Mutational Signatures Tied to Haloalkane Exposure Are Enriched in Firefighters
MONDAY, March 10, 2025 -- In a study published online March 10 in Cancer, authors identified gliomas with mutational signatures associated with haloalkane exposure in individuals with certain occupations, including firefighters.
Vincent L. Cannataro, Ph.D., from Emmanuel College in Boston, and colleagues compared tumor mutational signatures for 17 persons with glioma and a documented occupational history of firefighting and 18 persons with glioma without an occupational history of firefighting. The authors examined whole-exome sequencing data from matched germline and glioma tumor samples.
The researchers found that among firefighters, there was a positive correlation between the median number of sample variants attributable to single-base substitution signature 42, which is associated with haloalkane exposure, and firefighting years (R2 = 0.29). Occupations other than firefighting with possible exposure to haloalkanes, such as painting and being a mechanic, were held by individuals with the highest number of median variants attributable to single‐base substitution signature 42.
"Identifying occupational correlates with single-base substitution signature 42, associated with occupational exposure to haloalkanes, will pinpoint occupational hazards that may be avoidable," the authors write. "This is especially important for cancers in which exogenous mutagenesis is not well established."
Several authors disclosed ties to the biotechnology and pharmaceutical industries.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
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