Fumonisin B ₁ and risk of hepatocellular carcinoma in two Chinese cohorts

Fumonisin B ₁ (FB ₁), a mycotoxin that contaminates corn in certain climates, has been demonstrated to cause hepatocellular cancer (HCC) in animal models. Whether a relationship between FB ₁ and HCC exists in humans is not known. To examine the hypothesis, we conducted case-control studies nested within two large cohorts in China; the Haimen City Cohort and the General Population Study of the Nutritional Intervention Trials cohort in Linxian. In the Haimen City Cohort, nail FB ₁ levels were determined in 271 HCC cases and 280 controls. In the General Population Nutritional Intervention Trial, nail FB ₁ levels were determined in 72 HCC cases and 147 controls. In each population, odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals (95%CI) from logistic regression models estimated the association between measurable FB ₁ and HCC, adjusting for hepatitis B virus infection and other factors. A meta-analysis that included both populations was also conducted. The analysis revealed no statistically significant association between FB ₁ and HCC in either Haimen City (OR=1.10, 95%CI=0.64-1.89) or in Linxian (OR=1.47, 95%CI=0.70-3.07). Similarly, the pooled meta-analysis showed no statistically significant association between FB ₁ exposure and HCC (OR=1.22, 95%CI=0.79-1.89). These findings, although somewhat preliminary, do not support an associated between FB ₁ and HCC.