Genomic Profiling Reveals an Alternate Mechanism for Hepatic Tumor Promotion by Perfluorooctanoic Acid in Rainbow Trout
2008

How PFOA Causes Liver Tumors in Rainbow Trout

Sample size: 140 publication 10 minutes Evidence: high

Author Information

Author(s): Susan C. Tilton, Gayle A. Orner, Abby D. Benninghoff, Hillary M. Carpenter, Jerry D. Hendricks, Cliff B. Pereira, David E. Williams

Primary Institution: Oregon State University

Hypothesis

Can perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) promote liver tumors in rainbow trout without causing peroxisome proliferation?

Conclusion

PFOA enhances liver tumor development in rainbow trout through estrogenic signaling rather than peroxisome proliferation.

Supporting Evidence

  • PFOA and DHEA treatments resulted in increased liver tumor incidence and multiplicity.
  • Carcinogenesis was independent of peroxisome proliferation.
  • PFOA induced estrogenic gene signatures in trout liver.
  • CLOF showed no effect on tumor incidence.
  • Histologic examination confirmed mixed carcinoma as the predominant tumor type.

Takeaway

This study found that a chemical called PFOA can make fish get liver tumors, but it does this in a different way than expected, not by making their cells grow bigger.

Methodology

Rainbow trout were fed diets containing PFOA for 30 weeks, and liver tumors were analyzed along with gene expression profiles.

Limitations

The study was conducted in a specific fish model, which may not fully represent human responses to PFOA.

Participant Demographics

Rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) were used as the model organism.

Statistical Information

P-Value

p<0.0001

Statistical Significance

p<0.0001

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1289/ehp.11190

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