AFFF Chemicals May Accelerate Spread of Cancer, Reduce Drug Effectiveness: Study

Research comes as thousands of AFFF lawsuits allege PFAS chemicals in firefighting foam have led to numerous cases of cancer, other adverse health effects for firefighters and others.

New findings suggest that per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) found in firefighting foam may be driving cancer development and interfering with the effectiveness of medications used during treatment.

The study was published in the Journal of Environmental Sciences on June 6, examining the effects of PFAS interaction with certain chemotherapy drugs used in the treatment of prostate cancer.

PFAS are a class of more than 9,000 synthetic chemicals that have been widely used for decades in aqueous film-forming foam (AFFF), which is commonly deployed to extinguish fuel-based fires. However, prior research has linked PFAS exposure to serious health problems, including various cancers, liver and thyroid disorders, fertility issues, high cholesterol, obesity, hormonal disruption and other long-term effects.

While much of the recent concern has centered on PFAS contamination of local water supplies, particularly near military bases, airports and training facilities where AFFF runoff has seeped into groundwater after repeated firefighting exercises, first responders themselves are also routinely exposed to these toxic chemicals during emergency calls and training drills.

As a result, more than 10,000 AFFF lawsuits have been filed against chemical manufacturers like 3M Company, Chemguard and others, accusing them of failing to warn firefighters about the health risks and alleging that PFAS exposure led to development of certain cancers and other side effects.

In a new study, researchers from the Medical University of Gdańsk in Poland investigated how both short- and long-term exposure to PFAS chemicals may affect the effectiveness of chemotherapy drugs used to treat prostate cancer, specifically cabazitaxel and docetaxel. These two drugs are commonly prescribed for metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC).

Led by Dr. Grażyna Gałęzowska, the team studied two human prostate cancer cell lines (DU-145 and PC3) and one normal prostate cell line (PNT1A) to assess the toxicological impact of specific PFAS compounds on cancer progression and treatment response.

Their findings revealed that two widely known PFAS chemicals, perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctane sulfonate (PFOS), promoted the growth of cancer cells, even at low levels of exposure, suggesting they may interfere with the effectiveness of chemotherapy and contribute to disease progression.

Additionally, the researchers found that PFOS increased the cytotoxic effects of docetaxel in PC3 prostate cancer cells, while paradoxically reducing the drug’s effectiveness in DU-145 cells. Similarly, PFOA altered the response to cabazitaxel in both cancer cell lines.

These findings suggest that the interaction between PFAS and chemotherapy drugs may vary depending on the type of cancer cell, the specific drug used, and the concentration of PFAS involved.

Notably, the normal prostate cell line (PNT1A) exhibited toxic responses at even lower PFAS concentrations than the cancerous cells, with PFOS showing particularly strong effects—raising additional concerns about the broader health impacts of low-level PFAS exposure.

“These findings raise important concerns about the environmental and occupational exposure to PFAS,” the research team concluded.

AFFF Lawsuits

The growing AFFF litigation encompasses two major groups of plaintiffs, all tied to the health risks associated with toxic PFAS chemicals used in firefighting foam. One group includes firefighters, military personnel and airport workers who were directly exposed to AFFF during training exercises and emergency responses. 

The other group involves individuals and communities whose drinking water was contaminated after AFFF runoff from military bases, airports and industrial sites seeped into local groundwater supplies.

Together, these claims form the basis of more than 10,000 lawsuits currently pending in a federal multidistrict litigation (MDL), centralized before Judge Richard M. Gergel in the U.S. District Court for the District of South Carolina. Plaintiffs allege that chemical manufacturers like 3M Company, Chemguard and others failed to warn the public about the long-term health risks posed by PFAS exposure. 

The lawsuits point to mounting evidence that these “forever chemicals” may cause testicular cancer, kidney cancer, liver cancer, thyroid disease, ulcerative colitis and other serious conditions—even at low levels of exposure.

As part of coordinated pretrial proceedings, a group of bellwether trials is being prepared to evaluate how juries may respond to the evidence. The first trial is scheduled to begin in October 2025, and will focus on claims involving individuals who developed cancer after drinking PFAS-contaminated water near military bases and firefighting training facilities.

While the outcomes of these early trials won’t be binding on other cases, they are expected to influence future settlement negotiations and provide insight into potential AFFF lawsuit payout values.