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TRIBROMOMETHANE EXPOSURE AND DIETARY FOLATE DEFICIENCY IN THE FORMATION OF ABERRANT CRYPT FOCI IN THE COLONS OF F344/N RATS
Citation:
Geter, D. R., T. M. Moore, M H. George, S. R. Kilburn, G. D. HugginsClark, J W. Allen, AND A B. DeAngelo. TRIBROMOMETHANE EXPOSURE AND DIETARY FOLATE DEFICIENCY IN THE FORMATION OF ABERRANT CRYPT FOCI IN THE COLONS OF F344/N RATS. Presented at AACR, Orlando, FL, March 27-31, 2004.
Description:
TRIBROMOMETHANE EXPOSURE AND DIETARY FOLATE DEFICIENCY IN THE FORMATION OF ABERRANT CRYPT FOCI IN THE COLONS OF F344/N RATS
David R. Geter', Tanya M. Moore', Michael H. George', Steve R. Kilburn', Gloria Huggins-Clark', James W. Allen', and Anthony B. DeAngelo' 'National Health and Environmental Effects Research Laboratory, Office of Research and Development, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Research Triangle Park, NC 27711.
Folate and folic acid are forms of the B vitamin that are involved in the synthesis, repair and functioning of DNA and are required for the production and maintenance of new cells. Low levels of folate have been associated with several forms of cancer, including colon cancer. Aberrant crypt foci (ACF), identified as putative precursor lesions in the development of colon cancer, have been induced by the drinking water disinfection by-product, tribromomethane (TBM). To investigate whether ACF induced by TBM could be promoted by a diet low in dietary folate, male F344/N rats were exposed to 0.5 g/L of TBM in drinking water and fed either a normal or low folate diet (LFD) for 26 weeks. At the conclusion of the study, colons were excised and examined for ACF. Rats exposed to TBM and fed a LFD, evident by significantly reduced serum folate concentrations and elevated serum homocysteine levels, had a significant increase of ACF compared to rats exposed TBM and fed a normal diet. This study shows that TBM exposure combined with a LFD is associated with an increase in ACF, and possibly an increased risk for developing colorectal cancers. [This abstract does not necessarily reflect EPA policy]