Endocrine-disrupting effects of bisphenols on urological cancers

Recoverable and recyclable porous polymer for extraction of trace endocrine disrupting compounds from seafood products prior to LC /MS analysis

Endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs) in food pose severe threats to human wellness, so it is extremely urgent to develop effective method with high sensitivity for detecting EDCs in seafoods. Herein, novel urea-functionalized magnetic porous polymer (M-NB-POP) was synthesized from N,N,N',N'-tetra(p-aminophenyl)-p-phenylenediamine and 1,3-bis(2-isocyanato-2-propyl)benzene under mild conditions for the first time. M-NB-POP with good recoverability and recyclability shows excellent adsorption for several typical EDCs through hydrogen bonding, π-π and hydrophobic interaction. Using M-NB-POP as magnetic solid-phase extraction adsorbent, an attractive method for effective enrichment of trace EDCs in red shrimp, river prawn and crayfish was successfully developed prior to LC-MS analysis. The proposed method gave a low detection limit of 1.50-7.80 ng g-1, high spiked recoveries of 86.3-111 %, and small relative standard deviation of 1.6-6.0 %. This work provides a new protocol for assessment of trace EDCs in seafoods and concurrently presents a new strategy for developing functional materials to enrich organic pollutants.

Impact of Endocrine Disruptors on the Genitourinary Tract

Over the last decades, the human species has seen an increase in the incidence of pathologies linked to the genitourinary tract. Observations in animals have allowed us to link these increases, at least in part, to changes in the environment and, in particular, to an increasing presence of endocrine disruptors. These can be physical agents, such as light or heat; natural products, such as phytoestrogens; or chemicals produced by humans. Endocrine disruptors may interfere with the signaling pathways mediated by the endocrine system, particularly those linked to sex hormones. These factors and their general effects are presented before focusing on the male and female genitourinary tracts by describing their anatomy, development, and pathologies, including bladder and prostate cancer.

Benzotriazoles and bisphenols in wastewater from the food processing industry and the quantitative changes during mechanical/biochemical treatment processes

Benzotriazoles (BTRs) and bisphenols (BPs), categorized as contaminants of emerging concern (CECs), pose significant risks to human health and ecosystems due to their endocrine-disrupting properties and environmental persistence. This study investigates the occurrence and behavior of nine BTRs and ten BPs in wastewater generated in a large-scale meat processing plant, evaluating the effectiveness of a modern mechanical-biological industrial on-site treatment plant in removing these contaminants, and based on the concentration levels from eleven sampling points at different stages of the treatment process. The method used to determine these micropollutants' concentration was ultrasound-assisted emulsification-microextraction for analytes isolation and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for detection (USAEME-GC/MS). The results indicate that the rigorous quality control processes in the meat processing facility effectively limit the presence of these micropollutants, especially concerning BPs, which are absent or below detection limits in raw wastewater. While the concentrations of some of these micropollutants increased at different points in the treatment process, these values were relatively low, typically below one microgram per liter. Among the compounds analyzed, the only one present after completing the treatment was 5Cl-BTR (maximum concentration: 3007 ng/L), and these contamination levels are around seven times lower than the reference value associated with non-cancer health risk for drinking water. This study contributes to understanding these CECs in industrial wastewater and highlights the importance of effective treatment systems for environmental protection.

Monitoring studies on contamination of urban runoff with hazardous benzotriazoles and bisphenols in one of the least polluted places worldwide

Benzotriazoles (BTR) and bisphenols (BP) are artificial contaminants of emerging concern (CECs) commonly found in everyday products. This study focuses on urban runoff to investigate the occurrence of BTRs and BPs in Iceland, regarded as one of the least polluted places in the world, which made it reasonable to confirm or deny the presence of these micropollutants in its environment. Samples collected in February 2023 (SC1) and August 2024 (SC2) from seven locations along Iceland's Ring Road were evaluated to determine the occurrence of seven BTRs (1H-BTR, 4Me-BTR, 5Me-BTR, 5Cl-BTR, UV-P, UV-326, UV-329) and six BPs (BPF, BPE, BPA, BPZ, BPAP, BPM) in the runoff, using the ultrasound-assisted emulsification-microextraction for analytes isolation and gas chromatography-mass spectrometry for detection (USAEME-GC/MS). All locations showed detectable and varying levels of BTRs and BPs, with 5Cl-BTR (11.6 μg/L) and BPF (56.3 μg/L), both in SC1, demonstrating the highest concentrations, providing valuable insights into their prevalence and distribution. A correlational analysis investigated the connection between these pollutants and various characteristics associated with the locations along the Ring Road. This study contributes to the essential comprehension of these CECs, serving as input for future strategies for monitoring and mitigating their impact.

