ER-Negative Breast Cancer Risk Linked with Blood Levels of Two PFAS Forever Chemicals
The results of a study found that women with higher blood levels of two common PFAS were more likely to develop estrogen receptor-negative breast cancer, saying their results have important public health implications. The post ER-Negative Breast Cancer Risk Linked with Blood Levels of Two PFAS Forever Chemicals appeared first on GEN - Genetic Engineering and Biotechnology News .
A recent study conducted by National Institutes of Health researchers has discovered a potential link between elevated blood levels of two common PFAS chemicals and an increased risk of estrogen receptor-negative (ER-negative) breast cancer in women. PFAS, also known as "forever chemicals," are a group of substances that persist in the environment and the human body due to their resistance to breakdown.
The study, published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology, found that women with higher levels of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) were more likely to develop ER-negative breast cancer, a more aggressive tumor type with limited known risk factors. However, the study did not find a clear association between the two chemicals and overall breast cancer risk.
Alexandra White, a National Institutes of Health senior scientist and lead researcher, emphasized the significance of the findings for public health, stating that given the widespread exposure to PFAS and limited established risk factors for ER-negative tumors, these results have important implications. Breast cancer is the most common cancer among women, with rising incidence rates in the U.S. and worldwide.
Established risk factors for breast cancer, such as reproductive history, hormone use, and lifestyle, have been more strongly linked with hormone receptor-positive tumors compared to hormone receptor-negative tumors. This gap in understanding the risk factors for ER-negative breast cancer has led researchers to explore potential non-hormonal pathways that PFAS exposure may influence, such as gene activity or immune system changes.
The Sister Study, a large-scale research project led by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, provided the data for this study, involving 50,884 women from 2003 to 2009. The researchers measured 17 PFAS in blood samples collected from 1,609 women who developed breast cancer and a comparison group of 2,269 women.
The findings revealed that women in the highest PFOA exposure group had a 67% higher risk of ER-negative breast cancer compared to those in the lowest exposure group, while the PFOS exposure group showed a 93% higher risk, nearly double the rate. Although PFOA and PFOS have largely been phased out and replaced with newer PFAS compounds, most individuals still have measurable levels of these chemicals in their bodies.
Che-Jung Chang, the study's first author and a former NIH research fellow, highlighted that while exposure to PFAS is difficult to modify, these findings could pave the way for new prevention strategies. HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., commented on the study's implications, calling for further investigation into the environmental health risks posed by PFAS and the need for clear answers about their potential impact on women's health.
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