Exposure of Bisphenols (BPs) to hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and non-HCC patients: Association with liver function biomarkers

Abstract

Bisphenols (BPs), prevalent endocrine disruptors in daily life, have been widely studied in vitro for their potential to cause liver diseases, including liver cancer. However, there is a dearth of research exploring BP levels in clinical populations with liver issues. This study comprehensively analyzed the distribution and characteristics of ten BPs in paired serum, blood, and urine samples from 197 hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) patients and 100 non-HCC patients. The study investigated the impact of sociodemographic factors, such as gender, BMI (Body Mass Index), age, drinking, and smoking habits, on BP distribution. Additionally, it analyzed the relationship between BPs and three liver function biomarkers: γ-glutamyl transferase (GGT), alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP). Notably, some BP levels were higher in non-HCC patients compared to HCC patients across all three sample types. For HCC patients, the BP concentrations followed the order of serum (29.12 ng/mL) > blood (18.36 ng/mL) > urine (14.91 ng/mL), whereas for non-HCC patients, the order was urine (30.79 ng/mL) > serum (29.51 ng/mL) > blood (24.34 ng/mL). Moreover, BP levels in all patient samples, regardless of HCC status, increased with age. Among HCC patients, females were found to have a higher exposure to BPs compared to males, while the opposite trend was observed in non-HCC patients. Furthermore, the study revealed positive correlations between BPs and liver function indicators, such as ALT and BPAF, BPAP, BPBP; GGT and BPF; and AFP and BPF. These findings suggest a potential association between BPs and liver disease. This comprehensive analysis of BP concentrations in bio-samples from liver disease patients provides valuable insights into the relationship between BPs and liver disease in clinical settings, serving as a reference for future research and clinical practice.