A new grant from the American Cancer Society will allow Fred Hutch epidemiologist Dr. Trang VoPham to investigate the connection between solar jet lag and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the most common form of liver cancer. Solar jet lag refers to when an individual's circadian rhythm is out of sync with the natural light cycle, which often occurs for night workers and those living in western time zones.
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VoPham's five-year study aims to explore whether solar jet lag may contribute to the occurrence of HCC, which is a leading cause of death globally. Currently identified risk factors for HCC include cirrhosis, chronic hepatitis B and C infections, heavy alcohol consumption, obesity, diabetes, and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD).
The research will utilize electronic health records from the Veterans Health Administration paired with a high-resolution geospatial model to quantify the link between solar jet lag exposure and HCC risk. VoPham emphasizes that solar jet lag is a modifiable risk factor, allowing individuals to adopt behaviors that mitigate its effects. The research team will propose various interventions ranging from behavioral changes, such as using eye masks for sleep, to public health policy recommendations.
VoPham, who leads the Geospatial Exposome Lab at Fred Hutch, focuses on how environmental and lifestyle exposures influence cancer development. She suggests that circadian disruption, like that induced by solar jet lag, negatively impacts health by disrupting biological processes regulated by circadian rhythms, including those in the liver.
This study builds on previous findings that suggest solar jet lag may be associated with increased risks for HCC, though prior work employed less precise methods for measuring this exposure. The new high-resolution model aims to enhance the understanding of how geographical light exposure relates to liver cancer risk.
VoPham's research, which is set to run until 2030, seeks to clarify the ways in which solar jet lag may influence health outcomes, potentially leading to actionable strategies for individuals and policy adjustments at the community level to help align biological clocks with environmental light exposure.