Skip to main content

Fetal Alcohol Exposure Increases Susceptibility to Carcinogenesis and Promotes Tumor Progression in Prostate Gland

  • Conference paper
  • First Online:
Biological Basis of Alcohol-Induced Cancer

Part of the book series: Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology ((AEMB,volume 815))

Abstract

The idea that exposure to adverse environmental conditions and lifestyle choices during pregnancy can result in fetal programming that underlies disease susceptibility in adulthood is now widely accepted. Fetal alcohol exposed offspring displays many behavioral and physiological abnormalities including neuroendocrine–immune functions, which often carry over into their adult life. Since the neuroendocrine–immune system plays an important role in controlling tumor surveillance, fetal alcohol exposed offspring can be vulnerable to develop cancer. Animal studies have recently showed increased cancer growth and progression in various tissues of fetal alcohol exposed offspring. I will detail in this chapter the recent evidence for increased prostate carcinogenesis in fetal alcohol exposed rats. I will also provide evidence for a role of excessive estrogenization during prostatic development in the increased incidence of prostatic carcinoma in these animals. Furthermore, I will discuss the additional possibility of the involvement of impaired stress regulation and resulting immune incompetence in the increased prostatic neoplasia in the fetal alcohol exposed offspring.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Chapter
USD 29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD 129.00
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD 169.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Adami HO, McLaughlin JK, Hsing AW, Wolk A, Ekbom A, Holmberg L, Persson I (1992) Alcoholism and cancer risk: a population-based cohort study. Cancer Causes Control 3(5):419–425

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Adler UC, Marques AH, Calil HM (2008) Inflammatory aspects of depression. Inflamm Allergy Drug Targets 7(1):19–23

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  3. Akil H, Watson SJ, Young E et al (1984) Endogenous opioids: biology and function. Annu Rev Neurosci 7:223–255

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Arjona A, Boyadjieva N, Kuhn P, Sarkar DK (2006) Fetal ethanol exposure disrupts the daily rhythms of splenic granzyme B, IFN-gamma, and NK cell cytotoxicity in adulthood. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 30(6):1039–1104

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Azouz EM, Kavianian G, Der Kaloustian VM (1993) Fetal alcohol syndrome and bilateral tibial exostoses. A case report. Pediatr Radiol 23(8):615–616

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Bagnardi V, Blangiardo M, La Vecchia C, Corrao G (2001) A meta-analysis of alcohol drinking and cancer risk. Br J Cancer 85(11):1700–1705

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Battisti L, Degani D, Rugolotto S, Borgna-Pignatti C (1993) Fetal alcohol syndrome and malignant disease: a case report. Am J Pediatr Hematol Oncol 5(1):136–137

    Article  Google Scholar 

  8. Becker H, Zaunschirm A, Muntean W, Domej W (1982) Fetal alcohol syndrome and malignant tumors. Wien Klin Wochenschr 94(14):364–365

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  9. Ben-Eliyahu S (2013) The promotion of tumor metastasis by surgery and stress: immunological basis and implications for psychoneuroimmunology. Brain Behav Immun 17(Suppl 1):S27–S36

    Google Scholar 

  10. Bonkhoff H, Berges R (2009) The evolving role of oestrogens and their receptors in the development and progression of prostate cancer. Eur Urol 55(3):533–542

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Bostrom B, Nesbit ME Jr (1983) Hodgkin disease in a child with fetal alcohol-hydantoin syndrome. J Pediatr 103(5):760–762

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Boyadjieva N, Advis JP, Sarkar DK (2006) Role of beta-endorphin, corticotropin-releasing hormone and autonomic nervous system in mediation of the effect of chronic ethanol on natural killer cell cytolytic activity. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 30(10):1761–1767

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  13. Boyadjieva NI, Ortigüela M, Arjona A et al (2009) Beta-endorphin neuronal cell transplant reduces corticotropin releasing hormone hyperresponse to lipopolysaccharide and eliminates natural killer cell functional deficiencies in fetal alcohol exposed rats. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 33(5):931–937