Hazard identification of endocrine-disrupting carcinogens (EDCs) in relation to cancers in humans

Endocrine disrupting chemicals or carcinogens have been known for decades for their endocrine signal disruption. Endocrine disrupting chemicals are a serious concern and they have been included in the top priority toxicants and persistent organic pollutants. Therefore, researchers have been working for a long time to understand their mechanisms of interaction in different human organs. Several reports are available about the carcinogen potential of these chemicals. The presented review is an endeavor to understand the hazard identification associated with endocrine disrupting carcinogens in relation to the human body. The paper discusses the major endocrine disrupting carcinogens and their potency for carcinogenesis. It discusses human exposure, route of entry, carcinogenicity and mechanisms. In addition, the paper discusses the research gaps and bottlenecks associated with the research. Moreover, it discusses the limitations associated with the analytical techniques for detection of endocrine disrupting carcinogens.

Occurrence of bisphenol analogues and their conjugated metabolites in foodstuff

Bisphenol analogues (BPs) are prevalent in diverse foodstuff samples worldwide. However, the occurrence of conjugated bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS) metabolites in foodstuff remains poorly understood. This study analyzed eight BPs, and four conjugated BPA and BPS metabolites, in three animal-derived foodstuff and five plant-derived foodstuff samples from China. Results showed that fish foodstuff (9.7 ng/g ww) contained the highest mean concentration of BPA, followed by rice (5.1 ng/g ww) and beans foodstuff (3.6 ng/g ww). BPA-sulfate had higher mean concentrations than BPA-glucuronide in different foodstuff categories, except that in eggs foodstuff (p < 0.05). Compared with other foodstuff items, fish (3.4 ng/g ww) and vegetable (1.6 ng/g ww) foodstuff samples exhibited comparatively higher mean concentrations of BPS. Mean concentrations of BPS-sulfate were consistently higher than BPS-glucuronide in vegetables, meats, and fish foodstuff (p < 0.05). BPA contributed the major total dietary intake (DI) of BPs, with the mean DI of 435 ng/kg bw/day for women and 374 ng/kg bw/day for men, respectively. To our knowledge, this study is the first to investigate the occurrence of conjugated BPA and BPS metabolites in foodstuff, which enhances our comprehension of the origins of these conjugated metabolites in the human body.

Exposure to environmental pollutants and genetic variants related to oxidative stress and xenobiotic metabolism-Association with prostate cancer

This study assessed whether genetic variants coding for certain enzymes involved in xenobiotic detoxification, antioxidant defences and DNA repair, along with exposure to environmental chemicals, were associated with an increased prostate cancer (PCa) risk. The study population consisted of 300 men (150 PCa cases and 150 controls) which underwent prostate biopsy as their serum prostate specific antigen (PSA) levels were greater than 4 ng/ml. Genetic variants in GSTM1, GSTP1, SOD2, CAT, GPX1, XRCC1 were determined and data for chemical exposures was obtained through a structured questionnaire and by biomonitoring in a subsample of cases and controls. High serum PSA levels were associated with a greater risk of PCa, while physical exercise appears to exert a protective effect against its development. In addition, elevated urinary levels of certain organic pollutants, such as benzo(a)pyrene (BaP), bisphenol A (BPA), and ethyl-paraben (EPB), were associated with an increased risk of PCa.

