In a small study in Chile that included patients with gallbladder cancer, exposure to aflatoxin (a toxin produced by mold) was associated with an increased risk of gallbladder cancer, according to a study in the May 26, 2015 issue ofJAMA – The Journal of the American medical Association. [1]
In Chile, gallbladder cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in women. Exposure to aflatoxin, a liver carcinogen, is associated with gallbladder cancer in primates. Aflatoxin contamination has been identified in Chile, including inaji rojo(red chili peppers).Aji rojois associated with gallbladder cancer; however, the association of aflatoxin with gallbladder cancer in humans has not been directly evaluated, according to background information in the article.[1][2]
Catterina Ferreccio, M.D., M.P.H., of the Pontificia Universidad Catolica de Chile, Santiago, Chile, and colleagues evaluated plasma aflatoxin-albumin adducts (a compound) and gallbladder cancer in a pilot study conducted from April 2012 through August 2013. Aflatoxin forms adducts with albumin in peripheral blood that accumulate up to 30-fold higher with chronic vs single exposure. The researchers assessed aflatoxin B1-lysine adduct (AFB1adduct) in participants.Aji rojoconsumption was determined via questionnaire.
The final analysis included 36 patients (cases) with gallbladder cancer, 29 controls with gallstones, and 47 community controls. Cases and controls had similar characteristics except foraji rojoconsumption (greater percentage of case patients had weekly consumption). AFB1-adducts were detected in 23 cases (64%), 7 controls with gallstones (18%), and 9 community controls (23%). AFB1-adduct levels were highest in cases.
?Despite the small number of participants, the associations between aflatoxin exposure and gallbladder cancer were statistically significant. Recall bias may affect self-reported variables, but not exposure measurement. We cannot rule out reverse causation (i.e., cancer may affect AFB1-adduct detection) using cross-sectional data. Larger and longitudinal efforts are needed to substantiate these preliminary findings, obtain more precise effect estimates, and identify sources of aflatoxin. These findings, if confirmed, may have implications for cancer prevention,? the authors write.
Reference/Additionalinformation
[1] Nogueira L, Foerster C, Groopman J, Egner P, Koshiol J, Ferreccio C.Association of Aflatoxin With Gallbladder Cancer in Chile JAMA. 2015;313(20):2075-2077. doi:10.1001/jama.2015.4559. [Article]
[2] Asai T, Tsuchiya Y, Okano K, Piscoya A, Nishi CY, Ikoma T, Oyama T, Ikegami K, Yamamoto M. Aflatoxin contamination of red chili pepper from Bolivia and Peru, countries with high gallbladder cancer incidence rates. Asian Pac J Cancer Prev. 2012;13(10):5167-70.[PubMed]
Last Editorial Review: May 26, 2015
Copyright ? 2015 Sunvalley Communication. All rights reserved. Republication or redistribution of Sunvalley Communication content, including by framing or similar means, is expressly prohibited without the prior written consent of Sunvalley Communication. Sunvalley Communication shall not be liable for any errors or delays in the content, or for any actions taken in reliance thereon. Onco’Zine and Oncozine are registered trademarks and trademarks of Sunvalley Communication around the world.
