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| : Adv Exp Med Biol 2002;504:229-33 |
Henry SH, Bosch FX, Bowers JC.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Washington, DC 20204, USA.
Aflatoxins are among the most potent mutagenic and carcinogenic substances
known. Differential potency of aflatoxin among species can be partially
attributed to differences in metabolism; however, current information on
competing aspects of metabolic activation and detoxification of aflatoxin in
various species does not identify an adequate animal model for humans. Risk of
liver cancer is influenced by a number of factors, most notably carriage of
hepatitis B virus as determined by the presence in serum of the hepatitis B
surface antigen (HBsAg+ or HBsAg-). About 50 to 100% of liver cancer cases are
estimated to be associated with persistent infection of hepatitis B (or C)
virus. The potency of aflatoxin in HBsAg+ individuals is substantially higher
(about a factor of 30) than the potency in HBsAg- individuals. Thus, reduction
of the intake of aflatoxins in populations with a high prevalence of HBsAg+
individuals will have greater impact on reducing liver cancer rates than
reductions in populations with a low prevalence of HbsAg+ individuals. The
present analysis suggests that vaccination against hepatitis B (or protection
against hepatits C), which reduces prevalence of carriers, would reduce the
potency of the aflatoxins in vaccinated populations and reduce liver cancer
risk.
Publication Types:
PMID: 11922091