High-Performance enrichment and sensitive analysis of bisphenol and its analogues in water and milk using a novel Ni-Based cationic Metal-Organic framework

A novel cationic metal-organic framework (iMOF-Ni) was designed and synthesized by a solvothermal method. It was fabricated as a solid-phase extraction (SPE) cartridge and exhibited high adsorption performance for Bisphenols (BPs). The theoretical simulation demonstrated that the adsorption mechanism between iMOF-Ni and BPs was attributed to cation-π bonding, π-π interaction, and electrostatic interactions. Under optimized SPE, a method for analyzing BPs was established by combining high-performance liquid chromatography-diode array detection (HPLC-DAD). The developed method has good linearity (R2 ≥ 0.994), low detection limits (0.07-0.16 ng/mL), and good reproducibility (1.72-6.35 %, n = 6). The applicability of the method was further evaluated by analyzing water and milk samples. Recoveries of four BPs in spiked samples were from 72.2 % to 96.6 %.

Bisphenol A regulates bladder cells responses via control of G2/M-phase cell cycle, apoptotic signaling, MAPK pathway, and transcription factor-associated MMP modulation

Bisphenol A (BPA), an exogenous endocrine-disrupting chemical, is widely used to produce polycarbonate plastics. The widely used BPA has been detected in human urine samples, raising public anxiety about the detrimental effects of BPA on the bladder. In this study, we explored regulatory mechanisms for the adverse effects of BPA in human bladder BdFC and T24 cells. BPA induced extrinsic and intrinsic apoptosis and G2/M cell cycle arrest caused by the ATM-CHK1/CHK2-CDC25c-CDC2 signaling, which ultimately inhibited the growth of human bladder cells. We also found that BPA decreased the binding activity of AP-1 and NF-κB transcription factors in human bladder cells, which inhibited migration and invasion through matrix metallopeptidase-2 and -9 inactivation. Phosphorylation of MAPKs was implicated with BPA-mediated detrimental effects in human bladder cells. Collectively, our results provide a novel explanation for the underlying molecular mechanisms that BPA induces cytotoxicity in human bladder cells.

Endocrine disrupting chemical Bisphenol A and its association with cancer mortality: a prospective cohort study of NHANES

Introduction

There is evidence suggesting that Bisphenol A (BPA) is associated with increased all-cause mortality in adults. However, the specific nature of the relationship between BPA exposure and cancer mortality remains relatively unexplored.

Methods

The National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) dataset was used to recruit participants. Urinary BPA was assessed using liquid chromatography-mass spectrum (LC-MS). Through the use of multivariable Cox proportional hazard regressions and constrained cubic splines, the relationships between urine BPA and death from all causes and cancer were investigated.

Results

This study has a total of 8,035 participants, and 137 died from cancers after a 7.5-year follow-up. The median level of BPA was 2.0 g/mL. Urinary BPA levels were not independently associated with all-cause mortality. For cancer mortality, the second quartile's multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio was 0.51 (95% confidence interval: 0.30 to 0.86; p = 0.011) compared to the lowest quartile. The restricted cubic splines showed that the association was nonlinear (p for nonlinearity = 0.028) and the inflection point was 1.99 ng/mL.

Conclusion

Urinary BPA exposure was U-shaped associated with the risk of cancer mortality, and a lower level of BPA less than 1.99 ng/mL was associated with a higher risk of cancer mortality.

Estrogens and endocrine-disrupting chemicals differentially impact the bioenergetic fluxes of mammary epithelial cells in two- and three-dimensional models

Due to its sensitivity to hormonal signaling, the mammary gland is often referred to as a sentinel organ for the study of endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), environmental pollutants that can interfere with the estrogen signaling pathway and induce mammary developmental defects. If and how EDCs impact mammary epithelial cell metabolism has not yet been documented. Herein, to study how estrogens and EDCs modulate mammary gland metabolism, we performed bioenergetic flux analyses using mouse mammary epithelial organoids compared to cells grown in monolayer culture. Several EDCs were tested, including bisphenol A (BPA), its close derivative BPS, a new BPA replacement copolyester called TritanTM, and the herbicide glyphosate. We report that estrogens reprogrammed mammary epithelial cell metabolism differently when grown in two- and three-dimensional models. Specific EDCs were also demonstrated to alter bioenergetic fluxes, thus identifying a new potential adverse effect of these molecules. Notably, organoids were more sensitive to low EDC concentrations, highlighting them as a key model for screening the impact of various environmental pollutants. Mechanistically, transcriptomic analyses revealed that EDCs interfered with the regulation of estrogen target genes and the expression of metabolic genes in organoids. Furthermore, co-treatment with the anti-estrogen fulvestrant blocked these metabolic impacts of EDCs, suggesting that, at least partially, they act through modulation of the estrogen receptor activity. Finally, we demonstrate that mammary organoids can be used for long-term studies on EDC exposure to study alterations in organogenesis/morphogenesis and that past pregnancies can modulate the sensitivity of mammary epithelial organoids to specific EDCs. Overall, this study demonstrates that estrogens and EDCs modulate mammary epithelial cell metabolism in monolayer and organoid cultures. A better understanding of the metabolic impacts of EDCs will allow a better appreciation of their adverse effects on mammary gland development and function.

