Kate Hoffman1, Amelia Lorenzo1, Craig M Butt1, Stephanie C Hammel1, Brittany Bohinc Henderson2, Sanziana A Roman3, Randall P Scheri3, Heather M Stapleton1, Julie Ann Sosa4. 1. Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, NC 27708, United States. 2. Division of Endocrinology, Diabetes, and Metabolism, Department of Internal Medicine, Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center and Wake Forest Comprehensive Cancer Center, Winston-Salem, NC 27157, United States. 3. Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, United States. 4. Department of Medicine, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, United States; Department of Surgery, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, United States; Duke Cancer Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, United States; Duke Clinical Research Institute, Duke University Medical Center, Durham, NC 27710, United States. Electronic address: julie.sosa@duke.edu.
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Thyroid cancer is the fastest increasing cancer in the U.S., and papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) accounts for >80% of incident cases. Increasing exposure to flame retardant chemicals (FRs) has raised concerns about their possible role in this 'epidemic'. The current study was designed to test the hypothesis that higher exposure to FRs is associated with increased odds of PTC. METHODS: PTC patients at the Duke Cancer Institute were approached and invited to participate. Age- and gender-matched controls were recruited from the Duke Health System and surrounding communities. Because suitable biomarkers of long-term exposure do not exist for many common FRs, and levels of FRs in dust are significantly correlated with exposure, relationships between FRs in household dust and PTC were evaluated in addition to available biomarkers. PTC status, measures of aggressiveness (e.g. tumor size) and BRAF V600E mutation were included as outcomes. RESULTS: Higher levels of some FRs, particularly decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) and tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate in dust, were associated with increased odds of PTC. Participants with dust BDE-209 concentrations above the median level were 2.29 times as likely to have PTC [95% confidence interval: 1.03, 5.08] compared to those with low BDE-209 concentrations. Associations varied based on tumor aggressiveness and mutation status; TCEP was more strongly associated with larger, more aggressive tumors and BDE-209 was associated with smaller, less aggressive tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these results suggest exposure to FRs in the home, particularly BDE-209 and TCEP, may be associated with PTC occurrence and severity, and warrant further study.
BACKGROUND: Thyroid cancer is the fastest increasing cancer in the U.S., and papillary thyroid cancer (PTC) accounts for >80% of incident cases. Increasing exposure to flame retardant chemicals (FRs) has raised concerns about their possible role in this 'epidemic'. The current study was designed to test the hypothesis that higher exposure to FRs is associated with increased odds of PTC. METHODS: PTC patients at the Duke Cancer Institute were approached and invited to participate. Age- and gender-matched controls were recruited from the Duke Health System and surrounding communities. Because suitable biomarkers of long-term exposure do not exist for many common FRs, and levels of FRs in dust are significantly correlated with exposure, relationships between FRs in household dust and PTC were evaluated in addition to available biomarkers. PTC status, measures of aggressiveness (e.g. tumor size) and BRAFV600E mutation were included as outcomes. RESULTS: Higher levels of some FRs, particularly decabromodiphenyl ether (BDE-209) and tris(2-chloroethyl) phosphate in dust, were associated with increased odds of PTC. Participants with dust BDE-209 concentrations above the median level were 2.29 times as likely to have PTC [95% confidence interval: 1.03, 5.08] compared to those with low BDE-209 concentrations. Associations varied based on tumor aggressiveness and mutation status; TCEP was more strongly associated with larger, more aggressive tumors and BDE-209 was associated with smaller, less aggressive tumors. CONCLUSIONS: Taken together, these results suggest exposure to FRs in the home, particularly BDE-209 and TCEP, may be associated with PTC occurrence and severity, and warrant further study.
Authors: Christopher D Kassotis; Erin M Kollitz; Kate Hoffman; Julie Ann Sosa; Heather M Stapleton Journal: Sci Total Environ Date: 2019-02-18 Impact factor: 7.963
Authors: Erin M Kollitz; Christopher D Kassotis; Kate Hoffman; P Lee Ferguson; Julie Ann Sosa; Heather M Stapleton Journal: Environ Sci Technol Date: 2018-09-25 Impact factor: 9.028
Authors: Roberto Vita; Flavia Di Bari; Giovanni Capodicasa; Sarah Perelli; Anna Maria Bonanno; Antonio Ieni; Mariacarla Moleti; Francesco Vermiglio; Giovanni Tuccari; Salvatore Benvenga Journal: Endocrine Date: 2020-10-15 Impact factor: 3.633
Authors: Stephanie C Hammel; Kate Hoffman; Amelia M Lorenzo; Albert Chen; Allison L Phillips; Craig M Butt; Julie Ann Sosa; Thomas F Webster; Heather M Stapleton Journal: Environ Int Date: 2017-07-24 Impact factor: 9.621
Authors: Christopher D Kassotis; Nicholas J Herkert; Stephanie C Hammel; Kate Hoffman; Qianyi Xia; Seth W Kullman; Julie Ann Sosa; Heather M Stapleton Journal: Environ Sci Technol Date: 2020-11-13 Impact factor: 9.028
Authors: Huang Huang; Andreas Sjodin; Yingtai Chen; Xin Ni; Shuangge Ma; Herbert Yu; Mary H Ward; Robert Udelsman; Jennifer Rusiecki; Yawei Zhang Journal: Am J Epidemiol Date: 2020-02-28 Impact factor: 4.897