Prof Dr Ellen Kampman

Dept of Agrotechnology and Food Sciences, Division of Human Nutrition
Wageningen University and Research Centre
Wageningen, The Netherlands

http://humannutrition.wur.nl/

Project title (1)

Selenium and the prostate: Clinical trials on availability to prostate tissue and effects on gene expression. (2005/63)

Scientific abstract (1)

Prostate cancer is of increasing importance in ageing populations. Scientific evidence suggests a chemo-preventative role of selenium (Se). A direct relationship between Se intake, prostate levels (“availability”) and gene expression (“effect”) would support this hypothesis. Therefore, two randomised controlled clinical trials will be conducted.

Availability to prostate: Four groups of 20 males will receive placebo, 100, 200 or 300 ug Se/day (as Se-yeast), while they are on the waiting list (2-4 months) for trans-urethral prostatectomy (TURP) because of benign prostate hyperplasia. The prostate tissue will be frozen from Se analysis. Se will be determined in blood samples (baseline, pre-surgical) and in prostate tissue by instrumental neutron activation analysis.

Effects on gene expression: Two groups of 30 men will receive placebo or 300 ug Se/day for 1-2 months, while they are scheduled for radical surgery for prostate/ bladder cancer. Historically, normal prostate tissue will be obtained at surgery. Human oligonucleotide micro-arrays and RT-PCR will be used for gene expression profiling and bioinformatics to identify responsive probes.  Possible determinants of prostate cancer, eg. steroid hormone profiles and PSA will be taken into account. Additional biological materials will be obtained for future research.

Project title (2)

Selenium status and chemoprevention of oesophageal cancer in selenium deficient area, China. (2005/64)

Scientific abstract (2)

Selenium has been implicated in oesophageal cancer, and supplementation of selenium may reduce the risk of this disease. This is especially important to selenium deficient and high cancer incidence areas, such as China. Rice is the main staple food in China. Selenium enriched rice provides an effective and low-cost approach to improving selenium status in animal models, but its efficacy in humans and the potential to reduce oesophageal cancer risk remain unknown.

A randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled two-year intervention trial will be conducted among 300 patients with high-grade oesophageal intraepithelial neoplasia in Jiangsu Province, China. The aim of the study is to examine the efficacy of selenium enriched rice in improving selenium status and chemo-prevention of progression of oesophageal dysplasia. Selenite will be used for comparison.

Biological samples will be obtained at baseline, 6, 12 and 24 months. Selenium status will be determined by levels in blood and toenails and by plasma GSH-Px3 activity. Endoscopic surveillance, p53, PCNA expression and telomerase activity in oesophageal tissues, and indicators of cytogenetical damage (eg. UDS, MNC) in peripheral lymphocytes will be used to evaluate the efficacy of selenium enriched rice in dysplasia progression.

Project objectives:

1. To examine the efficacy of selenium enriched rice in improving human selenium status in a selenium deficient area of China. Although selenium enriched rice has been proved to be safe and effective in animal models, its bioavailability and efficacy in human beings remains unclear.
2. To explore the role of selenium enriched rice and selenite supplementation in the progression of high-grade oesophageal intraepithelial neoplasia, and to explore their effects in chemoprevention of oesophageal cancer in selenium deficient and high cancer incidence areas of China.

Project title (3)

Effect of folic acid and vitamin B12 supplementation on DNA methylation. (2009/68)

Scientific abstract (3)

Currently, the water-soluble B-vitamin folate (a vitamin that is essential for DNA manufacture and also for the production of red blood cells and normal growth), which is present in green leafy vegetables, is attracting attention for its potential protective role in several cancers. There is a growing body of evidence implicating folate deficiency in lung, cervical, breast, brain, and especially colorectal carcinogenesis. For those with low folate intakes, it may be advisable to increase the intake of the synthetic form of folate - folic acid - through supplements or fortification of foods. However, it is not known whether folic acid supplementation has a positive effect and whether some individuals may be more responsive to supplementation than others, depending on inherited differences in folate metabolism.

This study will, for the first time, evaluate the effect of long-term folic acid supplementation in elderly individuals in an ongoing intervention study among whom 3,000 will receive a tablet with 400 micrograms of folic acid and 500 micrograms of vitamin B12, or a placebo tablet (inert form of folic acid) daily for two years. Results of this study will provide more insight on the role of physiological amounts of B-vitamins on early phases in colorectal carcinogenesis. More knowledge will be gained on the specific genes and pathways involved. As folic acid fortification through bread and cereals is currently evaluated by many governments, this study addresses a most timely research question. The findings of this study are a prerequisite for policymakers to help support or refute health claims regarding supplementation or food fortification with folic acid. An optimal folate intake may prevent colorectal cancer, but the possible beneficial or detrimental effects of synthetic folic acid are not known yet.

Qualifications

Institution and location	Degree	Year	Scientific Field
Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands	BSc	1981-1983	Human Nutrition
Wageningen Agricultural University, The Netherlands	MSc	1984-1988	Human Nutrition
Maastricht University, The Netherlands	PhD	1989-1994	Cancer Epidemiology
Harvard School of Public Health, Departments of Nutrition and Epidemiology, USA	Visiting Scientist	1991-1992	Cancer Epidemiology
Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Department of Cancer Prevention, USA	Postdoc	1994-1996	Molecular Cancer Epidemiology

Previous employment

2008–Present	Professor of Diet and Cancer, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
2004–2008	Associate professor of Epidemiology, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
1999–2004	Assistant professor of Molecular Epidemiology, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
1996–1999	Researcher in Cancer Epidemiology, Wageningen University, The Netherlands
1994–1996	Postdoc in Molecular Cancer Epidemiology, Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Department of Cancer Prevention (Prof. Potter), Seattle, USA
1991–1992	Visiting scientist for 9 months at the Harvard School of Public Health, Departments of Nutrition (Prof. Willett) and Epidemiology (Prof. Trichopoulos), Boston, USA
1989–1994	Junior cancer epidemiologist, TNO Nutrition, Zeist, The Netherlands
1988–1989	Cancer registrar, Comprehensive Cancer Centre, Utrecht, The Netherlands

Research interests

Diet and cancer.