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Valdes-Devesa V, Sanz-Rosa D, Thuissard-Vasallo IJ, Andreu-Vázquez C, Sainz de la Cuesta R. Xenoestrogen concentration in women with endometriosis or leiomyomas: A case-control study. PLoS One 2024; 19:e0304766. [PMID: 38833439 PMCID: PMC11149880 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0304766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/27/2023] [Accepted: 05/19/2024] [Indexed: 06/06/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Xenoestrogens are synthetic or naturally occurring chemicals capable of altering the endocrine system of humans and animals owing to their molecular similarity to endogenous hormones. There is limited data regarding their effects on women´s health. Chronic exposure to xenoestrogens can promote the development of estrogen-related diseases. OBJECTIVES To examine xenoestrogen concentration (TEXB-α) differences between women with leiomyomas or endometriosis and control women, and to study the relationship between the clinical and sociodemographic characteristics of these patients and their xenoestrogen levels. METHODS Prospective case-control study. We selected 221 women who underwent surgery at Quironsalud Madrid University Hospital between 2017 and 2021. The cases included 117 patients: 74 women who underwent surgery for uterine leiomyomas, 21 with endometriosis, and 22 with both pathologies. The control group comprised 104 healthy women who underwent surgical procedures for other reasons. TEXB-α was determined in the omental fat of all patients. Using a questionnaire and reviewing the patients' medical records, we collected sociodemographic data and other relevant variables. RESULTS A significant majority of study participants (68.8%) had detectable levels of xenoestrogens. We found no association between TEXB-α levels in omental fat and the presence of myomas or endometriosis. In the case group, women living or working in Madrid Community exhibited, on average, 3.12 Eeq pM/g higher levels of TEXB-α compared to those working in other areas (p = 0.030). Women who referred to the use of estrogen-containing hormonal contraceptives had, on average, 3.02 Eeq pM/g higher levels of TEXB-α than those who had never used them (p = 0.022). CONCLUSIONS This study found no association between omental xenoestrogen levels and leiomyomas or endometriosis. However, their presence in most participants and their association with highly polluted areas emphasizes the importance of limiting environmental exposure to these substances. We also identified an association between hormonal contraceptive use and xenoestrogen concentration.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria Valdes-Devesa
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odon, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Hospital Universitario Quironsalud Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Madrid, Spain
| | - David Sanz-Rosa
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odon, Madrid, Spain
| | - Israel J. Thuissard-Vasallo
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odon, Madrid, Spain
| | - Cristina Andreu-Vázquez
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odon, Madrid, Spain
| | - Ricardo Sainz de la Cuesta
- Department of Medicine, Faculty of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Universidad Europea de Madrid, Villaviciosa de Odon, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Obstetrics & Gynecology, Hospital Universitario Quironsalud Madrid, Pozuelo de Alarcon, Madrid, Spain
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Martín-Leyva A, Peinado FM, Ocón-Hernández O, Olivas-Martínez A, Luque A, León J, Lendínez I, Cardona J, Lara-Ramos A, Olea N, Fernández MF, Artacho-Cordón F. Environmental Exposure to Persistent Organic Pollutants and Its Association with Endometriosis Risk: Implications in the Epithelial-Mesenchymal Transition Process. Int J Mol Sci 2024; 25:4420. [PMID: 38674005 PMCID: PMC11050161 DOI: 10.3390/ijms25084420] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/22/2024] [Revised: 04/15/2024] [Accepted: 04/16/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
We aimed to explore the relationship of adipose tissue concentrations of some persistent organic pollutants (POPs) with the risk of endometriosis and the endometriotic tissue expression profile of genes related to the endometriosis-related epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) process. This case-control study enrolled 109 women (34 cases and 75 controls) between January 2018 and March 2020. Adipose tissue samples and endometriotic tissues were intraoperatively collected to determine concentrations of nine POPs and the gene expression profiles of 36 EMT-related genes, respectively. Associations of POPs with endometriosis risk were explored with multivariate logistic regression, while the relationship between exposure and gene expression profiles was assessed through Spearman correlation or Mann-Whitney U tests. After adjustment, increased endometriosis risk was associated with p,p'-DDT, PCB-180, and ΣPCBs. POP exposure was also associated with reduced gene expression levels of the CLDN7 epithelial marker and increased levels of the ITGB2 mesenchymal marker and a variety of EMT promoters (HMGA1, HOXA10, FOXM1, DKK1, CCR1, TNFRSF1B, RRM2, ANG, ANGPT1, and ESR1). Our findings indicate that exposure to POPs may increase the risk of endometriosis and might have a role in the endometriosis-related EMT development, contributing to the disease onset and progression. Further studies are warranted to corroborate these findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana Martín-Leyva
- Radiology and Physical Medicine Department, University of Granada, E-18016 Granada, Spain; (A.M.-L.); (N.O.); (M.F.F.)
| | - Francisco M. Peinado
- Biohealth Research Institute in Granada (ibs.GRANADA), E-18012 Granada, Spain; (F.M.P.); (O.O.-H.); (A.O.-M.); (A.L.); (J.L.)
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Granada, E-18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Olga Ocón-Hernández
- Biohealth Research Institute in Granada (ibs.GRANADA), E-18012 Granada, Spain; (F.M.P.); (O.O.-H.); (A.O.-M.); (A.L.); (J.L.)
- Gynaecology and Obstetrics Unit, ‘San Cecilio’ University Hospital, E-18016 Granada, Spain;
| | - Alicia Olivas-Martínez
- Biohealth Research Institute in Granada (ibs.GRANADA), E-18012 Granada, Spain; (F.M.P.); (O.O.-H.); (A.O.-M.); (A.L.); (J.L.)
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Granada, E-18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Antonio Luque
- Biohealth Research Institute in Granada (ibs.GRANADA), E-18012 Granada, Spain; (F.M.P.); (O.O.-H.); (A.O.-M.); (A.L.); (J.L.)
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Granada, E-18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Josefa León
- Biohealth Research Institute in Granada (ibs.GRANADA), E-18012 Granada, Spain; (F.M.P.); (O.O.-H.); (A.O.-M.); (A.L.); (J.L.)
- Digestive Medicine Unit, ‘San Cecilio’ University Hospital, E-18012 Granada, Spain
- CIBER Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBEREHD), E-28029 Madrid, Spain
| | | | - Jesús Cardona
- Gynaecology and Obstetrics Unit, ‘San Cecilio’ University Hospital, E-18016 Granada, Spain;
| | - Ana Lara-Ramos
- Gynaecology and Obstetrics Unit, ‘Virgen de las Nieves’ University Hospital, E-18014 Granada, Spain;
| | - Nicolás Olea
- Radiology and Physical Medicine Department, University of Granada, E-18016 Granada, Spain; (A.M.-L.); (N.O.); (M.F.F.)
- Biohealth Research Institute in Granada (ibs.GRANADA), E-18012 Granada, Spain; (F.M.P.); (O.O.-H.); (A.O.-M.); (A.L.); (J.L.)
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Granada, E-18016 Granada, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), E-28029 Madrid, Spain
- Nuclear Medicine Unit, ‘San Cecilio’ University Hospital, E-18016 Granada, Spain
| | - Mariana F. Fernández
- Radiology and Physical Medicine Department, University of Granada, E-18016 Granada, Spain; (A.M.-L.); (N.O.); (M.F.F.)
- Biohealth Research Institute in Granada (ibs.GRANADA), E-18012 Granada, Spain; (F.M.P.); (O.O.-H.); (A.O.-M.); (A.L.); (J.L.)
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Granada, E-18016 Granada, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), E-28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Francisco Artacho-Cordón
- Radiology and Physical Medicine Department, University of Granada, E-18016 Granada, Spain; (A.M.-L.); (N.O.); (M.F.F.)
- Biohealth Research Institute in Granada (ibs.GRANADA), E-18012 Granada, Spain; (F.M.P.); (O.O.-H.); (A.O.-M.); (A.L.); (J.L.)
- Centre for Biomedical Research, University of Granada, E-18016 Granada, Spain
- CIBER Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), E-28029 Madrid, Spain
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3
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Costas L, Frias-Gomez J, Peinado FM, Molina-Molina JM, Peremiquel-Trillas P, Paytubi S, Crous-Bou M, de Francisco J, Caño V, Benavente Y, Pelegrina B, Martínez JM, Pineda M, Brunet J, Matias-Guiu X, de Sanjosé S, Ponce J, Olea N, Alemany L, Fernández MF. Total Effective Xenoestrogen Burden in Serum Samples and Risk of Endometrial Cancer in the Spanish Screenwide Case-Control Study. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2024; 132:27012. [PMID: 38415615 PMCID: PMC10901108 DOI: 10.1289/ehp13202] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/21/2023] [Revised: 01/08/2024] [Accepted: 01/23/2024] [Indexed: 02/29/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endometrial cancer is a hormone-dependent cancer, and estrogens play a relevant role in its etiology. However, little is known about the effects of environmental pollutants that act as xenoestrogens or that influence estrogenic activity through different pathways. OBJECTIVE We aimed to assess the relationship between the combined estrogenic activity of mixtures of xenoestrogens present in serum samples and the risk of endometrial cancer in the Screenwide case-control study. METHODS The total effective xenoestrogen burden (TEXB) attributable to organohalogenated compounds (TEXB- α ) and to endogenous hormones and more polar xenoestrogens (TEXB- β ) was assessed in serum from 156 patients with endometrial cancer (cases) and 150 controls by combining chemical extraction and separation by high-performance liquid chromatography with the E-SCREEN bioassay for estrogenicity. RESULTS Median TEXB- α and TEXB- β levels for cases (0.30 and 1.25 Eeq pM / mL , respectively) and controls (0.42 and 1.28 Eeq pM / mL , respectively) did not significantly differ (p = 0.653 and 0.933, respectively). An inverted-U risk trend across serum TEXB- α and TEXB- β levels was observed in multivariate adjusted models: Positive associations were observed for the second category of exposure in comparison to the lowest category of exposure [odds ratio ( OR ) = 2.11 (95% CI: 1.13, 3.94) for TEXB- α , and OR = 3.32 (95% CI: 1.62, 6.81) for TEXB- β ], whereas no significant associations were observed between the third category of exposure and the first [OR = 1.22 (95% CI: 0.64, 2.31) for TEXB- α , and OR = 1.58 (95% CI: 0.75, 3.33) for TEXB- β ]. In mutually adjusted models for TEXB- α and TEXB- β levels, the association of TEXB- α with endometrial cancer risk was attenuated [OR = 1.45 (95% CI: 0.61, 3.47) for the second category of exposure], as well as estimates for TEXB- β (OR = 2.68 ; 95% CI: 1.03, 6.99). Most of the individual halogenated contaminants showed no associations with both TEXB and endometrial cancer. CONCLUSIONS We evaluated serum total xenoestrogen burden in relation to endometrial cancer risk and found an inverted-U risk trend across increasing categories of exposure. The use of in vitro bioassays with human samples may lead to a paradigm shift in the way we understand the negative impact of chemical mixtures on human health effects. These results are relevant from a public health perspective and for decision-makers in charge of controlling the production and distribution of chemicals with xenoestrogenic activity. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13202.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Costas
- Cancer Epidemiology Research Programme, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Jon Frias-Gomez
- Cancer Epidemiology Research Programme, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Francisco M. Peinado
- Centre of Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Biosanitary Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Hospital Universitario San Cecilio, Granada, Spain
| | | | - Paula Peremiquel-Trillas
- Cancer Epidemiology Research Programme, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- University of Barcelona, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Sonia Paytubi
- Cancer Epidemiology Research Programme, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Marta Crous-Bou
- Cancer Epidemiology Research Programme, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Javier de Francisco
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Anesthesiology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Victor Caño
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Anesthesiology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Yolanda Benavente
- Cancer Epidemiology Research Programme, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Beatriz Pelegrina
- Cancer Epidemiology Research Programme, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
| | - José Manuel Martínez
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Gynecology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Marta Pineda
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Hereditary Cancer group, Molecular Mechanisms and Experimental Therapy in Oncology Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Cancer (CIBERONC), Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Joan Brunet
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Hereditary Cancer group, Molecular Mechanisms and Experimental Therapy in Oncology Program, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Cancer (CIBERONC), Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - Xavier Matias-Guiu
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Cancer (CIBERONC), Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
- Department of Pathology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Silvia de Sanjosé
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Barcelona Institute for Global Health, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Jordi Ponce
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Department of Gynecology, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain
| | - Nicolás Olea
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Centre of Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Biosanitary Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Hospital Universitario San Cecilio, Granada, Spain
| | - Laia Alemany
- Cancer Epidemiology Research Programme, Catalan Institute of Oncology, Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL), Hospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, Spain
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mariana F. Fernández
- Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology and Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
- Centre of Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
- Biosanitary Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), Hospital Universitario San Cecilio, Granada, Spain
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Kay JE, Brody JG, Schwarzman M, Rudel RA. Application of the Key Characteristics Framework to Identify Potential Breast Carcinogens Using Publicly Available in Vivo, in Vitro, and in Silico Data. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2024; 132:17002. [PMID: 38197648 PMCID: PMC10777819 DOI: 10.1289/ehp13233] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2023] [Revised: 11/27/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 01/11/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Chemicals that induce mammary tumors in rodents or activate estrogen or progesterone signaling are likely to increase breast cancer (BC) risk. Identifying chemicals with these activities can prompt steps to protect human health. OBJECTIVES We compiled data on rodent tumors, endocrine activity, and genotoxicity to assess the key characteristics (KCs) of rodent mammary carcinogens (MCs), and to identify other chemicals that exhibit these effects and may therefore increase BC risk. METHODS Using authoritative databases, including International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) Monographs and the US Environmental Protection's (EPA) ToxCast, we selected chemicals that induce mammary tumors in rodents, stimulate estradiol or progesterone synthesis, or activate the estrogen receptor (ER) in vitro. We classified these chemicals by their genotoxicity and strength of endocrine activity and calculated the overrepresentation (enrichment) of these KCs among MCs. Finally, we evaluated whether these KCs predict whether a chemical is likely to induce mammary tumors. RESULTS We identified 279 MCs and an additional 642 chemicals that stimulate estrogen or progesterone signaling. MCs were significantly enriched for steroidogenicity, ER agonism, and genotoxicity, supporting the use of these KCs to predict whether a chemical is likely to induce rodent mammary tumors and, by inference, increase BC risk. More MCs were steroidogens than ER agonists, and many increased both estradiol and progesterone. Enrichment among MCs was greater for strong endocrine activity vs. weak or inactive, with a significant trend. DISCUSSION We identified hundreds of compounds that have biological activities that could increase BC risk and demonstrated that these activities are enriched among MCs. We argue that many of these should not be considered low hazard without investigating their ability to affect the breast, and chemicals with the strongest evidence can be targeted for exposure reduction. We describe ways to strengthen hazard identification, including improved assessments for mammary effects, developing assays for more KCs, and more comprehensive chemical testing. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP13233.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Megan Schwarzman
