Fungi/Mycotoxins Cause Prostate Cancer

[Guest guest]

Here's another excerpt from one of the Fungalbionics books that Doug Haney

mentioned.

CYCLOSPORIN IS A MYCOTOXIN

CYCLOSPORIN CAUSES PROSTATE CANCER

CYCLOSPORIN ENHANCES METASTASIS

OF PROSTATE CANCER CELLS

THE REPORTED CLINICAL FACTS

Cyclosporin Is A Mycotoxin

Betina (1989) points out that cyclosporin is actually a mycotoxin, a

fungal-derived secondary metabolite which is toxic to the immune system.

Cyclosporin Causes Prostate

Cancer In Liver Transplantation Patients

Frezza et al. (1997) noted that the increasing length of survival of

organ transplant recipients necessitates careful attention to the potential

neoplastic complications of life-long immunosuppression which is required

for such patients. Previous studies of patients taking triple drug therapy

(cyclosporin, azathioprine and prednisone) for immunosuppression have shown

a high percentage of tumor development (3,117 per 2,915 patients).

3,394 adult patients underwent orthotopic liver transplantation at the

University of Pittsburgh Medical Center, Transplant Institute prior to

December 1992.

A total of 50 patients with tumors were identified (37 males, 13 females),

ranging between 34 and 69 years of age. The types of cancers caused by

cyclosporin included prostate cancer.

Cyclosporin Causes Prostate

Cancer In Renal Transplant Patients

Voght (1990) analyzed a population of renal transplant recipients treated

with cyclosporin and prednisolone with respect to clinically evident de

novo malignancies.

Eighteen of 598 patients (mean age 35.6 (1-73) years receiving their

first renal graft between May, 1981 and December, 1986 developed a malignancy

at a mean interval of 33.5 months.

The types of cancers caused by cyclosporin included carcinoma of the

prostate.

THE REPORTED ANIMAL STUDIES

The Mycotoxin Cyclosporin Enhances

Metastasis Of Prostate Cancer Cells In Rats

Pollard (1997) reported that the rate and extent of metastasis by prostate

adenocarcinoma cells was enhanced in rats by the administration of cyclosporin

A. The cancer cells spread through the lymph nodes to the lungs in which

they developed secondary tumors.

AFLATOXIN AS A MYCOTOXIN CAUSE OF PROSTATE

CANCER

AFLATOXIN-CONTAMINATED

FOODS CAUSE PROSTATE CANCER

AFLATOXIN CAUSES P53 MUTATION

AS FOUND IN PROSTATE CANCER

THE REPORTED CLINICAL FACTS

Aflatoxin-Contaminated

Foods Cause Prostate Cancer

The various foods which are documented to cause prostate cancer share

little in common except that they are all high on the list of

fungal/mycotoxin-contaminated

foods. The carcinogenic mycotoxin most often encountered is aflatoxin.

The possibility that this is a matter of coincidence is unlikely, particularly

when it has been documented that aflatoxin causes mutation of normal rat

prostate cells (Link et al. [1983]). One must read this chapter in the

light of the fact that the cause of prostate cancer has been previously

deemed to be unknown.

To learn about the foods most frequently found to be contaminated with

aflatoxin which are associated with an increased risk of men developing

prostate cancer, see the pertinent food chapters in Part VI.

The p53 Gene Mutation Is Caused By Aflatoxin

In his 1995 Deichmann Lecture presentation, provides an update

of the genetic aspects of cancer. Cancer is a multistage process involving

the activation of proto-oncogenes, for example ras, and the inactivation

of tumor suppressor genes, such as p53 and p16INK4.

points out that p53 is a prototype tumor suppressor gene that

is the most common genetic lesion in human cancers including prostate cancer.

In 1991, stated that the p53 mutation is found in hepatocellular

carcinomas from both Qidong, People's Republic of China and southern Africa.

continues:

" This observation links exposure to aflatoxin, a known cancer risk factor

in these geographic regions, with a specific mutation in a cancer-related

gene. "

Simply stated, the mutation found in the p53 gene is due to a mycotoxin.

(See also Lilleberg [1992].)

THE REPORTED ANIMAL STUDIES

Aflatoxin Mycotoxin Causes Mutations (Pre-

Cancerous Change) In Normal Rat Prostate Cells

Link et al. (1983) reported that aflatoxin increased the frequency of

mutants in normal rat prostate cells.

It was concluded that their procedures now make it possible to detect

some environmental carcinogens likely to cause prostate cancer by virtue

of their ability to mutate cultured rat prostate epithelial cells.

The sensitivity of the rat prostate cells cell line to aflatoxin-induced

cytotoxicity and mutagenesis also makes it a useful cell system in which

to study enzymes governing the conversion of aflatoxin to gene-toxic

metabolites.

See also Soderkvist et al. (1983).

ZERALENONE CAUSES PROSTATE CANCER

ZEARALENONE IS A MYCOTOXIN

ZEARALENONE DERIVATIVE ZERANOL

CAUSES PRECANCEROUS METAPLASIA

ZERANOL IS USED AS A FATTENING

AGENT IN LIVESTOCK ANIMALS

Zeranol is a derivative of the Fusarium mycotoxin zearalenone which

is used to artificially fatten domestic animals for human consumption.

Such meat contains measurable amounts of this growth promoter and this

has raised serious questions relative to endangering the health of meat

consumers.

This is particularly worrisome since meat causes prostate cancer in

humans (see Chapter 48.).

THE REPORTED ANIMAL STUDIES

Zeranol (Mycotoxin Zearalenone Derivative) Causes

Pre-Cancerous Metaplasia Of Prostate Cells In Bulls

Deschamps et al. (1987) studied the effects of zeranol on scrotal circumference,

serving ability, semen characteristics, and postmortem measurements of

the genital organs in beef bulls from 9 to 20 months of age.

Histologic examination of the genital organs revealed that zeranol induced

adenomyosis and sperm granulomas in the Caudae epididymidis and markedly

altered the structure of the sexual accessory glands of bulls.

Low epithelium associated with focal areas of squamous metaplasia

were found to be induced in the prostate of the zeranol-dosed bulls. Metaplasia

is generally considered to represent a precancerous change in afflicted

tissue cells.

Zeranol Stimulates Growth

Of Prostate Gland In Lambs

Wiggins et al. (1980) found that zeranol stimulates the growth of the

seminal vesicles, the prostate gland and the preputial glands in lambs.

See also Marois and Marois (1979).

Zeranol Causes Hyperplasia And Cellular

Transformations In Prostate Glands Of Sheep

Rothenbacher et al. (1975) reported that zeranol administered to sheep

caused hyperplasia (increased growth of number of cells) as well as transitional

cell and squamous cell transformation in their prostate glands.