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  14. Braun MM, Ahlbom A, Floderus B et al (1995) Effect of twinship on incidence of cancer of the testis, breast, and other sites (Sweden). Cancer Causes Control 6(6):519–524

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Breslow RA, Chen CM, Graubard BI, Mukamal KJ (2011) Prospective study of alcohol consumption quantity and frequency and cancer-specific mortality in the US population. Am J Epidemiol 174(9):1044–1053

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  16. Capuron L, Miller AH (2011) Immune system to brain signaling: neuropsychopharmacological implications. Pharmacol Ther 130(2):226–238

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  17. Chen CP, Kuhn P, Advis JP, Sarkar DK (2006) Prenatal ethanol exposure alters the expression of period genes governing the circadian function of beta-endorphin neurons in the hypothalamus. J Neurochem 97(4):1026–1033

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Chen WY, Rosner B, Hankinson SE et al (2011) Moderate alcohol consumption during adult life, drinking patterns, and breast cancer risk. JAMA 306(17):1884–1890

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  19. Coffey DS (2001) Similarities of prostate and breast cancer: evolution, diet, and estrogens. Urology 57(4 Suppl 1):31–38

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  20. Cohen MM Jr (1981) Neoplasia and the fetal alcohol and hydantoin syndromes. Neurobehav Toxicol Teratol 3(2):161–162

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  21. Crispo A, Talamini R, Gallus S et al (2004) Alcohol and the risk of prostate cancer and benign prostatic hyperplasia. Urology 64(4):717–722

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  22. Cunha GR, Wang YZ, Hayward SW, Risbridger GP (2001) Estrogenic effects on prostatic differentiation and carcinogenesis. Reprod Fertil Dev 13(4):285–296

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Driscoll SG, Taylor SH (1980) Effects of prenatal maternal estrogen on the male urogenital system. Obstet Gynecol 56(5):537–542

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Gangisetty O, Wynne O, Radl DB, Maglakelidze G, Sarkar DK (2013) Fetal alcohol exposures epigenetically program the growth regulatory mechanism and increase the susceptibility to prolactin-secreting pituitary tumors. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 37:64A

    Google Scholar 

  25. Giovannucci E, Michaud D (2007) The role of obesity and related metabolic disturbances in cancers of the colon, prostate, and pancreas. Gastroenterology 132(6):2208–2225

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  26. Goldfarb AH, Jamurtas AZ (1997) Beta-endorphin response to exercise. An update. Sports Med 24(1):8–16

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  27. Gong Z, Kristal AR, Schenk JM et al (2009) Alcohol consumption, finasteride, and prostate cancer risk: results from the Prostate Cancer Prevention Trial. Cancer 115(16):3661–3669

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  28. Gottesfeld Z, Trippe K, Wargovich MJ, Berkowitz AS (1992) Fetal alcohol exposure and adult tumorigenesis. Alcohol 9(6):465–471

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  29. Greene DR, Wheeler TM, Egawa S et al (1991) Relationship between clinical stage and histological zone of origin in early prostate cancer: morphometric analysis. Br J Urol 68(5):499–509

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Hellemans KG, Sliwowska JH, Verma P, Weinberg J (2010) Prenatal alcohol exposure: fetal programming and later life vulnerability to stress, depression and anxiety disorders. Neurosci Biobehav Rev 34(6):791–807

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Higgins SJ, Brooks DE, Fuller FM et al (2007) Steroid hormones and carcinogenesis of the prostate: the role of estrogens. Differentiation 75(9):871–882

    Article  Google Scholar 

  32. Hilakivi-Clarke L, Cabanes A, de Assis S et al (2004) In utero alcohol exposure increases mammary tumorigenesis in rats. Br J Cancer 90(11):2225–2231

    CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  33. Hornstein L, Crowe C, Gruppo R (1977) Adrenal carcinoma in child with history of fetal alcohol syndrome. Lancet 2(8051):1292–1293

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  34. Infante-Rivard C, El-Zein M (2007) Parental alcohol consumption and childhood cancers: a review. J Toxicol Environ Health B Crit Rev 10(1–2):101–129

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Johnson S, Knight R, Marmer DJ, Steele RW (1981) Immune deficiency in fetal alcohol syndrome. Pediatr Res 15(6):908–911

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  36. Kawano H, Masuko S (2007) Beta-endorphin-, adrenocorticotrophic hormone- and neuropeptide y-containing projection fibers from the arcuate hypothalamic nucleus make synaptic contacts on to nucleus preopticus medianus neurons projecting to the paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus in the rat. Neuroscience 98(3):555–565

    Article  Google Scholar 

  37. Khan A, Bader JL, Hoy GR, Sinks LF (1979) Hepatoblastoma in child with fetal alcohol syndrome. Lancet 1(8131):1403–1404

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  38. Kiess W, Linderkamp O, Hadorn HB, Haas R (1984) Fetal alcohol syndrome and malignant disease. Eur J Pediatr 143(2):160–161

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  39. Kiley VA, Lazerson J (1986) Agenesis of the corpus callosum and neural crest tumors. Pediatr Hematol Oncol 3(2):179–182

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  40. Kinney H, Faix R, Brazy J (1980) The fetal alcohol syndrome and neuroblastoma. Pediatrics 66(1):130–132

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  41. Lau KM, Leav I, Ho SM (1998) Rat estrogen receptor-α and -β, and progesterone receptor mRNA expression in various prostatic lobes and microdissected normal and dysplastic epithelial tissues of the Noble rats. Endocrinology 139(1):424–427

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  42. Lee S, Schmidt D, Tilders F, Rivier C (2000) Increased activity of the hypothalamic-pituitary adrenal axis of rats exposed to alcohol in utero: role of altered pituitary and hypothalamic function. Mol Cell Neurosci 16(4):515–528

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  43. Maskarinec G, Morimoto Y, Takata Y et al (2006) Alcohol and dietary fibre intakes affect circulating sex hormones among premenopausal women. Public Health Nutr 9(7):875–881

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  44. Mongraw-Chaffin ML, Cohn BA, Anglemyer AT et al (2009) Maternal smoking, alcohol, and coffee use during pregnancy and son’s risk of testicular cancer. Alcohol 43(3):241–245

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  45. Moreno-Smith M, Lutgendorf SK, Sood AK (2010) Impact of stress on cancer metastasis. Future Oncol 6(12):1863–1881

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  46. Murugan S, Zhang C, Mojtahedzadeh S, Sarkar DK (2013) Alcohol exposure in utero increases susceptibility to prostate tumorigenesis in rat offspring. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 37:1901–1909. doi:10.1111/acer.12171

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  47. Narod SA (2011) Alcohol and risk of breast cancer. JAMA 306(17):1920–1921

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  48. Naslund MJ, Coffey DS (1986) The differential effects of neonatal androgen, estrogen and progesterone on adult rat prostate growth. J Urol 136(5):1136–1140

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  49. Nicholson TM, Ricke WA (2011) Androgens and estrogens in benign prostatic hyperplasia: past, present and future. Differentiation 82(4–5):184–199

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  50. Padgett DA, Glaser R (2003) How stress influences the immune response. Trends Immunol 24:444–448

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  51. Plotsky PM, Thrivikraman KV, Meaney MJ (1993) Central and feedback regulation of hypothalamic corticotropin-releasing factor secretion. Ciba Found Symp 172:59–75

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  52. Polanco TA, Crismale-Gann C, Reuhl KR et al (2010) Fetal alcohol exposure increases mammary tumor susceptibility and alters tumor phenotype in rats. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 34(11):1879–1887

