A Nested Case-Control Study of Serum Levels of Polyfluoroalkyl Chemicals (PFCs) and Kidney Cancer Among Participants in the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal, and Ovarian Cancer Screening Trial
Abstract
The primary objective of this study is to investigate whether elevated blood levels of per- and polyfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) are associated with an increased risk of kidney cancer. PFCs are man-made chemicals that were used for several decades to make non-stick cookware coating, firefighting foams, and other products. PFCs are now widely detectable in the blood of Americans due to consumption of contaminated food and water. Perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), one of the most produced and studied PFCs, has been classified as a possible cancer-causing agent by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, with suggestive evidence from epidemiologic studies of an increased risk of kidney cancer. The cancer-causing potential of other PFCs has not yet been evaluated. To clarify whether exposure to PFOA and other PFCs is associated with kidney cancer risk, we will conduct a nested case-control study within the Prostate, Lung, Colorectal and Ovarian Cancer (PLCO) Screening Trial, a trial of 155,000 participants who were enrolled between November 1993 and July 2001. We will measure levels of 12 PFCs in serum samples from 374 cases who developed kidney cancer after sample collection and 374 controls who did not develop kidney cancer. Our study will be the largest investigation of PFOA exposure and kidney cancer to date, the first study of its kind to directly measure serum levels of PFOA, and the first to extend investigations beyond PFOA to include other PFCs. Our results will provide new evidence critical to determining if these chemicals contribute to the development of kidney cancer.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Oct 29, 2018
- Source ID
- W81XWH1810507
Entities
People
- Catherine Callahan
Organizations
- National Cancer Institute
- United States Army