Evaluation of the Role of Aflatoxin as an Environmental Risk Factor Attributable to Liver Cancer in Nile Delta

Detailed Summary

Hepatocellular carcinoma is multifactorial in etiology and complex in pathogenesis, the blend of risk factors differs in different parts of the world, and this may explain in part the diverse biologic characteristics of HCC in different populations . Exposure to aflatoxin is an additional risk factor for the development of HCC, through damage of DNA in liver cells and mutation in p53 tumor suppressor gene . A previous study showed that aflatoxin B1 has a considerable role in the development of HCC among Egyptians . Clinical studies have shown that AFB1 selectively targets at the third base position of codon 249 of the human p53 gene, a known mutational hotspot in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) . A significant association between aflatoxin exposure and HCC has been reported in hyperendemic areas . A synergistic interaction between AFB1 exposure and viral hepatitis B (HBV) infection on HCC risk has been reported in several epidemiologic studies. Aflatoxin exposure may be associated with advanced liver disease in chronic hepatitis C (HCV) patients. Levels of AFB1-albumin/albumin were significantly related to ultrasono-graphic hepatic parenchyma scores in anti-HCV-positive subjects .

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