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  53. Polanco TA, Crismale-Gann C, Cohick WS (2011) Alcohol exposure in utero leads to enhanced prepubertal mammary development and alterations in mammary IGF and estradiol systems. Horm Cancer 2(4):239–248

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  54. Price D (1963) Comparative aspects of development and structure in the prostate. In: Vollmer EP (ed) Biology of the prostate and related tissues. National Cancer Institute, Washington DC, pp 1–27

    Google Scholar 

  55. Prins GS (1997) Developmental estrogenization of the prostate gland. In: Naz RK (ed) Prostate: basic and clinical aspects. CRC Press, Boca Raton, pp 247–265

    Google Scholar 

  56. Prins GS, Birch L (1995) The developmental pattern of androgen receptor expression in rat prostate lobes is altered after neonatal exposure to estrogen. Endocrinology 136(3):1303–1314

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  57. Prins GS, Putz O (2008) Molecular signaling pathways that regulate prostate gland development. Differentiation 76(6):641–659

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  58. Prins GS, Marmer M, Woodham C et al (1998) Estrogen receptor-β messenger ribonucleic acid ontogeny in the prostate of normal and neonatally estrogenized rats. Endocrinology 139(3):874–883

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  59. Prins GS, Birch L, Habermann H et al (2001) Influence of neonatal estrogens on rat prostate development. Reprod Fertil Dev 13(4):241–252

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  60. Putz O, Prins GS (2002) Prostate gland development and estrogenic imprinting. In: Burnstein KL (ed) Steroid hormones and cell cycle regulation. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Boston, MA, pp 73–89

    Chapter  Google Scholar 

  61. Pylkkanen L, Makela S, Valve E et al (1993) Prostatic dysplasia associated with increased expression of C-MYC in neonatally estrogenized mice. J Urol 149(6):1593–1601

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  62. Rajfer J, Coffey DS (1978) Sex steroid imprinting of the immature prostate. Invest Urol 16(3):186–190

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  63. Ramilo J, Harris VJ (1979) Neuroblastoma in a child with the hydantoin and fetal alcohol syndrome. The radiographic features. Br J Radiol 52(624):993–935

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  64. Rehm J, Baliunas D, Borges GL et al (2010) The relation between different dimensions of alcohol consumption and burden of disease: an overview. Addiction 105(5):817–843

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  65. Ricke WA, McPherson SJ, Bianco JJ et al (2008) Prostatic hormonal carcinogenesis is mediated by in situ estrogen production and estrogen receptor alpha signaling. FASEB J 22(5):1512–1520

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  66. Rothman KJ (1980) The proportion of cancer attributable to alcohol consumption. Prev Med 9(2):174–179

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  67. Santti R, Newbold RR, Makela S et al (1994) Developmental estrogenization and prostatic neoplasia. Prostate 24(2):67–78

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  68. Sarkar DK, Kuhn P, Marano J et al (2007) Alcohol exposure during the developmental period induces beta-endorphin neuronal death and causes alteration in the opioid control of stress axis function. Endocrinology 148(6):2828–2834

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  69. Sarkar DK, Boyadjieva NI, Chen CP et al (2008) Cyclic adenosine monophosphate differentiated beta-endorphin neurons promote immune function and prevent prostate cancer growth. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 105(26):9105–9110

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  70. Sarkar DK, Zhang C, Murugan S (2011) Transplantation of β-endorphin neurons into the hypothalamus promotes immune function and restricts the growth and metastasis of mammary carcinoma. Cancer Res 71(19):6282–6291

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  71. Sarkar DK, Murugan S, Zhang C, Boyadjieva N (2012) Regulation of cancer progression by β- endorphin neuron. Cancer Res 72(4):836–480

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  72. Seeler RA, Israel JN, Royal JE, Kaye CI, Rao S, Abulaban M (1979) Ganglioneuroblastoma and fetal hydantoin-alcohol syndromes. Pediatrics 63(4):524–527