- School of Public Health, University of California, Berkeley, Berkeley, California, USA
- Family and Community Medicine, University of California, San Francisco, San Francisco, California, USA
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Liu H, Sun Y, Ran L, Li J, Shi Y, Mu C, Hao C. Endocrine-disrupting chemicals and breast cancer: a meta-analysis. Front Oncol 2023; 13:1282651. [PMID: 38023188 PMCID: PMC10665889 DOI: 10.3389/fonc.2023.1282651] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/25/2023] [Accepted: 10/16/2023] [Indexed: 12/01/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Globally, the burden of breast cancer has increased significantly in recent decades. Emerging evidence suggested that endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs), which have the potential to interfere with the function of normal hormones, may play a crucial role in this trend. However, the potential relationships were inconsistent in various studies. Objective and search methods In our study, we sought to fully evaluate the currently available epidemiological evidence to ascertain whether certain EDC congeners and their metabolites are related to breast cancer risk. Following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines, we conducted a comprehensive literature search of original peer-reviewed publications in three electronic databases: PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase. Publications that covered xenobiotic EDC exposures and breast cancer-confirmed histological results or antecedent medical records or reporting to health registers were taken into consideration. Outcomes The final result of the literature search was 6,498 references, out which we found 67 publications that matched the requirements for meta-analysis and eight publications for qualitative trend synthesis. In this meta-analysis, statistically significant associations revealed that (i) 1-chloro-4-[2,2,2-trichloro-1-(4-chlorophenyl)ethyl]benzene (p,p'-DDT) and its major metabolite 2,2-bis(4-chlorophenyl)-1,1-dichloroethylene (p,p'-DDE) were somewhat related to a greater risk of breast cancer. However, this relationship only existed in blood serum but not in adipose tissue. (ii) Breast cancer risk was increased by exposure to chlordane and hexachlorocyclohexane. (iii) Five polychlorinated biphenyls (PCB 99, PCB 105, PCB 118, PCB 138, and PCB 183) can increase the risk of breast cancer. (iv) One phthalate congener (BBP) and one per- and polyfluoroalkyl substance congener (PFDoDA) were negatively associated with breast cancer risk. Unfortunately, heterogeneity was not well explained in our review, and a limited number of available prospective studies investigating the associations between EDC exposure and breast cancer were included in our meta-analysis. To elucidate the overall associations, future large, longitudinal epidemiological investigations are needed. Systematic review registration https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier CRD 42023420927.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Liu
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yukun Sun
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Longkai Ran
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, The First People’s Hospital of Guiyang, Guiyang, Guizhou, China
| | - Jiuling Li
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Yafei Shi
- Department of Clinical Nutrition, Jiaozuo Coal Industry (Group) Co. Ltd. Central Hospital, Jiaozuo, Henan, China
| | - Chunguang Mu
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
| | - Changfu Hao
- Department of Child and Adolescent Health, School of Public Health, Zhengzhou University, Zhengzhou, Henan, China
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Wielsøe M, Molina-Molina JM, Rodríguez-Carrillo A, Mustieles V, Olea N, Fernandez MF, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC. Xeno-estrogenic activity of real-life mixtures of perfluoroalkylated substances in human placenta homogenates. Reprod Toxicol 2023; 120:108444. [PMID: 37473930 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2023.108444] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2023] [Revised: 07/14/2023] [Accepted: 07/17/2023] [Indexed: 07/22/2023]
Abstract
Humans are simultaneously exposed to complex chemical mixtures, and its combined effect can affect human health. As part of the HBM4EU project, the actual mixture of perfluoroalkylated substances (PFAS) in 25 human placenta samples was extracted by chromatographic methods and assessed for xeno-estrogenic activity using two in-vitro bioassays: the estrogen receptor transactivity and the E-Screen assay. Most of the PFAS extracts displayed xeno-estrogenic activity, in one or both assays. The xeno-estrogenic activities in the two bioassays were not correlated, but both assays showed an overall negative correlation with placenta concentrations of single PFAS. Xeno-estrogenic activities were significantly related to maternal characteristics; being higher in young, smokers and primiparous women, but not with fetal growth (birth weight, birth length, head circumference, gestational age, placenta weight). The presented extraction method can be used to study the combined effect of real-life mixtures of PFAS in relation to health outcomes in large-scale human biomonitoring studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Wielsøe
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark.
| | - Jose-Manuel Molina-Molina
- Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM) & Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Granada, E-18016 Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.GRANADA), E-18012 Granada, Spain
| | - Andrea Rodríguez-Carrillo
- Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM) & Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Granada, E-18016 Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.GRANADA), E-18012 Granada, Spain
| | - Vicente Mustieles
- Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM) & Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Granada, E-18016 Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.GRANADA), E-18012 Granada, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), E-28029, Spain
| | - Nicolas Olea
- Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM) & Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Granada, E-18016 Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.GRANADA), E-18012 Granada, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), E-28029, Spain
| | - Mariana F Fernandez
- Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM) & Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Granada, E-18016 Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria (ibs.GRANADA), E-18012 Granada, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), E-28029, Spain
| | - Eva Cecilie Bonefeld-Jørgensen
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, DK-8000 Aarhus, Denmark; Greenland Centre for Health Research, University of Greenland, Nuuk, GRL-3905 Nuussuaq, Greenland
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7
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Zárate LV, Miret NV, Nicola Candia AJ, Zappia CD, Pontillo CA, Chiappini FA, Monczor F, Candolfi M, Randi AS. Breast cancer progression and kynurenine pathway enzymes are induced by hexachlorobenzene exposure in a Her2-positive model. Food Chem Toxicol 2023; 177:113822. [PMID: 37169060 DOI: 10.1016/j.fct.2023.113822] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Revised: 05/05/2023] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/13/2023]
Abstract
Breast cancer is one of the leading cancers among women worldwide. Given the evidence that pesticides play an important role in breast cancer, interest has grown in pesticide impact on disease progression. Hexachlorobenzene (HCB), an aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) ligand, promotes triple-negative breast cancer cell migration and invasion. Estrogen receptor β (ERβ) inhibits cancer motility, while G protein-coupled ER (GPER) modulates the neoplastic transformation. Tryptophan is metabolized through the kynurenine pathway by indoleamine-2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) and tryptophan-2,3-dioxygenase (TDO), with kynurenine signaling activation often predicting worse prognosis in cancer. In this context, we examined the HCB (0.005; 0.05; 0.5 and 5 μM) effect on LM3 cells, a human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2)-positive breast cancer model. Results show that HCB increases IDO and TDO mRNA levels and promotes cell viability, proliferation and migration through the AhR pathway. Moreover, HCB boosts mammosphere formation, vascular endothelial growth factor and cyclooxygenase-2 expression and reduces IL-10 levels. For some parameters, U-shaped or inverted U-shaped dose-response curves are shown. HCB alters ER levels, reducing ERβ while increasing GPER. These results demonstrate that exposure to environmentally relevant concentrations of HCB up-regulates the kynurenine pathway and dysregulates ERβ and GPER levels, collaborating in HER2-positive breast cancer progression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lorena V Zárate
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Bioquímica Humana, Laboratorio de Efectos Biológicos de Contaminants Ambientales, Paraguay 2155, Piso 5, (CP 1121), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Noelia V Miret
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Bioquímica Humana, Laboratorio de Efectos Biológicos de Contaminants Ambientales, Paraguay 2155, Piso 5, (CP 1121), Buenos Aires, Argentina; Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Departamento de Físico-Matemática, Laboratorio de Radioisótopos, Junín 954, 1er Subsuelo, (CP 1121), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Alejandro J Nicola Candia
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Laboratorio de Inmunoterapia Antitumoral, Paraguay 2155, Piso 10, (CP 1121), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - C Daniel Zappia
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (UBA-CONICET), Laboratorio de Farmacología de Receptors, Junín 954, Planta Baja, (CP1113), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Carolina A Pontillo
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Bioquímica Humana, Laboratorio de Efectos Biológicos de Contaminants Ambientales, Paraguay 2155, Piso 5, (CP 1121), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Florencia A Chiappini
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Bioquímica Humana, Laboratorio de Efectos Biológicos de Contaminants Ambientales, Paraguay 2155, Piso 5, (CP 1121), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Federico Monczor
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Instituto de Investigaciones Farmacológicas (UBA-CONICET), Laboratorio de Farmacología de Receptors, Junín 954, Planta Baja, (CP1113), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Marianela Candolfi
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Instituto de Investigaciones Biomédicas, Laboratorio de Inmunoterapia Antitumoral, Paraguay 2155, Piso 10, (CP 1121), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
| | - Andrea S Randi
- Universidad de Buenos Aires, Facultad de Medicina, Departamento de Bioquímica Humana, Laboratorio de Efectos Biológicos de Contaminants Ambientales, Paraguay 2155, Piso 5, (CP 1121), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
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8
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Rodríguez-Carrillo A, Mustieles V, Salamanca-Fernández E, Olivas-Martínez A, Suárez B, Bajard L, Baken K, Blaha L, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC, Couderq S, D'Cruz SC, Fini JB, Govarts E, Gundacker C, Hernández AF, Lacasaña M, Laguzzi F, Linderman B, Long M, Louro H, Neophytou C, Oberemn A, Remy S, Rosenmai AK, Saber AT, Schoeters G, Silva MJ, Smagulova F, Uhl M, Vinggaard AM, Vogel U, Wielsøe M, Olea N, Fernández MF. Implementation of effect biomarkers in human biomonitoring studies: A systematic approach synergizing toxicological and epidemiological knowledge. Int J Hyg Environ Health 2023; 249:114140. [PMID: 36841007 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2023.114140] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/20/2022] [Revised: 02/08/2023] [Accepted: 02/15/2023] [Indexed: 02/26/2023]
Abstract
Human biomonitoring (HBM) studies have highlighted widespread daily exposure to environmental chemicals. Some of these are suspected to contribute to adverse health outcomes such as reproductive, neurological, and metabolic disorders, among other developmental and chronic impairments. One of the objectives of the H2020 European Human Biomonitoring Initiative (HBM4EU) was the development of informative effect biomarkers for application in a more systematic and harmonized way in large-scale European HBM studies. The inclusion of effect biomarkers would complement exposure data with mechanistically-based information on early and late adverse effects. For this purpose, a stepwise strategy was developed to identify and implement a panel of validated effect biomarkers in European HBM studies. This work offers an overview of the complete procedure followed, from comprehensive literature search strategies, selection of criteria for effect biomarkers and their classification and prioritization, based on toxicological data and adverse outcomes, to pilot studies for their analytical, physiological, and epidemiological validation. We present the example of one study that demonstrated the mediating role of the effect biomarker status of brain-derived neurotrophic factor BDNF in the longitudinal association between infant bisphenol A (BPA) exposure and behavioral function in adolescence. A panel of effect biomarkers has been implemented in the HBM4EU Aligned Studies as main outcomes, including traditional oxidative stress, reproductive, and thyroid hormone biomarkers. Novel biomarkers of effect, such as DNA methylation status of BDNF and kisspeptin (KISS) genes were also evaluated as molecular markers of neurological and reproductive health, respectively. A panel of effect biomarkers has also been applied in HBM4EU occupational studies, such as micronucleus analysis in lymphocytes and reticulocytes, whole blood comet assay, and malondialdehyde, 8-oxo-2'-deoxyguanosine and untargeted metabolomic profile in urine, to investigate, for example, biological changes in response to hexavalent chromium Cr(VI) exposure. The use of effect biomarkers in HBM4EU has demonstrated their ability to detect early biological effects of chemical exposure and to identify subgroups that are at higher risk. The roadmap developed in HBM4EU confirms the utility of effect biomarkers, and support one of the main objectives of HBM research, which is to link exposure biomarkers to mechanistically validated effect and susceptibility biomarkers in order to better understand the public health implications of human exposure to environmental chemicals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Rodríguez-Carrillo
- Biomedical Research Center (CIBM), University of Granada, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012, Granada, Spain; Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016, Granada, Spain
| | - Vicente Mustieles
- Biomedical Research Center (CIBM), University of Granada, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012, Granada, Spain; Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016, Granada, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Elena Salamanca-Fernández
- Biomedical Research Center (CIBM), University of Granada, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012, Granada, Spain; Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016, Granada, Spain.
