Per-/polyfluoroalkyl substance concentrations in human serum and their associations with liver cancer

Per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are widespread in global human blood, and have some toxic effects on liver. However, effects of PFAS exposure on human liver cancer (LC) risk are still not known. In this study, 203 LC patients and 203 controls were recruited, and their serum samples were collected between 2019 and 2021. We determined the residues of 12 PFASs in serum from all participants and quantified their association with LC incidence and tumor markers. PFOS (9.8 ng/mL) had the highest mean concentration in human serum, followed by PFOA (8.3 ng/mL) and 6:2 Cl-PFESA (3.9 ng/mL). We found that concentrations of PFOS and 6:2 Cl-PFESA in human serum were significantly correlated with the levels of alpha fetoprotein (AFP) (beta PFOS = 0.13, 95% confidence interval (CIPFOS): 0.088, 0.17; beta 6:2 Cl-PFESA = 0.070, CI6:2 Cl-PFESA: 0.036, 0.10). A positive association of PFOS and 6:2 Cl-PFESA with odds ratios (OR) of LC (ORPFOS = 0.609, CIPFOS: 1.179, 4.029, P = 0.001; OR6:2 ClPFESA = 1.844, CI6:2 Cl-PFESA: 1.176, 2.512, P = 0.02) were found, after adjusting for different covariates. Moreover, serum PFOA concentrations were associated with carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), but their correlation with the LC incidence was not statistically significant. This new finding supports the evidence for the positive associations among PFAS exposure, change of specific tumor marker, and LC risks.

Automated summary

This study investigates the association between exposure to per-/polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) and liver cancer (LC) risk. The findings show a positive association between PFOS and 6:2 Cl-PFESA concentrations in human serum and LC incidence and tumor markers. The study suggests the potential risks of PFAS exposure in relation to liver cancer.