New York, Aug 10 : People with exposure to a synthetic chemical that is found all over in the range of industrial and consumer products were 4.5 times more likely to be diagnosed with non-viral hepatocellular carcinoma , the most frequent type of liver cancer according to a new study. The chemical, known as perfluooctane-sulfate, also known as PF is part of a group of chemical compounds that are made by humans called polyfluoroalkyl compounds or PFAS.
These chemicals are also referred to as forever chemicals since they break down extremely slowly and then accumulate in the environment as well as human organs, such as the liver.
Researchers at the University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine discovered evidence that PFOS may change the process of glucose metabolism as well as bile acid metabolism.the metabolism of the type of amino acid known as the branched chain amino acids in the liver.
The breakdown of the normal metabolism in the liver may trigger an increase in fat in the liver.This condition is referred to as non-alcoholic fatty liver disease or NAFLD.
There has been an alarming and unanswered rise in NAFLD all over the world in recent years.This is alarming because those with NAFLD are at a significantly more risk of developing liver cancer.
Previous study in animals has indicated that PFOS exposure increases the risk of liver cancer, however this is the first research to prove the connection using human samples.
“This expands on research that has already been conducted but goes an additional step,” added Jesse Goodrich Postdoctoral scholar at the The University of Southern California’s Keck School of Medicine.
“Liver cancer is among of the most serious outcomes in liver disease, and this is the first research in humans to demonstrate that PFAS are linked with this condition,” she added.
The study involved 50 participants, who were diagnosed with liver cancer, and analyzed their blood samples prior to the diagnosis of cancer and the results were compared with 50 participants who didn’t develop cancer in the same study.
Researchers discovered a variety of forms of PFOS in the blood samples taken prior to the time the patient developed liver cancer.The people in the top 10% of exposed to PFOS were 4.5 times more likely to develop cancer of the liver over the people with the lowest amounts of PFO in their blood.
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