Agent Orange linked to prostate cancer

SACRAMENTO, June 9 (UPI) -- Vietnam veterans exposed to Agent Orange are more likely than others to develop prostate cancer, and at a younger age, U.S. researchers said.

Dr. Karim Chamie of the University of California at Davis and colleagues analyzed clinical data from 17,000 Vietnam War era veterans who received care in the Northern California VA system and found 6,214 were exposed to Agent Orange, while 6,930 patients had no documented exposure.

The study found exposed veterans were more likely to develop prostate cancer -- 239 vs. 124 men -- and exposed patients presented at a younger age -- age 59.7 vs. 62.2 years. Exposed veterans were found to have higher grade disease and were more likely to present with metastases -- 13.4 percent vs. 4.0 percent.

The study's importance cannot be overstated, UroToday.com reported.

If the findings are substantiated, patients with history of Agent Orange exposure should be screened earlier for prostate cancer, Chamie said.

Agent Orange is a mixture of two phenoxy herbicides. During the production of one of the two main components, 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzodioxin, or TTCD,, a dioxin, is formed.

The findings were presented at the American Urological Association's annual meeting in Orlando, Fla.