| | - Alicia Olivas-Martínez
- Biomedical Research Center (CIBM), University of Granada, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012, Granada, Spain
| | - Beatriz Suárez
- Biomedical Research Center (CIBM), University of Granada, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012, Granada, Spain
| | - Lola Bajard
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Kirsten Baken
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Ludek Blaha
- RECETOX, Faculty of Science, Masaryk University, Kamenice 5, CZ62500, Brno, Czech Republic
| | - Eva Cecilie Bonefeld-Jørgensen
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health Aarhus University, Denmark; Greenland Centre for Health Research, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Stephan Couderq
- Physiologie Moléculaire et Adaptation, Département "Adaptation du Vivant", UMR 7221 MNHN/CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 75005, France
| | - Shereen Cynthia D'Cruz
- Univ Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Jean-Baptiste Fini
- Physiologie Moléculaire et Adaptation, Département "Adaptation du Vivant", UMR 7221 MNHN/CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris, 75005, France
| | - Eva Govarts
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | - Claudia Gundacker
- Institute of Medical Genetics, Medical University of Vienna, Waehringer Strasse 10, A-1090, Vienna, Austria
| | - Antonio F Hernández
- Biomedical Research Center (CIBM), University of Granada, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012, Granada, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain; Department of Legal Medicine and Toxicology, University of Granada School of Medicine, Granada, Spain
| | - Marina Lacasaña
- Biomedical Research Center (CIBM), University of Granada, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012, Granada, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain; Department of Legal Medicine and Toxicology, University of Granada School of Medicine, Granada, Spain
| | - Federica Laguzzi
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Birgitte Linderman
- Department of Environmental Health, Norwegian Institute of Public Health, Oslo, Norway
| | - Manhai Long
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health Aarhus University, Denmark; Greenland Centre for Health Research, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Henriqueta Louro
- National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Human Genetics Department, Toxicogenomics and Human Health (ToxOmics), NOVA Medical School/FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | | | - Axel Oberemn
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589, Berlin, Germany
| | - Sylvie Remy
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium
| | | | | | - Greet Schoeters
- VITO Health, Flemish Institute for Technological Research (VITO), Mol, Belgium; Department of Biomedical Sciences and Toxicological Center, University of Antwerp, Belgium
| | - Maria Joao Silva
- National Institute of Health Doutor Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Human Genetics Department, Toxicogenomics and Human Health (ToxOmics), NOVA Medical School/FCM, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Fatima Smagulova
- Univ Rennes, EHESP, Inserm, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail) - UMR_S 1085, F-35000, Rennes, France
| | - Maria Uhl
- Environment Agency Austria (EAA), Vienna, Austria
| | - Anne Marie Vinggaard
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Ulla Vogel
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs, Lyngby, Denmark; The National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Maria Wielsøe
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Nicolás Olea
- Biomedical Research Center (CIBM), University of Granada, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012, Granada, Spain; Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016, Granada, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Mariana F Fernández
- Biomedical Research Center (CIBM), University of Granada, Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria de Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012, Granada, Spain; Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016, Granada, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain.
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9
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Flasch M, Bueschl C, Del Favero G, Adam G, Schuhmacher R, Marko D, Warth B. Elucidation of xenoestrogen metabolism by non-targeted, stable isotope-assisted mass spectrometry in breast cancer cells. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 158:106940. [PMID: 34673318 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2021] [Revised: 09/13/2021] [Accepted: 10/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Environmental exposure to xenoestrogens, i.e., chemicals that imitate the hormone 17β-estradiol, has the potential to influence hormone homeostasis and action. Detailed knowledge of xenobiotic biotransformation processes in cell models is key when transferring knowledge learned from in vitro models to in vivo relevance. This study elucidated the metabolism of two naturally-occurring phyto- and mycoestrogens; namely genistein and zearalenone, in an estrogen receptor positive breast cancer cell line (MCF-7) with the aid of stable isotope-assisted metabolomics and the bioinformatic tool MetExtract II. Metabolism was studied in a time course experiment after 2 h, 6 h and 24 h incubation. Twelve and six biotransformation products of zearalenone and genistein were detected, respectively, clearly demonstrating the abundant xenobiotic biotransformation capability of the cells. Zearalenone underwent extensive phase-I metabolism resulting in α-zearalenol (α-ZEL), a molecule known to possess a significantly higher estrogenicity, and several phase-II metabolites (sulfo- and glycoconjugates) of the native compound and the major phase I metabolite α-ZEL. Moreover, potential adducts of zearalenone with a vitamin and several hydroxylated metabolites were annotated. Genistein metabolism resulted in sulfation, combined sulfation and hydroxylation, acetylation, glucuronidation and unexpectedly adduct formation with pentose- and hexose sugars. Kinetics of metabolite formation and subsequent excretion into the extracellular medium revealed a time-dependent increase in most biotransformation products. The untargeted elucidation of biotransformation products formed during cell culture experiments enables an improved and more meaningful interpretation of toxicological assays and has the potential to identify unexpected or unknown metabolites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mira Flasch
- University of Vienna, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Währinger Str. 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Bueschl
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Department of Agrobiotechnology, IFA-Tulln, Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, Konrad-Lorenz-Str. 20, 3430 Tulln, Austria; University of Vienna, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Analytical Chemistry, Währinger Str. 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Giorgia Del Favero
- University of Vienna, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Währinger Str. 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Gerhard Adam
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Department of Applied Genetics and Cell Biology, Institute of Microbial Genetics, Konrad-Lorenz-Str. 24, 3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Rainer Schuhmacher
- University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna (BOKU), Department of Agrobiotechnology, IFA-Tulln, Institute of Bioanalytics and Agro-Metabolomics, Konrad-Lorenz-Str. 20, 3430 Tulln, Austria
| | - Doris Marko
- University of Vienna, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Währinger Str. 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria
| | - Benedikt Warth
- University of Vienna, Faculty of Chemistry, Department of Food Chemistry and Toxicology, Währinger Str. 38, 1090 Vienna, Austria.
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10
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Evaluation of Feature Selection Techniques for Breast Cancer Risk Prediction. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182010670. [PMID: 34682416 PMCID: PMC8535206 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2021] [Revised: 09/25/2021] [Accepted: 09/27/2021] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
This study evaluates several feature ranking techniques together with some classifiers based on machine learning to identify relevant factors regarding the probability of contracting breast cancer and improve the performance of risk prediction models for breast cancer in a healthy population. The dataset with 919 cases and 946 controls comes from the MCC-Spain study and includes only environmental and genetic features. Breast cancer is a major public health problem. Our aim is to analyze which factors in the cancer risk prediction model are the most important for breast cancer prediction. Likewise, quantifying the stability of feature selection methods becomes essential before trying to gain insight into the data. This paper assesses several feature selection algorithms in terms of performance for a set of predictive models. Furthermore, their robustness is quantified to analyze both the similarity between the feature selection rankings and their own stability. The ranking provided by the SVM-RFE approach leads to the best performance in terms of the area under the ROC curve (AUC) metric. Top-47 ranked features obtained with this approach fed to the Logistic Regression classifier achieve an AUC = 0.616. This means an improvement of 5.8% in comparison with the full feature set. Furthermore, the SVM-RFE ranking technique turned out to be highly stable (as well as Random Forest), whereas relief and the wrapper approaches are quite unstable. This study demonstrates that the stability and performance of the model should be studied together as Random Forest and SVM-RFE turned out to be the most stable algorithms, but in terms of model performance SVM-RFE outperforms Random Forest.
