Local Health Alert: Yale Study Links Common Chemicals to Cancer Spread

A recent study by the Yale School of Public Health found that two industrial chemicals could potentially stimulate cancer cells to move to new locations in a lab environment. This indicates that these chemicals might contribute to cancer spread in living organisms. The study examined per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), which are common, environmentally stable, and potentially toxic. These substances, found in the environment and human body, have been associated with various health issues, including cancers.

Jie Zheng, the study's co-first author, emphasized the widespread presence of PFAS. They are found in drinking water, dust, cleaning products, and coatings. They are also present in the blood of newborns, people in sub-Arctic Indigenous communities, fish, mussels, and bird eggs. Any level of PFAS in the body is considered unsafe.

In November, the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) classified a common PFAS, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), as carcinogenic to humans. Another common PFAS, perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS), was classified as possibly carcinogenic. However, no previous studies have explored the link between PFAS and colorectal carcinoma (CRC). Firefighters, who are often exposed to PFAS, have higher rates of this cancer than the general population. It is believed that about 80% of CRC cases are related to some form of environmental exposure.

The researchers used a tool called metabolomics to study CRC. They observed how CRC cells reacted to being in a PFAS solution for up to 7 days. They noted increased cell movement and metabolic changes consistent with cancer spread. These findings align with current understanding of CRC metabolism, spread, and prognosis, suggesting that the chemicals can induce metastasis.

The study also examined the metabolic profile of CRC cells after exposure to PFOS and PFOA, both used in firefighting foam and other products. The researchers used two types of CRC cells from a line called SW48. One type had an unmutated KRAS gene; the other had a common mutation associated with a particularly lethal type of colon tumor in women. The researchers found that exposure to the chemicals increased the cells' ability to move, indicating a potential to spread and penetrate membranes. This study contributes to the growing evidence of the potential health risks of PFAS exposure.

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