Agent Orange Exposure and Bladder Cancer

From 1962 to 1971, the US military sprayed herbicides over Vietnam to destroy the thick jungle canopy which could conceal opposition forces 2. Agent Orange is a 50:50 mixture of 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4-D)and 2,4,5-trichlorophenoxyacetic acid (2,4,5-T) as well as 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) which was a toxic unintended contaminant generated during production of Agent Orange 2. Agent Orange has been previously linked to increased risk of prostate cancer, non-melanoma skin cancer and other malignancies 6,7. The Institute of Medicine recently released a report stating there is "inadequate or insufficient" evidence to "limited or suggestive" evidence of association between bladder cancer and Agent Orange exposure 2.Moreover, the interplay between exposure on treatment and oncologic outcomes is an area of needed research 2. Based upon this, the VA is considering including bladder cancer as an Agent Orange related disease 2. This PRCRP Career Development Award research proposal addresses bladder cancer (Topic Area) and Agent Orange exposure (Focus Area) as well as treatments and outcomes (Focus Area).