Journal of the National Cancer Institute Advance Access originally published online on April 7, 2009
JNCI Journal of the National Cancer Institute 2009 101(8):605-609; doi:10.1093/jnci/djp041
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© The Author 2009. Published by Oxford University Press.
BRIEF COMMUNICATION |
Perfluorooctanoate and Perfluorooctanesulfonate Plasma Levels and Risk of Cancer in the General Danish Population
Affiliations of authors: Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Copenhagen, Denmark (KTE, MS, AT, OR-N); International Epidemiology Institute, Rockville, MD (JKM, LL); Department of Clinical Epidemiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aalborg, Denmark (KO)
Correspondence to: Kirsten T. Eriksen, Institute of Cancer Epidemiology, Danish Cancer Society, Strandboulevarden 49, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark (e-mail: kirsthor{at}cancer.dk).
Perfluorooctanoate and perfluorooctanesulfonate are used in many industrial products and have been widely detected in human blood. Both chemicals are associated with tumor development in animal studies, but data on carcinogenic potential in humans are sparse. We investigated the association between plasma levels of perfluorooctanoate and perfluorooctanesulfonate and cancer risk within a prospective Danish cohort of participants with no previous cancer diagnosis at enrollment. From enrollment, between December 1, 1993, and May 31, 1997, and through July 1, 2006, we identified 713 participants with prostate cancer, 332 with bladder cancer, 128 with pancreatic cancer, and 67 with liver cancer in the entire cohort and we selected a comparison subcohort of 772. Plasma concentrations of perfluorooctanoate and perfluorooctanesulfonate were measured in each participant by use of high-pressure liquid chromatography coupled to tandem mass spectrometry. We found no clear differences in incidence rate ratios for these cancers in relation to plasma concentrations of perfluorooctanoate or perfluorooctanesulfonate. A 30%–40% increase in risk estimates for prostate cancer was observed for the three upper quartiles of perfluorooctanesulfonate concentration compared with the lowest quartile (eg, for the lowest vs the fourth quartile, incidence rate ratio = 1.38, 95% confidence interval = 0.99 to 1.93). Plasma concentrations of perfluorooctanoate and perfluorooctanesulfonate in the general Danish population appear not to be associated with risk of prostate, bladder, pancreatic, or liver cancer.
| CONTEXT AND CAVEATS Prior knowledge Perfluorooctanoate and perfluorooctanesulfonate have been associated with tumor development in animal studies, but data on their carcinogenic potential in humans are sparse. Study design The associations between plasma levels of perfluorooctanoate and perfluorooctanesulfonate and cancer risk were investigated in a prospective cohort with no previous cancer diagnosis at enrollment. Concentrations of both chemicals were determined in plasma that was collected from all participants at recruitment. Contribution No clear differences in risk for these cancers in relation to plasma concentrations of perfluorooctanoate or perfluorooctanesulfonate were detected. Implications Plasma concentrations of perfluorooctanoate and perfluorooctanesulfonate among people in the general population appear not to be associated with risk of prostate, bladder, pancreatic, or liver cancer. Limitations There was only a single measure of the plasma concentration of perfluorooctanoate and perfluorooctanesulfonate for each individual. Consequently, misclassification may have occurred because the concentration at one moment in time may not reliably reflect the relevant plasma concentrations decades ago or at other times. From the Editors
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Manuscript received June 3, 2008; revised January 23, 2009; accepted February 6, 2009.
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J Natl Cancer Inst 2009 101: 539.