Unraveling the PFOS-NSCLC axis: integrated network toxicology, machine learning, and causal inference identify EIF4EBP1 as a key molecular hub

This study identifies EIF4EBP1 as a putative molecular initiating node linking PFOS exposure to LUAD susceptibility and immune modulation. The constructed AOP framework suggests a mechanism wherein PFOS-mediated translational dysregulation contributes to subtype-specific carcinogenesis. These findings provide a data-driven rationale for risk assessment and warrant further experimental verification in toxicological models.