Facile Chemical Synthesis of Co-Ru-Based Heterometallic Supramolecular Polymer for Electrochemical Oxidation of Bisphenol A: Kinetics Study at the Electrode/Electrolyte Interface

Regardless of the adverse effects of Bisphenol A (BPA), its use in industry and in day-to-day life is increasing at a higher rate every year. In the present study, a simple and reliable chemical approach was used to develop an efficient BPA sensor based on a Co-Ru-based heterometallic supramolecular polymer (polyCoRu). Surface morphology and elemental analysis were examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). Furthermore, functional group analysis was accomplished by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR). UV-vis spectroscopy was used to confirm the complexation in the ratio of 0.5:0.5:1 (metal 1/metal 2/ligand). Electrochemical characterization of the synthesized polyCoRu was conducted using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) analyses. The study identified two distinct linear dynamic ranges for the detection of BPA, 0.197-2.94 and 3.5-17.72 μM. The regression equation was utilized to determine the sensitivity and limit of detection (LOD), resulting in values of 0.6 μA cm-2 μM-1 and 0.02 μM (S/N = 3), respectively. The kinetics of BPA oxidation at the polyCoRu/GCE were investigated to evaluate the heterogeneous rate constant (k), charge transfer coefficient (α), and the number of electrons transferred during the oxidation and rate-determining step. A probable electrochemical reaction mechanism has been presented for further comprehending the phenomena occurring at the electrode surface. The practical applicability of the fabricated electrode was analyzed using tap water, resulting in a high percentage of recovery ranging from 96 to 105%. Furthermore, the reproducibility and stability data demonstrated the excellent performance of polyCoRu/GCE.

MOFs-derived CuO-Fe3O4@C with abundant oxygen vacancies and strong Cu-Fe interaction for deep mineralization of bisphenol A

A novel CuO-Fe₃O₄ encapsulated in the carbon framework with abundant oxygen vacancies (CuO-Fe₃O₄@C) was successfully prepared by thermal conversion of Cu(OAc)₂/Fe-metal organic framework. The as-prepared catalyst exhibited excellent peroxymonosulfate (PMS) activation performance, good recyclability and fast magnetic separation. Under optimal conditions, the added BPA (60 mg/L) could be completely removed by CuO-Fe₃O₄@C/PMS system within 15 min with the degradation rate constant (k) of 0.32 min^-1, being 10.3 and 246.2 times that in CuO/PMS (0.031min^-1) and Fe₃O₄/PMS (0.0013 min^-1) system. A deep mineralization rate of BPA (＞80%) was achieved within 60 min. The results demonstrated the synergistic effect of bimetallic clusters, oxygen vacancies and carbon framework was a key benefit for the exposure of more active sites, the electron donor capacity and the mass transfer of substrates, thereby promoting the decomposition of BPA. Capture experiments and EPR indicated that ¹O₂ was the predominant reactive oxygen species (ROSs). The degradation routes of BPA and the activation mechanism of PMS were proposed. This study offers an opportunity to develop promising MOFs-derived hybrid catalysts with tailored structures and properties for the practical application of SR-AOPs.

Advances in Urological Cancer in 2022, from Basic Approaches to Clinical Management

This Special Issue includes 12 articles and 3 reviews dealing with several basic and clinical aspects of prostate, renal, and urinary tract cancer published during 2022 in Cancers, and intends to serve as a multidisciplinary chance to share the last advances in urological neoplasms [...].

