Document resource
Objective Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), also known as ‘forever chemicals’, have been widely used since the 1940s in industrial and consumer products such as non-stick cookware, waterproof coatings, fire suppression foams, and even cosmetics. PFAS are recognized as persistent and bioaccumulating, and are also possibly carcinogenic based on limited evidence for kidney and testicular cancer. Our aim is to assess the association between PFAS exposure and kidney and testicular cancer in a prospective cohort with historical serum samples.Material and Methods We are performing a nested case-control study of 1000 kidney cancer cases and 1000 matched controls, and 69 testicular cancer cases and 111 controls within the Janus Serum Bank (JSB) cohort. Cases and controls were matched by sex, birth-year, and residential county at blood draw. JSB enrollment questionnaires have been requested for the study population, including information on anthropometric and lifestyle factors. Levels of >24 PFAS in pre-diagnostic serum samples are being assessed using high-performance LC-MS/MS (limit of quantification: 0.015–0.2 ng/ml serum).Statistical analysis Logistic regression will be used to calculate adjusted odds ratios (95% CI) of the association between PFAS exposure and cancer risk. Serum samples from cases and controls are currently undergoing analysis for PFAS levels. Sources for high exposure, such as residential area or occupation, and the association between PFAS levels and kidney and testicular cancer risk, are being examined.