry out the project.

Is there additional information you wish to provide?
The Inuit population is known to have very high level of bio-accumulated persistent organic pollutants, and a different gene polymorphisms in genes relevant for the risk of breast cancer (e.g. )BRACA and CYP1A1/2 and CYPB1) compared to the Caucasian people we expect that the obtained data will elucidate the factors plauing a role in the risk of breast cancer

PROPOSER DETAILS

Professor Eva Cecile Bonefeld-Jorgensen
University of Aarhus, Centre of Arctic Environmental Medicine, Institute of Public Health.
Vennelyst Boulevard 6, Aarhus
8000
Denmark

Tel: +45 89426162
Mobile:
Fax: +45 89426199
Email:

Other project members and their affiliation

Other Information