Highlights of This Issue

Prospective studies on the carcinogenic effects of low–moderate arsenic levels are lacking. To address this, García-Esquinas and colleagues examined the association between arsenic exposure and cancer mortality in American Indians. The authors report that low to moderate exposure to inorganic arsenic was prospectively associated with increased mortality for cancers of the lung, prostate, and pancreas.

Childhood cancer survivors have higher levels of several cardiovascular (CV) risk factors. Baker and colleagues examined the associations of specific cancer treatment exposures with different CV risk factors. They found that exposure to platinum or steroids is associated with certain CV risk factors and this should be taken into consideration in the development of screening recommendations. Targeted prevention efforts may reduce risks of CV disease for childhood cancer survivors.

Helicobacter pylori infections are the leading causes of gastric cancer. Epplein and colleagues assessed the association of H. pylori infection and colorectal cancer risk. Antibodies against 15 H. pylori proteins were measured in colorectal cancer cases and controls. Seropositivities against specific H. pylori proteins were associated with significant increases in colorectal cancer risk, suggesting that individuals with high levels of antibodies to specific H. pylori proteins may be at higher risk of colon cancer.

Daidzein is a key factor in soy, thought to reduce breast cancer risk. Many individuals cannot metabolize daidzein to equol and because equol has high estrogenic activity, the ability to produce equol may influence the impact of soy on breast cancer risk. Tseng and colleagues examined soy intake, equol production, and breast density in Chinese women and report that equol producers had significantly lower breast density compared to nonproducers. These findings offer an explanation for inconsistent findings regarding soy intake and breast cancer risk.