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  73. Severson RK, Buckley JD, Woods WG et al (1993) Cigarette smoking and alcohol consumption by parents of children with acute myeloid leukemia: an analysis within morphological subgroups—a report from the Children’s Cancer Group. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2(5):433–439

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  74. Singletary KW, Frey RS, Yan W (2001) Effect of ethanol on proliferation and estrogen receptor-alpha expression in human breast cancer cells. Cancer Lett 165(2):131–137

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  75. Steinhausen HC (1995) Children of alcoholic parents. A review. Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry 4(3):143–152

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  76. Taylor AN, Ben-Eliyahu S, Yirmiya R et al (1993) Action of alcohol on immunity and neoplasia in fetal alcohol exposed and adult rats. Alcohol Alcohol Suppl 2:69–74

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  77. Thygesen LC, Albertsen K, Johansen C, Grønbaek M (2005) Cancer incidence among Danish brewery workers. Int J Cancer 116(5):774–778

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  78. Tønnesen H, Moller H, Andersen JR et al (1994) Cancer morbidity in alcohol abusers. Br J Cancer 69(2):327–332

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  79. Velicer CM, Kristal A, White E (2006) Alcohol use and the risk of prostate cancer: results from the VITAL cohort study. Nutr Cancer 56(1):50–56

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  80. Winstanley MH, Pratt IS, Chapman K (2011) Alcohol and cancer: a position statement from Cancer Council Australia. Med J Aust 194(9):479–482

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  81. Witek-Janusek L, Gabram S, Mathews HL (2007) Psychologic stress, reduced NK cell activity, and cytokine dysregulation in women experiencing diagnostic breast biopsy. Psychoneuroendocrinology 32(1):22–35

    Article  CAS  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  82. Yuen MT, Leung LK, Wang J et al (2005) Enhanced induction of prostatic dysplasia and carcinoma in Noble rat model by combination of neonatal estrogen exposure and hormonal treatments at adulthood. Int J Oncol 27(6):1685–1695

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  83. Zaunschirm A, Muntean W (1984) Fetal alcohol syndrome and malignant disease. Eur J Pediatr 141(4):256

    Article  CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  84. Zhang C, Sarkar DK (2012) β-endorphin neuron transplantation: a possible novel therapy for cancer prevention. Oncoimmunology 1(4):552–554

    Article  PubMed Central  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  85. Zhang X, Sliwowska JH, Weinberg J (2005) Prenatal alcohol exposure and fetal programming effects on neuroendocrine and immune function. Exp Biol Med (Maywood) 230(6):376–388

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  86. Zhang C, Boyadjieva N, Ortiguela M et al (2012) Fetal alcohol exposure increases tumor colonization in the lung: role of hypothalamic beta-endorphin. Alcohol Clin Exp Res 36:198A

    Article  Google Scholar 

  87. Zondek T, Mansfield MD, Attree SL, Zondek LH (1986) Hormone levels in the fetal and neonatal prostate. Acta Endocr 112(3):447–456

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgment

This work was partly supported by National Institute of Health grants R37AA08757 and R01AA11591. Prostate research works were conducted in our laboratory by Drs. Sengottuvelan Murugan, Changqing Zhang, Sepideh Mojtahedzadeh, and Nadka Boyadjieva.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Dipak K. Sarkar .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2015 Springer International Publishing Switzerland

About this paper

Cite this paper

Sarkar, D.K. (2015). Fetal Alcohol Exposure Increases Susceptibility to Carcinogenesis and Promotes Tumor Progression in Prostate Gland. In: Vasiliou, V., Zakhari, S., Seitz, H., Hoek, J. (eds) Biological Basis of Alcohol-Induced Cancer. Advances in Experimental Medicine and Biology, vol 815. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-09614-8_23

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics