Association of Aflatoxin with Gallbladder Cancer in Chile

Abstract

In Chile, gallbladder cancer is a leading cause of cancer death in women. Other than gallstones, gallbladder cancer etiology remains largely unclear. Exposure to aflatoxin, a liver carcinogen, is associated with bile duct epithelium proliferation in both animals and humans, and with gallbladder cancer in primates. Aflatoxin contamination has been identified in Chile, including in ají rojo (red chili peppers). Ají rojo is associated with gallbladder cancer; however, the association of aflatoxin with gallbladder cancer in humans has not been directly evaluated.