This Article Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Autrup, H. Articles by Wasunna, A. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Autrup, H. Articles by Wasunna, A.

Aflatoxin Exposure Measured by Urinary Excretion of Aflatoxin B₁-Guanine Adduct and Hepatitis B Virus Infection in Areas with Different Liver Cancer Incidence in Kenya¹

Laboratory of Environmental Carcinogenesis, The Fibiger Institute,⁴ Copenhagen, Denmark [H. A., T. S.] and Department of Surgery, University of Nairobi, School of Medicine, Nairobi, Kenya [J. W., A. W.]

Two major etiological agents, hepatitis B virus and aflatoxin B₁, are considered to be involved in the induction of liver cancer in Africa. In order to elucidate any synergistic effect of these two agents we conducted a study in various parts of Kenya with different liver cancer incidence in order to establish the rate of exposure to aflatoxin and the prevalence of hepatitis infections. Of all tested individuals 12.6% were positive for aflatoxin exposure as indicated by the urinary excretion of aflatoxin B₁-guanine. Assuming no annual and seasonal variation, a regional variation in the exposure was observed. The highest rate of aflatoxin exposure was found in the Western Highlands and Central Province. The incidence of hepatitis infection nationwide as measured by the presence of the surface antigens was 10.6%, but a wide regional variation was observed. A multiplicative and additive regression analysis to investigate if hepatitis and aflatoxin exposure had a synergetic effect in the induction of liver cancer was negative. However, a moderate degree of correlation between the exposure to aflatoxin and liver cancer was observed when the study was limited to certain ethnic groups. The study gives additional support to the hypothesis that aflatoxin is a human liver carcinogen.

¹ This work has been supported by awards from the Samuel Friedman and the Neye Foundations and the Danish Cancer Society (H.A.).

² To whom requests for reprints should be addressed, at The Fibiger Institute, 70 Ndr. Frihavnsgade, DK-2100 Copenhagen O, Denmark.

³ This study was submitted by J. K. in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Ph.D. degree from the University of Nairobi.

⁴ Supported by a core grant from the Danish Cancer Society.

Received 3/31/86. Revised 11/13/86. Revised 3/25/87. Accepted 4/ 2/87.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. D. Groopman and T. W. Kensler The light at the end of the tunnel for chemical-specific biomarkers: daylight or headlight? Carcinogenesis, January 1, 1999; 20(1): 1 - 11. [Full Text] [PDF]