Blood aflatoxin levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma in Singapore.
Aflatoxin (AF), a highly potent hepatocarcinogen, is strongly implicated in the pathogenesis of human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). In this study, our aim was to determine if this carcinogen is associated with cases of HCC in Singapore. Blood levels of the naturally-occurring AFs--B1, B2, G1 and G2--were assayed in 56 cases of HCC. AF was detected in only 2/56 (3.6%) cases of HCC, one each of AF-B1 and AF-G1. In contrast, in a similar survey done in Singapore on normal subjects, AF was positive in 64/423 (15.1%) cases. The low frequency of AF detection in our patients suggests that HCC in Singapore is not associated with significant chronic exposure to AF.
Tan
C K
CK
Department of Gastroenterology, Singapore General Hospital, Singapore.
Lo
D S
DS
Law
N M
NM
Ng
H S
HS
Chao
T C
TC
D000328:Adult; D000348:Aflatoxins / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D000368:Aged; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D006528:Carcinoma, Hepatocellular / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008113:Liver Neoplasms / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D012846:Singapore
D000348:Aflatoxins; D002273:Carcinogens