Pan-cancer mutational signature surveys correlated mutational signature with geospatial environmental exposures and viral infections

Background: Cancer has been disproportionally affecting minorities. Genomic-based cancer disparity analyses have been less common than conventional epidemiological studies. In the past decade, mutational signatures have been established as characteristic footprints of endogenous or exogenous carcinogens. Methods: Integrating datasets of diverse cancer types from The Cancer Genome Atlas and geospatial environmental risks of the registry hospitals from the United States Environmental Protection Agency, we explored mutational signatures from the aspect of racial disparity concerning pollutant exposures. The raw geospatial environmental exposure data were refined to 449 air pollutants archived and modeled from 2007 to 2017 and aggregated to the census county level. Additionally, hepatitis B and C viruses and human papillomavirus infection statuses were incorporated into analyses for skin cancer, cervical cancer, and liver cancer. Results: Mutation frequencies of key oncogenic genes varied substantially between different races. These differences were further translated into differences in mutational signatures. Survival analysis revealed that the increased pollution level is associated with worse survival. The analysis of the oncogenic virus revealed that aflatoxin, an affirmed carcinogen for liver cancer, was higher in Asian liver cancer patients than in White patients. The aflatoxin mutational signature was exacerbated by hepatitis infection for Asian patients but not for White patients, suggesting a predisposed genetic or genomic disadvantage for Asians concerning aflatoxin. Conclusions: Environmental pollutant exposures increase a mutational signature level and worsen cancer prognosis, presenting a definite adverse risk factor for cancer patients.

Automated summary

This study explores the differences in mutational signatures between different races and their association with environmental pollutant exposures. It shows that increased pollution levels are associated with worse cancer prognosis and that Asians may have a genetic or genomic disadvantage concerning aflatoxin exposure.