Paradigm change in urological, gynaecological and breast cancer management: A new practice-changing data from ASCO 2022 annual meeting

Changing medical practice has been a constant process based on many scientific findings for years. In the oncology community, the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO), one of the major annual conferences, presented the latest updates on practice-changing in cancer. At the recent meeting of 2022, held this year on June 2-6, researchers presented essential findings in urological, gynecological, and breast cancer management. In urological cancer, olaparib + abiraterone was demonstrated thru the PROpel trial to benefit in first-line treatment mCRPC regardless of the HRR stratification factor, along with the adjuvant therapy everolimus, for fully resected RCC in the EVEREST trial. In gynecological cancer, tisotumab vedotin demonstrated a potential role in improving clinical outcomes in 1st line r/mCC thru InnovaTV-205. In breast cancer, trastuzumab deruxtecan showed significant benefit for redefined human epidermal growth factors receptor 2 status in HER2 low BC patients, where current targeted-HER2 therapies are ineffective in the DESTINY-BREAST 04 study. The use of Immuno-based combinations in the medical management of TNBC patients has been supported thru several recent studies, showing positive results and outcomes, as demonstrated by the expert's opinions in Rizzo et al. research papers. In this article, we resumed the different renowned and what we considered intriguing to review studies presented during these three long sessions at the ASCO 2022 meeting.

Genetic variants of antioxidant enzymes and environmental exposures as molecular biomarkers associated with the risk and aggressiveness of bladder cancer

Bladder cancer (BC) is one of the top 10 most common tumours worldwide; however, no molecular markers are currently available for tumour management and follow-up. BC could benefit from molecular biomarkers in environmental disease, which provide mechanistic understanding of individual susceptibility to exposure-related cancers and allow characterizing genetic alterations in the molecular pathway for malignancy. This case-control study performed a molecular analysis in 99 BC and 125 controls. Buccal swabs were collected to assess SNPs in eleven genes coding for xenobiotic detoxification enzymes, cellular antioxidant defences, and hormone synthesis and signalling (NAT2 (rs1801280), GPX1 (rs1050450 and rs17650792), TXNRD1 (rs7310505), PRDX3 (rs3740562), PON1 (rs662), SOD1 (rs10432782), SOD2 (rs4880), CAT (rs1001179), CYP17A1 (rs743572) and ESR1 (rs746432)). A structured questionnaire was administered to study participants to assess environmental and dietary chemical exposures. Several miRNAs associated with BC and detoxification/antioxidant pathways were analysed in a subsample of the study population, including miR-93-5p, miR-221-3p, miR-126, miR-27a-3p, miR-193b, and miR-193a-5p. Levels of selected environmental pollutants (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and endocrine disrupting chemicals) were determined in urine from a subsample of BC cases and controls. We found that CYP17A1, CAT, SOD1, ESR1, PON1, and GPX1 (rs17650792) were associated with BC risk. Furthermore, exposure to smoke and/or dust, and alcohol intake were identified as risk factors for BC. Increased urinary levels of benzo[a]pyrene and bisphenol A were observed in BC patients relative to controls, along with an increased expression of miR-193b, miR-27a and miR-93-5p in BC. Nevertheless, further studies with a larger sample size are warranted to confirm these exploratory results. This study also shows that the combination of genetic markers (PON1 and CYP17A1) and miRNA (miR-221-3p and miR-93-5p) open a new scenario in the use of non-invasive biomarkers in the stratification of BC to guide personalized medicine, which is extremely urged in the current clinical setting.

Bisphenols A and S Alter the Bioenergetics and Behaviours of Normal Urothelial and Bladder Cancer Cells

Bisphenol A (BPA) and bisphenol S (BPS) are used in the production of plastics. These endocrine disruptors can be released into the environment and food, resulting in the continuous exposure of humans to bisphenols (BPs). The bladder urothelium is chronically exposed to BPA and BPS due to their presence in human urine samples. BPA and BPS exposure has been linked to cancer progression, especially for hormone-dependent cancers. However, the bladder is not recognized as a hormone-dependent tissue. Still, the presence of hormone receptors on the urothelium and their role in bladder cancer initiation and progression suggest that BPs could impact bladder cancer development. The effects of chronic exposure to BPA and BPS for 72 h on the bioenergetics (glycolysis and mitochondrial respiration), proliferation and migration of normal urothelial cells and non-invasive and invasive bladder cancer cells were evaluated. The results demonstrate that chronic exposure to BPs decreased urothelial cells' energy metabolism and properties while increasing them for bladder cancer cells. These findings suggest that exposure to BPA and BPS could promote bladder cancer development with a potential clinical impact on bladder cancer progression. Further studies using 3D models would help to understand the clinical consequences of this exposure.