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Gabet S, Lemarchand C, Guénel P, Slama R. Breast Cancer Risk in Association with Atmospheric Pollution Exposure: A Meta-Analysis of Effect Estimates Followed by a Health Impact Assessment. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2021; 129:57012. [PMID: 34038220 PMCID: PMC8153692 DOI: 10.1289/ehp8419] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 05/04/2021] [Indexed: 05/25/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The epidemiological literature of associations between atmospheric pollutant exposure and breast cancer incidence has recently strongly evolved. OBJECTIVES We aimed to perform a) a meta-analysis of studies considering this relationship, correcting for publication bias and taking menopausal status and cancer hormone responsiveness into account; and b) for the pollutants most likely to affect breast cancer, an assessment of the corresponding number of attributable cases in France and of the related economic costs. METHODS We conducted a literature review and random-effects meta-analyses of epidemiological studies examining the association of fine particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5μm (PM2.5), particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 10 μm (PM10), and NO2 long-term exposure with breast cancer incidence; additional analyses were stratified on menopausal status and on tumor hormone responsiveness status. The resulting dose-response functions were combined with modeled atmospheric pollutant exposures in 2013 for France, cancer treatments costs, lost productivity, and years of life lost, to estimate the number of breast cancers attributable to atmospheric pollution and related economic costs in France. RESULTS The review identified 32, 27, and 36 effect estimates for PM2.5, PM10, and NO2, respectively. The meta-analytical relative risk estimates of breast cancer corrected for publication bias were 1.006 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.941, 1.076], 1.047 (95% CI: 0.984, 1.113), and 1.023 (95% CI: 1.005, 1.041), respectively. NO2 estimated effects appeared higher in premenopausal than in postmenopausal women and higher for hormone responsive positive (ER+/PR+) than negative (ER-/PR-) breast cancers. Assuming a causal effect of NO2, we estimated that 1,677 (95% CI: 374, 2,914) new breast cancer cases were attributable to NO2 annually in France, or 3.15% (95% CI: 0.70, 5.48) of the incident cases. The corresponding tangible and intangible costs were estimated to be €825 million (low, high: 570, 1,080) per year. CONCLUSION These findings suggest that decreasing long-term NO2 exposure or correlated air pollutant exposures could lower breast cancer risk. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP8419.
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Affiliation(s)
- Stephan Gabet
- Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (Inserm), Le Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Reproduction and Respiratory Health, IAB, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
| | - Clémentine Lemarchand
- Inserm, Exposome and Heredity, Centre de recherche en Épidémiologie et Santé des Populations (CESP), Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Pascal Guénel
- Inserm, Exposome and Heredity, Centre de recherche en Épidémiologie et Santé des Populations (CESP), Université Paris-Saclay, Villejuif, France
| | - Rémy Slama
- Institut national de la santé et de la recherche médicale (Inserm), Le Centre national de la recherche scientifique (CNRS), Team of Environmental Epidemiology Applied to Reproduction and Respiratory Health, IAB, Université Grenoble Alpes, Grenoble, France
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12
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Marks KJ, Howards PP, Smarr MM, Flanders WD, Northstone K, Daniel JH, Calafat AM, Sjödin A, Marcus M, Hartman TJ. Prenatal exposure to mixtures of persistent endocrine disrupting chemicals and early menarche in a population-based cohort of British girls. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 276:116705. [PMID: 33592441 PMCID: PMC8111784 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116705] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/24/2020] [Revised: 01/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/05/2021] [Indexed: 05/11/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs) is ubiquitous. EDC exposure, especially during critical periods of development like the prenatal window, may interfere with the body's endocrine system, which can affect growth and developmental outcomes such as puberty. Most studies have examined one EDC at a time in relation to disease; however, humans are exposed to many EDCs. By studying mixtures, the human experience can be more closely replicated. We investigated the association of prenatal exposure to persistent EDCs (poly- and perfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), and organochlorine pesticides (OCPs)) as mixtures with early menarche among female offspring in a nested case-control study within the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children (ALSPAC) recruited in the United Kingdom in 1991-1992. Concentrations of 52 EDCs were quantified in maternal serum samples collected during pregnancy. Daughter's age at menarche was ascertained through mailed questionnaires sent annually. We used repeated holdout weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression and Bayesian kernel machine regression (BKMR) to examine the association between prenatal exposure to multiple EDCs and early menarche (<11.5 (n = 218) vs. ≥11.5 years (n = 230)) for each chemical class separately (PFAS, PCBs, and OCPs) and for all three classes combined. Models adjusted for maternal age at menarche, maternal education, parity, pre-pregnancy body mass index, maternal age, prenatal smoking, and gestational week at sample collection. Mixture models showed null associations between prenatal exposure to EDC mixtures and early menarche. Using WQS regression, the odds ratio for early menarche for a one-decile increase in chemical concentrations for all three classes combined was 0.89 (95% CI: 0.76, 1.05); using BKMR, the odds ratio when all exposures were at the 60th percentile compared to the median was 0.98 (95% CI: 0.91, 1.05). Results suggest the overall effect of prenatal exposure to persistent EDC mixtures is not associated with early menarche.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kristin J Marks
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States; Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education, Oak Ridge, TN, United States.
| | - Penelope P Howards
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Melissa M Smarr
- Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - W Dana Flanders
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Kate Northstone
- Department of Population Health Sciences, Bristol Medical School, Bristol, United Kingdom
| | - Johnni H Daniel
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Antonia M Calafat
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Andreas Sjödin
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Michele Marcus
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; Gangarosa Department of Environmental Health, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States
| | - Terryl J Hartman
- Department of Epidemiology, Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta, GA, United States; National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States
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13
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Soto AM, Schaeberle CM, Sonnenschein C. From Wingspread to CLARITY: a personal trajectory. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2021; 17:247-256. [PMID: 33514909 PMCID: PMC9662687 DOI: 10.1038/s41574-020-00460-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
In the three decades since endocrine disruption was conceptualized at the Wingspread Conference, we have witnessed the growth of this multidisciplinary field and the accumulation of evidence showing the deleterious health effects of endocrine-disrupting chemicals. It is only within the past decade that, albeit slowly, some changes regarding regulatory measures have taken place. In this Perspective, we address some historical points regarding the advent of the endocrine disruption field and the conceptual changes that endocrine disruption brought about. We also provide our personal recollection of the events triggered by our serendipitous discovery of oestrogenic activity in plastic, a founder event in the field of endocrine disruption. This recollection ends with the CLARITY study as an example of a discordance between 'science for its own sake' and 'regulatory science' and leads us to offer a perspective that could be summarized by the motto attributed to Ludwig Boltzmann: "Nothing is more practical than a good theory".
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Soto
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University, School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA.
| | - Cheryl M Schaeberle
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University, School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
| | - Carlos Sonnenschein
- Department of Immunology, Tufts University, School of Medicine, Boston, MA, USA
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14
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Rodríguez-Carrillo A, Rosenmai AK, Mustieles V, Couderq S, Fini JB, Vela-Soria F, Molina-Molina JM, Ferrando-Marco P, Wielsøe M, Long M, Bonefeld-Jorgensen EC, Olea N, Vinggaard AM, Fernández MF. Assessment of chemical mixtures using biomarkers of combined biological activity: A screening study in human placentas. Reprod Toxicol 2021; 100:143-154. [PMID: 33444715 DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2021.01.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/27/2020] [Revised: 12/26/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 11/26/2022]
Abstract
Humans are simultaneously exposed to complex mixtures of chemicals with limited knowledge on potential health effects, therefore improved tools for assessing these mixtures are needed. As part of the Human Biomonitoring for Europe (HBM4EU) Project, we aimed to examine the combined biological activity of chemical mixtures extracted from human placentas using one in vivo and four in vitro bioassays, also known as biomarkers of combined effect. Relevant endocrine activities (proliferative and/or reporter gene assays) and four endpoints were tested: the estrogen receptor (ER), androgen receptor (AR), and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) activities, as well as thyroid hormone (TH) signaling. Correlations among bioassays and their functional shapes were evaluated. Results showed that all placental extracts agonized or antagonized at least three of the abovementioned endpoints. Most placentas induced ER-mediated transactivation and ER-dependent cell proliferation, together with a strong inhibition of TH signaling and the AR transactivity; while the induction of the AhR was found in only one placental extract. The effects in the two estrogenic bioassays were positively and significantly correlated and the AR-antagonism activity showed a positive borderline-significant correlation with both estrogenic bioassay activities. However, the in vivo anti-thyroid activities of placental extracts were not correlated with any of the tested in vitro assays. Findings highlight the importance of comprehensively mapping the biological effects of "real-world" chemical mixtures present in human samples, through a battery of in vitro and in vivo bioassays. This approach should be a complementary tool for epidemiological studies to further elucidate the combined biological fingerprint triggered by chemical mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrea Rodríguez-Carrillo
- University of Granada, Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM), Spain; Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016, Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Ibs GRANADA, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), 18100, Spain
| | - Anna Kjerstine Rosenmai
- Division of Diet, Disease Prevention and Toxicology, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Vicente Mustieles
- University of Granada, Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM), Spain; Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016, Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Ibs GRANADA, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), 18100, Spain.
| | - Stephan Couderq
- Physiologie moléculaire et Adaptation, Département "Adaptation du Vivant," UMR 7221 MNHN/CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris 75005, France
| | - Jean-Baptiste Fini
- Physiologie moléculaire et Adaptation, Département "Adaptation du Vivant," UMR 7221 MNHN/CNRS, Muséum National d'Histoire Naturelle, Paris 75005, France
| | - Fernando Vela-Soria
- University of Granada, Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM), Spain; Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016, Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Ibs GRANADA, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), 18100, Spain
| | - Jose Manuel Molina-Molina
- University of Granada, Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM), Spain; Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016, Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Ibs GRANADA, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), 18100, Spain
| | | | - Maria Wielsøe
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Manhai Long
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Eva Cecilie Bonefeld-Jorgensen
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health Aarhus University, Denmark; Greenland Centre for Health Research, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Nicolás Olea
- University of Granada, Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM), Spain; Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016, Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Ibs GRANADA, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), 18100, Spain
| | - Anne Marie Vinggaard
- Division of Diet, Disease Prevention and Toxicology, National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Mariana F Fernández
- University of Granada, Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM), Spain; Department of Radiology and Physical Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Granada, 18016, Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Ibs GRANADA, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), 18100, Spain.
