Dietary Influences on Alpha-Methylacyl-CoA Racemase (AMACR) Expression in the Prostate

Abstract

Abstract : Alpha Methyl Acyl coA Racemase (AMACR), a peroxisomal and mitochondrial enzyme, is known to be upregulated in the majority of prostate cancers at the protein and mRNA transcript level. This enzyme is involved in the breakdown of phytanic and pristanic acids - branched chain fatty acids that are derived primarily through the ingestion of dairy and red meat products and cannot be produced de-novo by humans. Although many epidemiologic studies have shown an association between high dairy product / red meat consumption and prostate cancer risk, no study had explored whether consumption of these foods or phytanic acid levels in blood or target tissues are linked to AMACR expression in the prostate. This research project focused on examining the relationships between AMACR expression in the normal prostate gland and phytanic / pristanic acid levels in both blood and prostatic tissue. We postulated that men with higher intake of red meat and dairy products would have elevated phytanic / pristanic acid levels in their blood and prostates, and that this would correspond with higher AMACR expression levels in normal prostate tissues. Forty men with prostate cancer completed the study at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and the Jesse Brown Veterans Administration Medical Center (JBVAMC).