Elevated Serum and Hair Levels of Cadmium as a Risk Factor for Liver Carcinoma: A Meta-Analysis

Abstract

Background

Cadmium (Cd) exposure might confer cancer risk. Published studies on the association between Cd levels and liver cancer risk have generated conflicting results. We aimed to conduct a meta-analysis to address the controversy.

Methods

Relevant literature was searched from the popular bio-databases up to Nov 2022. Essential information was extracted and data were pooled to assess the association between Cd levels and liver cancer risk. Subgroup analysis on sample types and geographical locations was conducted. Then, sensitivity analysis and bias diagnosis were performed to test the credibility of the results.

Results

Eleven publications comprising 14 independent studies were selected for analysis and the overall pooled data showed that Cd levels were markedly higher in liver cancer patients than those in healthy controls (SMD = 2.00; 95% CI = 1.20–2.81; P < 0.05). To get a prices estimation, the subgroup analyses showed that Cd levels in serum (SMD = 2.55; 95% CI = 1.65–3.45; P < 0.05) and hair (SMD = 2.08; 95% CI = 0.34–3.81; P < 0.05) were significantly higher in liver cancer patients than those in the healthy controls, respectively.

Conclusions

In summary, the data showed that Cd levels were markedly higher in liver cancer patients than those in healthy controls, indicating that Cd accumulation might play important role in the neoplastic transformation of liver cells.

Acknowledgments

We thank Yidai Liu from Hong Kong University of Science and Technology for his help in the revision process of the manuscript.

Author Contributions

All authors contributed to the study conception and design. Data collection and analysis: LZ, YW, TL, and AC. The first draft of the manuscript was written by LZ, WZ, and YZ. The manuscript was revised by LZ and YZ. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Disclosure Statement

The authors report no conflict of interest.

Data Availability

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author upon reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

None to report.