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15
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Zare Jeddi M, Hopf NB, Viegas S, Price AB, Paini A, van Thriel C, Benfenati E, Ndaw S, Bessems J, Behnisch PA, Leng G, Duca RC, Verhagen H, Cubadda F, Brennan L, Ali I, David A, Mustieles V, Fernandez MF, Louro H, Pasanen-Kase R. Towards a systematic use of effect biomarkers in population and occupational biomonitoring. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 146:106257. [PMID: 33395925 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106257] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/30/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Effect biomarkers can be used to elucidate relationships between exposure to environmental chemicals and their mixtures with associated health outcomes, but they are often underused, as underlying biological mechanisms are not understood. We aim to provide an overview of available effect biomarkers for monitoring chemical exposures in the general and occupational populations, and highlight their potential in monitoring humans exposed to chemical mixtures. We also discuss the role of the adverse outcome pathway (AOP) framework and physiologically based kinetic and dynamic (PBK/D) modelling to strengthen the understanding of the biological mechanism of effect biomarkers, and in particular for use in regulatory risk assessments. An interdisciplinary network of experts from the European chapter of the International Society for Exposure Science (ISES Europe) and the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) Occupational Biomonitoring activity of Working Parties of Hazard and Exposure Assessment group worked together to map the conventional framework of biomarkers and provided recommendations for their systematic use. We summarized the key aspects of this work here, and discussed these in three parts. Part I, we inventory available effect biomarkers and promising new biomarkers for the general population based on the H2020 Human Biomonitoring for Europe (HBM4EU) initiative. Part II, we provide an overview AOP and PBK/D modelling use that improved the selection and interpretation of effect biomarkers. Part III, we describe the collected expertise from the OECD Occupational Biomonitoring subtask effect biomarkers in prioritizing relevant mode of actions (MoAs) and suitable effect biomarkers. Furthermore, we propose a tiered risk assessment approach for occupational biomonitoring. Several effect biomarkers, especially for use in occupational settings, are validated. They offer a direct assessment of the overall health risks associated with exposure to chemicals, chemical mixtures and their transformation products. Promising novel effect biomarkers are emerging for biomonitoring of the general population. Efforts are being dedicated to prioritizing molecular and biochemical effect biomarkers that can provide a causal link in exposure-health outcome associations. This mechanistic approach has great potential in improving human health risk assessment. New techniques such as in silico methods (e.g. QSAR, PBK/D modelling) as well as 'omics data will aid this process. Our multidisciplinary review represents a starting point for enhancing the identification of effect biomarkers and their mechanistic pathways following the AOP framework. This may help in prioritizing the effect biomarker implementation as well as defining threshold limits for chemical mixtures in a more structured way. Several ex vivo biomarkers have been proposed to evaluate combined effects including genotoxicity and xeno-estrogenicity. There is a regulatory need to derive effect-based trigger values using the increasing mechanistic knowledge coming from the AOP framework to address adverse health effects due to exposure to chemical mixtures. Such a mechanistic strategy would reduce the fragmentation observed in different regulations. It could also stimulate a harmonized use of effect biomarkers in a more comparable way, in particular for risk assessments to chemical mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maryam Zare Jeddi
- Unit of Biostatistics, Epidemiology and Public Health, Department of Cardio-Thoraco-Vascular Sciences and Public Health, University of Padova, Italy
| | - Nancy B Hopf
- Center for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté), University of Lausanne, Lausanne, Epalinges, Switzerland
| | - Susana Viegas
- NOVA National School of Public Health, Public Health Research Centre, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1600-560 Lisbon, Portugal; Comprehensive Health Research Center (CHRC), 1150-090 Lisbon, Portugal; H&TRC-Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL-Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, 1990-096 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Anna Bal Price
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | - Alicia Paini
- European Commission, Joint Research Centre (JRC), Ispra, Italy
| | - Christoph van Thriel
- Leibniz Research Centre for Working Environment and Human Factors at the Technical University of Dortmund (IfADo), Ardeystrasse 67, 44139 Dortmund, Germany
| | - Emilio Benfenati
- Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry and Toxicology, Istituto Di Ricerche Farmacologiche Mario Negri IRCCS, Via La Masa, 19, 20156 Milano, Italy
| | - Sophie Ndaw
- INRS-French National Research and Safety Institute, France
| | - Jos Bessems
- VITO - Flemish Institute for Technological Research, Belgium
| | - Peter A Behnisch
- BioDetection Systems b.v., Science Park 406, 1098 XH Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Gabriele Leng
- Currenta GmbH Co. OHG, Institute of Biomonitoring, Leverkusen, Germany
| | - Radu-Corneliu Duca
- Unit Environmental Hygiene and Human Biological Monitoring, Department of Health Protection, National Health Laboratory, Dudelange, Luxembourg
| | - Hans Verhagen
- Food Safety & Nutrition Consultancy (FSNConsultancy), Zeist, the Netherlands
| | - Francesco Cubadda
- Istituto Superiore di Sanità-National Institute of Health, Rome, Italy
| | - Lorraine Brennan
- School of Agriculture and Food Science, Institute of Food and Health, University College Dublin, Dublin, Ireland
| | - Imran Ali
- Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Arthur David
- Univ Rennes, Inserm, EHESP, Irset (Institut de Recherche en Santé, Environnement et Travail)-UMR_S 1085, F-35000 Rennes, France
| | - Vicente Mustieles
- University of Granada, Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM), Granada, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Mariana F Fernandez
- University of Granada, Center for Biomedical Research (CIBM), Granada, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain
| | - Henriqueta Louro
- National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge, Department of Human Genetics, Lisboa and ToxOmics - Centre for Toxicogenomics and Human Health, NOVA Medical School, Universidade Nova de Lisboa, Portugal
| | - Robert Pasanen-Kase
- State Secretariat for Economic Affairs (SECO), Labour Directorate Section Chemicals and Work (ABCH), Switzerland.
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16
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Vinggaard AM, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC, Jensen TK, Fernandez MF, Rosenmai AK, Taxvig C, Rodriguez-Carrillo A, Wielsøe M, Long M, Olea N, Antignac JP, Hamers T, Lamoree M. Receptor-based in vitro activities to assess human exposure to chemical mixtures and related health impacts. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2021; 146:106191. [PMID: 33068852 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2020.106191] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/29/2020] [Revised: 09/23/2020] [Accepted: 10/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Humans are exposed to a large number of chemicals from sources such as the environment, food, and consumer products. There is growing concern that human exposure to chemical mixtures, especially during critical periods of development, increases the risk of adverse health effects in newborns or later in life. Historically, the one-chemical-at-a-time approach has been applied both for exposure assessment and hazard characterisation, leading to insufficient knowledge about human health effects caused by exposure to mixtures of chemicals that have the same target. To circumvent this challenge researchers can apply in vitro assays to analyse both exposure to and human health effects of chemical mixtures in biological samples. The advantages of using in vitro assays are: (i) that an integrated effect is measured, taking combined mixture effects into account and (ii) that in vitro assays can reduce complexity in identification of Chemicals of Emerging Concern (CECs) in human tissues. We have reviewed the state-of-the-art on the use of receptor-based in vitro assays to assess human exposure to chemical mixtures and related health impacts. A total of 43 studies were identified, in which endpoints for the arylhydrocarbon receptor (AhR), the estrogen receptor (ER), and the androgen receptor (AR) were used. The majority of studies reported biological activities that could be associated with breast cancer incidence, male reproductive health effects, developmental toxicities, human demographic characteristics or lifestyle factors such as dietary patterns. A few studies used the bioactivities to check the coverage of the chemical analyses of the human samples, whereas in vitro assays have so far not regularly been used for identifying CECs in human samples, but rather in environmental matrices or food packaging materials. A huge field of novel applications using receptor-based in vitro assays for mixture toxicity assessment on human samples and effect-directed analysis (EDA) using high resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) for identification of toxic compounds waits for exploration. In the future this could lead to a paradigm shift in the way we unravel adverse human health effects caused by chemical mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne Marie Vinggaard
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 202, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark.
| | - Eva Cecilie Bonefeld-Jørgensen
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark; Greenland's Centre for Health Research, University of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Tina Kold Jensen
- Dep of Environmental Medicine, University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
| | - Mariana F Fernandez
- School of Medicine, Center of Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
| | - Anna Kjerstine Rosenmai
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 202, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Camilla Taxvig
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet Building 202, 2800 Kgs. Lyngby, Denmark
| | | | - Maria Wielsøe
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Manhai Long
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular Epidemiology, Department of Public Health, Aarhus University, Denmark
| | - Nicolas Olea
- School of Medicine, Center of Biomedical Research, University of Granada, Spain; Consortium for Biomedical Research in Epidemiology & Public Health (CIBERESP), Spain
| | | | - Timo Hamers
- Vrije Universiteit, Department Environment & Health, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
| | - Marja Lamoree
- Vrije Universiteit, Department Environment & Health, De Boelelaan 1108, 1081 HZ Amsterdam, the Netherlands
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17
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Kassotis CD, Herkert NJ, Hammel SC, Hoffman K, Xia Q, Kullman SW, Sosa JA, Stapleton HM. Thyroid Receptor Antagonism of Chemicals Extracted from Personal Silicone Wristbands within a Papillary Thyroid Cancer Pilot Study. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2020; 54:15296-15312. [PMID: 33185092 PMCID: PMC7819617 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c05972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
Research suggests that thyroid cancer incidence rates are increasing, and environmental exposures have been postulated to be playing a role. To explore this possibility, we conducted a pilot study to investigate the thyroid disrupting bioactivity of chemical mixtures isolated from personal silicone wristband samplers within a thyroid cancer cohort. Specifically, we evaluated TRβ antagonism of chemical mixtures extracted from wristbands (n = 72) worn by adults in central North Carolina participating in a case-control study on papillary thyroid cancer. Sections of wristbands were solvent-extracted and analyzed via mass spectrometry to quantify a suite of semivolatile chemicals. A second extract from each wristband was used in a bioassay to quantify TRβ antagonism in human embryonic kidney cells (HEK293/17) at concentrations ranging from 0.1 to 10% of the original extract (by volume). Approximately 70% of the sample extracts tested at a 1% extract concentration exhibited significant TRβ antagonism, with a mean of 30% and a range of 0-100%. Inhibited cell viability was noted in >20% of samples that were tested at 5 and 10% concentrations. Antagonism was positively associated with wristband concentrations of several phthalates, organophosphate esters, and brominated flame retardants. These results suggest that personal passive samplers may be useful in evaluating the bioactivities of mixtures that people contact on a daily basis. We also report tentative associations between thyroid receptor antagonism, chemical concentrations, and papillary thyroid cancer case status. Future research utilizing larger sample sizes, prospective data collection, and measurement of serum thyroid hormone levels (which were not possible in this study) should be utilized to more comprehensively evaluate these associations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Christopher D Kassotis
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Nicholas J Herkert
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Stephanie C Hammel
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Kate Hoffman
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Qianyi Xia
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
| | - Seth W Kullman
- Toxicology Program, North Carolina State University, Raleigh, North Carolina 27695, United States
| | - Julie Ann Sosa
- Department of Surgery, University of California at San Francisco, San Francisco, California 94143, United States
| | - Heather M Stapleton
- Nicholas School of the Environment, Duke University, Durham, North Carolina 27708, United States
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18
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Goodson WH, Lowe L, Gilbertson M, Carpenter DO. Testing the low dose mixtures hypothesis from the Halifax project. REVIEWS ON ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH 2020; 35:333-357. [PMID: 32833669 DOI: 10.1515/reveh-2020-0033] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/13/2020] [Accepted: 06/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
In 2013, 60 scientists, representing a larger group of 174 scientists from 26 nations, met in Halifax, Nova Scotia to consider whether - using published research - it was logical to anticipate that a mixture of chemicals, each thought to be non-carcinogenic, might act together in that mixture as a virtual carcinogen. The group identified 89 such chemicals, each one affecting one or more Hallmark(s) - collectively covering all Hallmarks of Cancer - confirming the possibility that a chemical mixture could induce all the Hallmarks and function as a virtual carcinogen, thereby supporting the concern that chemical safety research that does not evaluate mixtures, is incomplete. Based on these observations, the Halifax Project developed the Low-Dose Carcinogenesis Hypothesis which posits "…that low-dose exposures to [mixtures of] disruptive chemicals that are not individually carcinogenic may be capable of instigating and/or enabling carcinogenesis." Although testing all possible combinations of over 80,000 chemicals of commerce would be impractical, prudence requires designing a methodology to test whether low-dose chemical mixtures might be carcinogenic. As an initial step toward testing this hypothesis, we conducted a mini review of published empirical observations of biological exposures to chemical mixtures to assess what empirical data exists on which to base future research. We reviewed studies on chemical mixtures with the criteria that the studies reported both different concentrations of chemicals and mixtures composed of different chemicals. We found a paucity of research on this important question. The majority of studies reported hormone related processes and used chemical concentrations selected to facilitate studying how mixtures behave in experiments that were often removed from clinical relevance, i.e., chemicals were not studied at human-relevant concentrations. New research programs must be envisioned to enable study of how mixtures of small doses of chemicals affect human health, starting, when at all possible, from non-malignant specimens when studies are done in vitro. This research should use human relevant concentrations of chemicals, expand research beyond the historic focus on endocrine endpoints and endocrine related cancers, and specifically seek effects that arise uniquely from exposure to chemical mixtures at human-relevant concentrations.