A critical review of presence, removal and potential impacts of endocrine disruptors bisphenol A

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a synthetic organic compound that is mainly used in the production of polymer materials polycarbonate and epoxy resin. Widespread use and irregular processing methods have led to BPA being detected globally, raising concerns about its environmental and health effects. This review outlines an overview of the presence and removal of BPA in the environment and consumer products. We also summarized the endocrine-disrupting toxicity of BPA, and the relatively less summarized neurotoxicity, cytotoxicity, reproductive toxicity, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity. Human exposure data show that humans have been exposed to low concentrations of BPA for a long time, future research should focus on the long-term exposure and the migration of BPA from consumer products to humans and the possible health risks associated with human exposure to BPA. Exploring economical and effective methods to reduce and remove BPA from the environment is imperative. The development of safe, functional and reproducible BPA analogs and the study of its degradation products can be the focus of subsequent research.

Bisphenol A Alters the Energy Metabolism of Stromal Cells and Could Promote Bladder Cancer Progression

Simple Summary

Our research brings new insight on the potential impact of bisphenol A on bladder cancer progression. By evaluating the effects of bisphenol A on the stromal environment of bladder cancer, we aimed to demonstrate that this endocrine disruptor could promote bladder cancer invasion through alteration of the energy metabolism of stromal cells, specifically on bladder fibroblasts and cancer-associated fibroblasts. These findings could modify the understanding of bladder cancer since bladder tissue is not recognized as a hormone-sensitive tissue. Consequently, our study suggests that endocrine disruptors, such as bisphenol A, could impact bladder cancer progression.

Abstract

Bisphenol A (BPA) is an endocrine-disrupting molecule used in plastics. Through its release in food and the environment, BPA can be found in humans and is mostly excreted in urine. The bladder is therefore continuously exposed to this compound. BPA can bind to multiple cell receptors involved in proliferation, migration and invasion pathways, and exposure to BPA is associated with cancer progression. Considering the physiological concentrations of BPA in urine, we tested the effect of nanomolar concentrations of BPA on the metabolism of bladder fibroblasts and cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs). Our results show that BPA led to a decreased metabolism in fibroblasts, which could alter the extracellular matrix. Furthermore, CAF induction triggered a metabolic switch, similar to the Warburg effect described in cancer cells. Additionally, we demonstrated that nanomolar concentrations of BPA could exacerbate this metabolic switch observed in CAFs via an increased glycolytic metabolism, leading to greater acidification of the extracellular environment. These findings suggest that chronic exposure to BPA could promote cancer progression through an alteration of the metabolism of stromal cells.

Genitourinary Tissue Engineering: Reconstruction and Research Models

Tissue engineering is an emerging field of research that initially aimed to produce 3D tissues to bypass the lack of adequate tissues for the repair or replacement of deficient organs. The basis of tissue engineering protocols is to create scaffolds, which can have a synthetic or natural origin, seeded or not with cells. At the same time, more and more studies have indicated the low clinic translation rate of research realised using standard cell culture conditions, i.e., cells on plastic surfaces or using animal models that are too different from humans. New models are needed to mimic the 3D organisation of tissue and the cells themselves and the interaction between cells and the extracellular matrix. In this regard, urology and gynaecology fields are of particular interest. The urethra and vagina can be sites suffering from many pathologies without currently adequate treatment options. Due to the specific organisation of the human urethral/bladder and vaginal epithelium, current research models remain poorly representative. In this review, the anatomy, the current pathologies, and the treatments will be described before focusing on producing tissues and research models using tissue engineering. An emphasis is made on the self-assembly approach, which allows tissue production without the need for biomaterials.