Matthew Kurian, Physician at St. Elizabeth Healthcare, shared on LinkedIn:
“A new study published in the Journal of Clinical Oncology and highlighted by The ASCO Post examined PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances) exposure and breast cancer risk in the prospective Sister Study.
The analysis included 1,609 breast cancer cases, with 17 PFAS compounds measured in blood samples collected before diagnosis.
Key findings
- PFOA and PFOS: Two common forever chemicals associated with 67% and 93% higher relative hazards of ER-negative breast cancer, respectively, comparing highest vs lowest exposure quartiles.
- ER-positive disease: No corresponding associations with PFOA or PFOS.
- Meta-analysis: Confirmed the PFOA signal (RR 1.30), while PFOS showed a positive but statistically inconclusive association (RR 1.20).
- Overall breast cancer risk: No clear association with PFOA or PFOS.
Why is this interesting?
The subtype-specific findings raise questions about whether certain environmental exposures contribute to ER-negative breast cancer through nonhormonal pathways, including epigenetic changes or immune dysregulation.
However, prior studies remain inconsistent, and these observational findings do not establish causality.
An intriguing signal for breast cancer prevention research, particularly as newer PFAS compounds replace older formulations.”
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