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Affiliation(s)
- William H Goodson
- Department of Surgery, California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute, San Francisco, CA, 94115, USA
| | - Leroy Lowe
- Getting to Know Cancer (NGO), Truro, NS, B2N 1X5, Canada
| | - Michael Gilbertson
- Occupational and Environmental Health Research Group, University of Stirling, Stirling, Scotland
| | - David O Carpenter
- Institute for Health and the Environment, University at Albany, Rensselaer, NY, 12144, USA
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19
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Gea M, Toso A, Schilirò T. Estrogenic activity of biological samples as a biomarker. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 740:140050. [PMID: 32927569 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.140050] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/07/2020] [Revised: 06/04/2020] [Accepted: 06/05/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
Biological assays can evaluate the cumulative effect of a mixture, considering synergistic/antagonistic interactions and effects of unknown/unconsidered compounds. Therefore, their application could increase in the next years also to analyse biological samples. The aim of this review is to discuss the methodological approach and the application of estrogenic activity assays in human biological samples. 75 research articles were analysed and divided according to whether they used these assays: i) to quantify the level of estrogens and/or as a biomarker of estrogenic status ii) as a biomarker of exposure to endocrine disrupting chemicals (EDCs). For the first purpose, some authors extracted biological samples while others tested them directly without any treatment. The study of these methodologies outlined that the methodology applied influenced the specificity of analysis. The estrogenic activity biomarker was used to analyse physiological variations of estrogens, pediatric diseases, hormone-dependent diseases and estrogen suppression/enhancement after pharmaceutical treatments. For the second purpose, some authors extracted samples while others tested them directly, some authors divided endogenous estrogens from xenoestrogens while others tested samples without separation. The analysis of these methodologies outlined some limitations related to the efficiency of extraction and the incorrect separation of some compounds. The studies which applied this EDC biomarker showed that it was correlated with some EDCs, it varied according to the exposure of the population and it allowed the identification of some relationships between EDC exposure and breast cancer, type 1 diabetes and adverse health effects on children. In conclusion, the estrogenic activity of biological samples can be a useful tool: to quantify low levels of 17β-estradiol, to assess the combined effect of endogenous estrogens and xenoestrogens, to estimate the estrogenic status providing considerable insight into physiological or pathological conditions, to evaluate EDC presence implementing the existing knowledge about EDC exposure and adverse health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Gea
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Piazza Polonia 94, 10126 Torino, Italy.
| | - Anna Toso
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Piazza Polonia 94, 10126 Torino, Italy
| | - Tiziana Schilirò
- Department of Public Health and Pediatrics, University of Torino, Piazza Polonia 94, 10126 Torino, Italy
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20
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Fernández-Martínez NF, Ching-López A, Olry de Labry Lima A, Salamanca-Fernández E, Pérez-Gómez B, Jiménez-Moleón JJ, Sánchez MJ, Rodríguez-Barranco M. Relationship between exposure to mixtures of persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals and cancer risk: A systematic review. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 188:109787. [PMID: 32798941 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109787] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/20/2020] [Revised: 06/03/2020] [Accepted: 06/03/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Environmental risks are responsible for one in five of all deaths worldwide. Persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic substances are chemicals that can subsist for decades in human tissues and the environment. They include heavy metals, organochlorines, polychlorinated biphenyls, organobromines, organofluorines, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons among others. Although humans are often exposed to multiple pollutants simultaneously, their negative effects on health have generally been studied for each one separately. Among the most severe of these harmful effects is cancer. Here, to compile and analyze the available evidence on the relationship between exposure to mixtures of persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals and the risk of developing cancer in the general population, we provide a systematic review based on the main databases (Cochrane, PubMed and Embase), together with complementary sources, using the general methodology of the PRISMA Statement. The articles analyzed were selected by two researchers working independently and their quality was evaluated by reference to the Newcastle-Ottawa scale. The initial search yielded 2379 results from the main sources of information and 22 from the complementary ones. After the article selection process, 22 were included in the final review (21 case-control studies and one cohort study). Analysis of the selected studies revealed that most of the mixtures analyzed were positively associated with risk of cancer, especially that of the breast, colon-rectum or testis, and more strongly so than each contaminant alone. In view of the possible stronger association observed with the development of cancer for some mixtures of pollutants than when each one is present separately, exposure to mixtures should also be monitored and measured, preferably in cohort designs, to complement the traditional approach to persistent, bioaccumulative, and toxic chemicals. The results presented should be taken into account in public health policies in order to strengthen the regulatory framework for cancer prevention and control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicolás Francisco Fernández-Martínez
- Unidad de Gestión Clínica Interniveles de Prevención, Promoción y Vigilancia de La Salud, Hospital Universitario Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain; Maimonides Institute for Research in Biomedicine of Cordoba (IMIBIC), Córdoba, Spain
| | - Ana Ching-López
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Andalusian School of Public Health (EASP), Granada, Spain
| | - Antonio Olry de Labry Lima
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Andalusian School of Public Health (EASP), Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
| | - Elena Salamanca-Fernández
- Andalusian School of Public Health (EASP), Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
| | - Beatriz Pérez-Gómez
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Department of Epidemiology of Chronic Diseases, National Centre for Epidemiology, Carlos III Institute of Health, Madrid, Spain
| | - José Juan Jiménez-Moleón
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Maria José Sánchez
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Andalusian School of Public Health (EASP), Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain; Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Granada, Granada, Spain.
| | - Miguel Rodríguez-Barranco
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), Madrid, Spain; Andalusian School of Public Health (EASP), Granada, Spain; Instituto de Investigación Biosanitaria Ibs.GRANADA, Granada, Spain
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21
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Zeinomar N, Oskar S, Kehm RD, Sahebzeda S, Terry MB. Environmental exposures and breast cancer risk in the context of underlying susceptibility: A systematic review of the epidemiological literature. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 187:109346. [PMID: 32445942 PMCID: PMC7314105 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109346] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/10/2019] [Revised: 03/02/2020] [Accepted: 03/02/2020] [Indexed: 05/07/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The evidence evaluating environmental chemical exposures (ECE) and breast cancer (BC) risk is heterogeneous which may stem in part as few studies measure ECE during key BC windows of susceptibility (WOS). Another possibility may be that most BC studies are skewed towards individuals at average risk, which may limit the ability to detect signals from ECE. OBJECTIVES We reviewed the literature on ECE and BC focusing on three types of studies or subgroup analyses based on higher absolute BC risk: BC family history (Type 1); early onset BC (Type 2); and/or genetic susceptibility (Type 3). METHODS We systematically searched the PubMed database to identify epidemiologic studies examining ECE and BC risk published through June 1, 2019. RESULTS We identified 100 publications in 56 unique epidemiologic studies. Of these 56 studies, only 2 (3.6%) were enriched with BC family history and only 11% of studies (6/56) were specifically enriched with early onset cases. 80% of the publications from these 8 enriched studies (Type 1: 8/10 publications; Type 2: 8/10 publications) supported a statistically significant association between ECE and BC risk including studies of PAH, indoor cooking, NO2, DDT; PCBs, PFOSA; metals; personal care products; and occupational exposure to industrial dyes. 74% of Type 3 publications (20/27) supported statistically significant associations for PAHs, traffic-related air pollution, PCBs, phthalates, and PFOSAs in subgroups of women with greater genetic susceptibility due to variants in carcinogen metabolism, DNA repair, oxidative stress, cellular apoptosis and tumor suppressor genes. DISCUSSION Studies enriched for women at higher BC risk through family history, younger age of onset and/or genetic susceptibility consistently support an association between an ECE and BC risk. In addition to measuring exposures during WOS, designing studies that are enriched with women at higher absolute risk are necessary to robustly measure the role of ECE on BC risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nur Zeinomar
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Sabine Oskar
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Rebecca D Kehm
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Shamin Sahebzeda
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA
| | - Mary Beth Terry
- Department of Epidemiology, Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia University, New York, NY, USA; Herbert Irving Comprehensive Cancer Center, Columbia University Irving Medical Center, New York, NY, USA.
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22
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Advances in anti-breast cancer drugs and the application of nano-drug delivery systems in breast cancer therapy. J Drug Deliv Sci Technol 2020. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jddst.2020.101662] [Citation(s) in RCA: 46] [Impact Index Per Article: 11.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
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23
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Rusiecki JA, Denic-Roberts H, Byrne C, Cash J, Raines CF, Brinton LA, Zahm SH, Mason T, Bonner MR, Blair A, Hoover R. Serum concentrations of DDE, PCBs, and other persistent organic pollutants and mammographic breast density in Triana, Alabama, a highly exposed population. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2020; 182:109068. [PMID: 31918312 PMCID: PMC7032000 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.109068] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/08/2019] [Revised: 12/18/2019] [Accepted: 12/19/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Although some persistent organic pollutants (POPs) are considered human carcinogens, results from studies evaluating exposures and breast cancer risk have been inconsistent, potentially related to varying ages at exposure. Additionally, few studies evaluated the association between POPs exposure and mammographic breast density (MBD), an intermediate biomarker of breast cancer risk. We carried out a cross-sectional study to investigate associations between serum POPs concentrations and MBD measured in 1998 in female residents of Triana, Alabama, in a predominately African American population with high POPs exposures, particularly to p,p'-DDT (1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethane). METHODS We measured lipid-adjusted serum concentrations (ng/g lipid) of p,p'-DDT and its main metabolite p,p'-DDE (1,1-dichloro-2,2-bis(p-chlorophenyl)ethylene), polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), β-hexachlorocyclohexane (β-HCCH), heptachlor epoxide, oxychlordane, trans-nonachlor, mirex, and aldrin for each woman in our study (n = 210). We also measured two MBD metrics, percent MBD (%MBD) and area of MBD (aMBD). Using adjusted Spearman correlation coefficients (rs) we evaluated correlations between %MBD and aMBD with individual POPs in the overall population and by age group (19-40, 41-54, and 55-91 years) and also estimated adjusted mean measures of MBD with 95% confidence intervals across tertiles of analytes using generalized linear models (GLM). We calculated p-values for multiplicative interaction by age group using GLM. Additional analyses excluded women with current hormone replacement therapy (HRT) use and evaluated early-life exposure (prior to age 18) during the heaviest contamination period in Triana (1947-90). RESULTS Among all women, we found no correlation between p,p'-DDE and %MBD, but after age stratification and exclusion of HRT users, there was a suggestion of a difference by age group, with younger women having a weak positive correlation (rs = 0.12, p = 0.37) and older women having a weak negative correlation (rs = -0.12, p = 0.43); pinteraction = 0.06. In contrast, PCBs were weakly positively correlated with %MBD among all women, with the correlation magnitudes increasing after excluding current HRT users (rs-total PCBs = 0.17, p = 0.03). After age stratification and exclusion of HRT users, correlations for PCBs were higher among younger and middle-age women, with only a handful of these correlations being statistically significant. For β-HCCH, the strongest finding was a negative correlation among older women (rs = -0.26, p = 0.07). Correlations were positive predominantly in the younger age group for heptachlor epoxide (rs = 0.27, p = 0.04), oxychlordane (rs = 0.35, p = 0.006), and trans-nonachlor (rs = 0.37, p = 0.003), and largely null for the middle and older age groups; pinteraction range: 0.03-0.05. Similar patterns were found in GLM analyses using tertiles of exposure and aMBD as the metric for MBD. Women exposed during the heaviest chemical contamination period in Triana prior to age 18 had positive correlations between %MBD and PCBs, heptachlor epoxide, mirex, oxychlordane, and trans-nonachlor. CONCLUSIONS In this population, despite high exposures to p,p'-DDT and thus high serum concentrations of its main metabolite, p,p'-DDE, we did not find strong evidence of a positive association with MBD. In fact, there was some evidence of a negative association among older women for p,p'-DDE; a similar pattern was found for β-HCCH. However, younger women with higher serum levels of PCBs, heptachlor epoxide, oxychlordane, and trans-nonachlor, who were likely exposed in early life, had higher MBD. These findings should be replicated in larger studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Rusiecki
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA.
