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Molecular epidemiology studies on aflatoxin B1-related hepatocellular carcinoma

LONG Xi-dai1,2, YAO Jin-guang2, HUANG Xiao-ying2, HUANG Bing-chen2, WANG Chao2, WU Xue-ming2, LUO Chun-ying2, MA Yun3, XIA Qiang1   

  1. 1.Department of Liver Surgery, Renji Hospital, Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, Shanghai 200127, China; 2.Department of Pathology, Youjiang Medical College for Nationalities, Baise 533000, China; 3.Department of Pathology, Guangxi Medical University, Nanning 533000, China
  • Online:2013-09-28 Published:2013-09-29
  • Supported by:

    National Natural Science Foundation of China, 8116025; Shanghai Education Committee Foundation, 13YZ035; National Natural Science Foundation of Guangxi, 0832097,2013GXNSFAA019251; Medical Innovation Project Foundation of Youjiang, 2005,2008

Abstract:

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is an important chemical carcinogenic toxin, whose exposure is the main cause of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in some southeast coastal zones in China. Thus, the majority of studies have been focused on seeking the evaluation methods of AFB1 exposure and screening susceptible population to AFB1-related HCC. We have investigated the following hot-spot issues: AFB1-exposure elucidation, susceptible population screen, and HCC risk and prognosis evaluation, using molecular epidemiology methods. Our data have shown that the AFB1-DNA level of peripheral blood leukocytes is an effective marker of AFB1exposure analysis, and the mutations at coding sequences of DNA repair genes increase HCC risk and modulate HCC prognosis. Through aforementioned projects, the corresponding results have been reported in the top-grade journals involved in liver and epidemiological fields, such as Hepatology and Epidemiology. Moreover, we have won the second prize of Provincial Natural and Science Award.

Key words: hepatocellular carcinoma, aflatoxin B1, molecular epidemiology