| | - H Denic-Roberts
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA; Henry M. Jackson Foundation for the Advancement of Military Medicine, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - C Byrne
- Department of Preventive Medicine, Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - J Cash
- University of Alabama in Huntsville, College of Nursing, Huntsville, AL, USA
| | - C F Raines
- University of Alabama in Huntsville, College of Nursing, Huntsville, AL, USA
| | | | - S H Zahm
- Sheila Zahm Consulting, Formerly at National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Bethesda, MD, USA
| | - T Mason
- University of South Florida, College of Public Health, Tampa, FL, USA
| | - M R Bonner
- Department of Epidemiology and Environmental Health, State University of New York, Buffalo, NY, USA
| | - A Blair
- National Cancer Institute Retired, Scientist Emeritus, USA
| | - R Hoover
- National Cancer Institute, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, Bethesda, MD, USA
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Majhi PD, Sharma A, Roberts AL, Daniele E, Majewski AR, Chuong LM, Black AL, Vandenberg LN, Schneider SS, Dunphy KA, Jerry DJ. Effects of Benzophenone-3 and Propylparaben on Estrogen Receptor-Dependent R-Loops and DNA Damage in Breast Epithelial Cells and Mice. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2020; 128:17002. [PMID: 31939680 PMCID: PMC7015622 DOI: 10.1289/ehp5221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Endocrine-disrupting chemicals have been shown to have broad effects on development, but their mutagenic actions that can lead to cancer have been less clearly demonstrated. Physiological levels of estrogen have been shown to stimulate DNA damage in breast epithelial cells through mechanisms mediated by estrogen-receptor alpha (ERα). Benzophenone-3 (BP-3) and propylparaben (PP) are xenoestrogens found in the urine of >96% of U.S. OBJECTIVES We investigated the effect of BP-3 and PP on estrogen receptor-dependent transactivation and DNA damage at concentrations relevant to exposures in humans. METHODS In human breast epithelial cells, DNA damage following treatment with 17β-estradiol (E2), BP-3, and PP was determined by immunostaining with antibodies against γ-H2AX and 53BP1. Estrogenic responses were determined using luciferase reporter assays and gene expression. Formation of R-loops was determined with DNA: RNA hybrid-specific S9.6 antibody. Short-term exposure to the chemicals was also studied in ovariectomized mice. Immunostaining of mouse mammary epithelium was performed to quantify R-loops and DNA damage in vivo. RESULTS Concentrations of 1μM and 5μM BP-3 or PP increased DNA damage similar to that of E2 treatment in a ERα-dependent manner. However, BP-3 and PP had limited transactivation of target genes at 1μM and 5μM concentrations. BP-3 and PP exposure caused R-loop formation in a normal human breast epithelial cell line when ERα was introduced. R-loops and DNA damage were also detected in mammary epithelial cells of mice treated with BP-3 and PP. CONCLUSIONS Acute exposure to xenoestrogens (PP and BP-3) in mice induce DNA damage mediated by formation of ERα-dependent R-loops at concentrations 10-fold lower than those required for transactivation. Exposure to these xenoestrogens may cause deleterious estrogenic responses, such as DNA damage, in susceptible individuals. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP5221.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prabin Dhangada Majhi
- Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
- Department of Botany, Ravenshaw University, Cuttack, Odisha, India
| | - Aman Sharma
- Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Amy L. Roberts
- Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Elizabeth Daniele
- Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Aliza R. Majewski
- Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lynn M. Chuong
- Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Amye L. Black
- Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Laura N. Vandenberg
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Sallie S. Schneider
- University of Massachusetts Medical School, Baystate Campus, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
- Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Karen A. Dunphy
- Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
| | - D. Joseph Jerry
- Department of Veterinary & Animal Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, Massachusetts, USA
- Pioneer Valley Life Sciences Institute, Springfield, Massachusetts, USA
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Dogan S, Tongur T, Erkaymaz T, Erdogan G, Unal B, Sik B, Simsek T. Traces of intact paraben molecules in endometrial carcinoma. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2019; 26:31158-31165. [PMID: 31463755 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-019-06228-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/16/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Endometrial carcinoma is the most commonly encountered gynecological cancer in women worldwide and is also one of the popular models of the hormone-dependent carcinomas. This study was aimed to evaluate and compare the concentrations of five paraben molecules (methylparaben, ethylparaben, N-propylparaben, benzylparaben, isobutylparaben + N-butylparaben) in the endometrial and myometrial tissue samples of patients diagnosed with endometrial carcinoma and benign gynecologic diseases. A total of 88 patients were included in the study and chemical analysis was performed on 176 tissue samples. The study group comprised of 33 patients with endometrial carcinoma and 6 patients with endometrial intraepithelial neoplasia. The control group comprised of 49 patients. One endometrial and one myometrial tissue samples were collected from each patient. The analyses were performed using ultrahigh-performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC-MS/MS). At least one type of paraben molecule was detected in 23.07% (9/39) of the patients in the study group, and in 2.04% (1/49) of the patients in the control group; this difference between the groups was statistically significant (p = .002). N-Propylparaben and isobutyl + N-butylparaben were the most frequently detected (in 7/10 of the samples) paraben molecules in the study. Tumor characteristics (tumor diameter, myometrial invasion, architectural grade, nuclear grade, lymphovascular space invasion, and tumor stage) were comparable between the two groups of endometrial carcinoma (paraben-detected and paraben-undetected groups). In conclusion, paraben molecules were more frequently detected in the endometrial carcinoma tissue samples than in the normal endometrium.
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Affiliation(s)
- Selen Dogan
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Antalya Training and Research Hospital, Antalya, Turkey.
| | - Timur Tongur
- Food Safety and Research Institute, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Taner Erkaymaz
- Food Safety and Research Institute, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Gulgun Erdogan
- Department of Pathology, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Betul Unal
- Department of Pathology, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Bulent Sik
- Food Safety and Research Institute, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
| | - Tayup Simsek
- Department of Gynecologic Oncology, Akdeniz University, Antalya, Turkey
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Dairkee SH, Luciani-Torres G, Moore DH, Jaffee IM, Goodson WH. A Ternary Mixture of Common Chemicals Perturbs Benign Human Breast Epithelial Cells More Than the Same Chemicals Do Individually. Toxicol Sci 2019; 165:131-144. [PMID: 29846718 PMCID: PMC6135635 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfy126] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
As a continuous source of hormonal stimulation, environmentally ubiquitous estrogenic chemicals, ie, xenoestrogens (XEs), are a potential risk factor for breast carcinogenesis. Given their wide distribution in the environment and the fact that bisphenol-A (BPA), methylparaben (MP), and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) are uniformly detected in unselected body fluid samples, it must be assumed that humans are simultaneously exposed to these chemicals almost daily. We studied the effects of a ternary mixture of BPA, MP, and PFOA on benign breast epithelial cells at the range of concentrations observed for single chemicals in human samples. Measurements of exposure impact relevant to the breast were based on endpoints associated with “hallmarks” of cancer and “key characteristics” of carcinogens. These included modulation of total estrogen receptor (ER)α, phosphorylated ERα (pERα), total ERβ, S-phase induction, and apoptotic evasion. Data from live cell measurements were fit to a log-linear dose-response model. Concentration-dependent reduction of ERβ and apoptosis evasion was observed concurrently with the induction of ERα, pERα, and S-phase fraction, and an increased rate of cell proliferation. Beyond additive effects predicted by the sum of individual test XEs, mixture treatment demonstrated synergism for the ERβ and apoptosis suppression phenotypes (p > .001). Nonmalignant breast cells were more sensitive than commonly used breast cancer lines to XE treatment in 3 of 5 endpoints. All observations were validated with cells isolated from the normal breast tissue of 14 individuals. At relatively low concentrations, a chemical mixture has striking effects on normal cell function that are missed by evaluation of single components.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Dan H Moore
- California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute
| | - Ian M Jaffee
- Department of Pathology, California Pacific Medical Center, San Francisco, California 94107
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27
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Persistent Organic Pollutants and Breast Cancer: A Systematic Review and Critical Appraisal of the Literature. Cancers (Basel) 2019; 11:cancers11081063. [PMID: 31357644 PMCID: PMC6721417 DOI: 10.3390/cancers11081063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2019] [Revised: 07/23/2019] [Accepted: 07/24/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Persistent organic pollutants (POPs) bioaccumulate in the food chain and have been detected in human blood and adipose tissue. Experimental studies demonstrated that POPs can cause and promote growth of breast cancer. However, inconsistent results from epidemiological studies do not support a causal relationship between POPs and breast cancer in women. To identify individual POPs that are repeatedly found to be associated with both breast cancer incidence and progression, and to demystify the observed inconsistencies between epidemiological studies, we conducted a systematic review of 95 studies retrieved from three main electronic databases. While no clear pattern of associations between blood POPs and breast cancer incidence could be drawn, POPs measured in breast adipose tissue were more clearly associated with higher breast cancer incidence. POPs were more consistently associated with worse breast cancer prognosis whether measured in blood or breast adipose tissue. In contrast, POPs measured in adipose tissue other than breast were inversely associated with both breast cancer incidence and prognosis. Differences in biological tissues used for POPs measurement and methodological biases explain the discrepancies between studies results. Some individual compounds associated with both breast cancer incidence and progression, deserve further investigation.
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Abstract
Our genetic makeup and environment interact. Evidence has emerged demonstrating preconception and prenatal exposure to toxic agents have a profound effect on reproductive health. We cannot change our genetics, but we can change our environment. Health providers can protect pregnancies from harmful exposures. Pregnancy is the most critical time-window for human development, when any toxic exposure can cause lasting damage to brain development. Reproductive care professionals can provide useful information to patients and refer patients to appropriate specialists when hazardous exposure is identified. Clinical experience and expertise in communicating risks of treatment are transferable to environmental health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kelly McCue
- Obstetrics and Gynecology, The Permanente Medical Group, North Valley, 3rd Floor, 501 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, USA
| | - Nathaniel DeNicola
- The George Washington University, 2511 I Street Northwest, Washington, DC 20037, USA.
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29
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Gonzalez TL, Moos RK, Gersch CL, Johnson MD, Richardson RJ, Koch HM, Rae JM. Metabolites of n-Butylparaben and iso-Butylparaben Exhibit Estrogenic Properties in MCF-7 and T47D Human Breast Cancer Cell Lines. Toxicol Sci 2019; 164:50-59. [PMID: 29945225 DOI: 10.1093/toxsci/kfy063] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
Two oxidized metabolites of n-butylparaben (BuP) and iso-butylparaben (IsoBuP) discovered in human urine samples exhibit structural similarity to endogenous estrogens. We hypothesized that these metabolites bind to the human estrogen receptor (ER) and promote estrogen signaling. We tested this using models of ER-mediated cellular proliferation. The estrogenic properties of 3-hydroxy n-butyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (3OH) and 2-hydroxy iso-butyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (2OH) were determined using the ER-positive, estrogen-dependent human breast cancer cell lines MCF-7, and T47D. The 3OH metabolite induced cellular proliferation with EC50 of 8.2 µM in MCF-7 cells. The EC50 for 3OH in T47D cells could not be reached. The 2OH metabolite induced proliferation with EC50 of 2.2 µM and 43.0 µM in MCF-7 and T47D cells, respectively. The EC50 for the parental IsoBuP and BuP was 0.30 and 1.2 µM in MCF-7 cells, respectively. The expression of a pro-proliferative, estrogen-inducible gene (GREB1) was induced by these compounds and blocked by co-administration of an ER antagonist (ICI 182, 780), confirming the ER-dependence of these effects. The metabolites promoted significant ER-dependent transcriptional activity of an ERE-luciferase reporter construct at 10 and 20 µM for 2OH and 10 µM for 3OH. Computational docking studies showed that the paraben compounds exhibited the potential for favorable ligand-binding domain interactions with human ERα in a manner similar to known x-ray crystal structures of 17ß-estradiol in complex with ERα. We conclude that the hydroxylated metabolites of BuP and IsoBuP are weak estrogens and should be considered as additional components of potential endocrine disrupting effects upon paraben exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Thomas L Gonzalez
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Rebecca K Moos
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr Universität Bochum (IPA), Bochum 44789, Germany
| | - Christina L Gersch
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Michael D Johnson
- Department of Oncology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, Washington, District of Columbia 20057
| | - Rudy J Richardson
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109.,Department of Neurology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
| | - Holger M Koch
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr Universität Bochum (IPA), Bochum 44789, Germany
| | - James M Rae
- Division of Hematology/Oncology, Department of Internal Medicine, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109
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Lazarevic N, Barnett AG, Sly PD, Knibbs LD. Statistical Methodology in Studies of Prenatal Exposure to Mixtures of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals: A Review of Existing Approaches and New Alternatives. ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH PERSPECTIVES 2019; 127:26001. [PMID: 30720337 PMCID: PMC6752940 DOI: 10.1289/ehp2207] [Citation(s) in RCA: 116] [Impact Index Per Article: 23.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2017] [Revised: 01/09/2019] [Accepted: 01/10/2019] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposures to endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) during critical developmental windows have been implicated in the etiologies of a wide array of adverse perinatal and pediatric outcomes. Epidemiological studies have concentrated on the health effects of individual chemicals, despite the understanding that EDCs act together via common mechanisms, that pregnant women are exposed to multiple EDCs simultaneously, and that substantial toxicological evidence of adverse developmental effects has been documented. There is a move toward multipollutant models in environmental epidemiology; however, there is no current consensus on appropriate statistical methods. OBJECTIVES We aimed to review the statistical methods used in these studies, to identify additional applicable methods, and to determine the strengths and weaknesses of each method for addressing the salient statistical and epidemiological challenges. METHODS We searched Embase, MEDLINE, and Web of Science for epidemiological studies of endocrine-sensitive outcomes in the children of mothers exposed to EDC mixtures during pregnancy and identified alternative statistical methods from the wider literature. DISCUSSION We identified 74 studies and analyzed the methods used to estimate mixture health effects, identify important mixture components, account for nonmonotonicity in exposure–response relationships, assess interactions, and identify windows of exposure susceptibility. We identified both frequentist and Bayesian methods that are robust to multicollinearity, performing shrinkage, variable selection, dimension reduction, statistical learning, or smoothing, including methods that were not used by the studies included in our review. CONCLUSIONS Compelling motivation exists for analyzing EDCs as mixtures, yet many studies make simplifying assumptions about EDC additivity, relative potency, and linearity, or overlook the potential for bias due to asymmetries in chemical persistence. We discuss the potential impacts of these choices and suggest alternative methods to improve analyses of prenatal exposure to EDC mixtures. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP2207.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Lazarevic
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Adrian G Barnett
- School of Public Health and Social Work, Faculty of Health, Queensland University of Technology, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Peter D Sly
- Child Health Research Centre, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
| | - Luke D Knibbs
- School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine, The University of Queensland, Brisbane, Queensland, Australia
- Centre for Air Quality & Health Research and Evaluation, Glebe, New South Wales, Australia
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Abstract
Endocrine disruption has been gathering increasing attention in the past 25 years as a possible new threat for health and safety. Exposure to endocrine disruptor has been progressively linked with a growing number of increasing disease in the human population. The mechanics through which endocrine disruptors act are not yet completely clear, however a number of pathways have been identified. A key concern is the cumulative and synergic effects that endocrine disruptors could have when mixed in consumer products. We reviewed the available literature to identify known or potential endocrine disruptors, as well as endocrine active substances that could contribute to cumulative effects, in topical consumer products. The number of endocrine actives used daily in consumer products is staggering and even though most if not all are used in concentrations that are considered to be safe, we believe that the possibility of combined effects in mixtures and non-monotonic dose/response is enough to require further precautions. A combined in vitro approach based on existing, validated OECD test methods is suggested to screen consumer products and mixtures for potential interaction with estrogen and androgen hormone receptors, in order to identify products that could have cumulative effects or support their safety concerning direct endocrine disruption capabilities.
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32
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Roswall N, Sørensen M, Tjønneland A, Raaschou-Nielsen O. Organochlorine concentrations in adipose tissue and survival in postmenopausal, Danish breast cancer patients. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 163:237-248. [PMID: 29459306 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2018.02.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/15/2017] [Revised: 02/01/2018] [Accepted: 02/03/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Several studies have investigated an association between organochlorine-concentrations and breast cancer incidence, whereas few have investigated an association with breast cancer mortality. METHODS We used Cox Proportional Hazards Models to estimate the association between adipose organochlorine-concentrations and mortality after breast cancer in a survivor-cohort of 399 postmenopausal women. During a median follow-up of 16.1 years, 177 women died; 119 from breast cancer. RESULTS There was a general inverse association with PCB-concentration (e.g. ΣPCBs: Mortality Rate Ratio (MRR) 0.79, 95% confidence interval (CI) (0.64-0.98) per inter-quartile range (IQR)), and for all pesticides, except β-Hexachlorocyclohexane, which was not associated with mortality (MRR 1.02(0.87-1.18) per IQR), and dieldrin, which was associated with a significantly increased risk of death (MRR 1.22(1.05-1.41) per IQR). We found an interaction with prognostic factors for all PCBs, confining the inverse association to those with adverse prognostic factors. Results for pesticides suggested a similar, but mostly non-significant interaction. Dieldrin diverged from the general picture by being associated with increased mortality across all strata. CONCLUSION A higher concentration of PCBs and several organochlorine pesticides may be inversely associated with breast cancer mortality among women with adverse prognostic factors. Further studies are required to investigate if this is a causal association. Dieldrin was associated with a higher mortality, regardless of prognostic factors. IMPACT This is the first study to investigate an association between organochlorine concentrations in adipose tissue and breast cancer mortality. A prominent finding is a strong interaction with prognostic factors. The unexpected direction of association for most organochlorines encourages further studies of the role of individual metabolism of the organochlorines and a potentially stronger effect of the metabolites on mortality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nina Roswall
- Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Strandboulevarden 49, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark.
| | - Mette Sørensen
- Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Strandboulevarden 49, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Anne Tjønneland
- Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Strandboulevarden 49, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Ole Raaschou-Nielsen
- Danish Cancer Society Research Center, Strandboulevarden 49, DK-2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark; Department of Environmental Science, Aarhus University, Frederiksborgvej 399, DK-4000 Roskilde, Denmark
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Wielsøe M, Bjerregaard-Olesen C, Kern P, Bonefeld-Jørgensen EC. Receptor activities of persistent pollutant serum mixtures and breast cancer risk. Endocr Relat Cancer 2018; 25:201-215. [PMID: 29237712 DOI: 10.1530/erc-17-0366] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2017] [Accepted: 12/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
Studies on associations between persistent organic pollutants (POPs) and breast cancer risk are inconclusive. The majority of studies have evaluated the effect of single compounds, without considering multiple exposures to and interactions between different POPs. The present study aimed at evaluating breast cancer risk related to combined effects of serum POP mixtures on cellular receptor functions. Data on breast cancer cases (n = 77) and controls (n = 84) were collected among Greenlandic Inuit women. Serum mixtures of lipophilic POPs (lipPOPs), perfluoroalkyl acids (PFAAs) and dioxin-like POPs were extracted. The effect of the mixture extracts on the estrogen receptor (ER), androgen receptor (AR) and aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) was determined using cell culture reporter gene assays. The serum mixtures were analyzed alone and upon co-exposure with natural receptor ligands to determine agonistic and antagonistic/competitive activity. We found that the frequency of lipPOP mixtures eliciting no, decreasing, or agonizing xenoandrogenic effect differed by breast cancer status. Using lipPOP mixtures with no effect on AR as reference, the mixtures with decreasing effects reduced breast cancer risk (OR: 0.30 (0.12; 0.76)). The AhR-toxic equivalent of serum mixtures was significantly lower in cases than in controls, and a reduced breast cancer risk was found when comparing the third tertile to the first (OR: 0.34 (0.14; 0.83)). We found no association between the xenoestrogenic activities of lipPOPs or PFAAs and breast cancer risk. Serum lipPOP mixtures are hormone disruptive and may influence breast cancer risk, whereas PFAAs seem to influence breast cancer risk through other pathways.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maria Wielsøe
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular EpidemiologyDepartment of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Christian Bjerregaard-Olesen
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular EpidemiologyDepartment of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Peder Kern
- Department of Gynecology and ObstetricsDronning Ingrid's Hospital, Nuuk, Greenland
| | - Eva Cecilie Bonefeld-Jørgensen
- Centre for Arctic Health & Molecular EpidemiologyDepartment of Public Health, Aarhus University, Aarhus, Denmark
- Institute for Nursing and Health ScienceUniversity of Greenland, Nuuk, Greenland
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Lee DH. Evidence of the Possible Harm of Endocrine-Disrupting Chemicals in Humans: Ongoing Debates and Key Issues. Endocrinol Metab (Seoul) 2018; 33:44-52. [PMID: 29589387 PMCID: PMC5874194 DOI: 10.3803/enm.2018.33.1.44] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/13/2018] [Revised: 02/19/2018] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/31/2022] Open
Abstract
Evidence has emerged that endocrine-disrupting chemicals (EDCs) can produce adverse effects, even at low doses that are assumed safe. However, systemic reviews and meta-analyses focusing on human studies, especially of EDCs with short half-lives, have demonstrated inconsistent results. Epidemiological studies have insuperable methodological limitations, including the unpredictable net effects of mixtures, non-monotonic dose-response relationships, the non-existence of unexposed groups, and the low reliability of exposure assessment. Thus, despite increases in EDC-linked diseases, traditional epidemiological studies based on individual measurements of EDCs in bio-specimens may fail to provide consistent results. The exposome has been suggested as a promising approach to address the uncertainties surrounding human studies, but it is never free from these methodological issues. Although exposure to EDCs during critical developmental periods is a major concern, continuous exposure to EDCs during non-critical periods is also harmful. Indeed, the evolutionary aspects of epigenetic programming triggered by EDCs during development should be considered because it is a key mechanism for developmental plasticity. Presently, living without EDCs is impossible due to their omnipresence. Importantly, there are lifestyles which can increase the excretion of EDCs or mitigate their harmful effects through the activation of mitohormesis or xenohormesis. Effectiveness of lifestyle interventions should be evaluated as practical ways against EDCs in the real world.
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Affiliation(s)
- Duk Hee Lee
- Department of Preventive Medicine, School of Medicine, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea
- BK21 Plus KNU Biomedical Convergence Program, Department of Biomedical Science, Kyungpook National University, Daegu, Korea.
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González-González A, Mediavilla MD, Sánchez-Barceló EJ. Melatonin: A Molecule for Reducing Breast Cancer Risk. Molecules 2018; 23:E336. [PMID: 29415446 PMCID: PMC6017232 DOI: 10.3390/molecules23020336] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/09/2018] [Revised: 01/31/2018] [Accepted: 01/31/2018] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
The objective of this article is to review the basis supporting the usefulness of melatonin as an adjuvant therapy for breast cancer (BC) prevention in several groups of individuals at high risk for this disease. Melatonin, as a result of its antiestrogenic and antioxidant properties, as well as its ability to improve the efficacy and reduce the side effects of conventional antiestrogens, could safely be associated with the antiestrogenic drugs presently in use. In individuals at risk of BC due to night shift work, the light-induced inhibition of melatonin secretion, with the consequent loss of its antiestrogenic effects, would be countered by administering this neurohormone. BC risk from exposure to metalloestrogens, such as cadmium, could be treated with melatonin supplements to individuals at risk of BC due to exposure to this xenoestrogen. The BC risk related to obesity may be reduced by melatonin which decrease body fat mass, inhibits the enhanced aromatase expression in obese women, increases adiponectin secretion, counteracts the oncogenic effects of elevated concentrations of leptin; and decreases blood glucose levels and insulin resistance. Despite compelling experimental evidence of melatonin's oncostatic actions being susceptible to lowering BC risk, there is still a paucity of clinical trials focused on this subject.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alicia González-González
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicina, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain.
| | - María Dolores Mediavilla
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicina, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain.
| | - Emilio J Sánchez-Barceló
- Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, School of Medicina, University of Cantabria, 39011 Santander, Spain.
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Rodgers KM, Udesky JO, Rudel RA, Brody JG. Environmental chemicals and breast cancer: An updated review of epidemiological literature informed by biological mechanisms. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2018; 160:152-182. [PMID: 28987728 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.08.045] [Citation(s) in RCA: 228] [Impact Index Per Article: 38.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/28/2017] [Revised: 08/28/2017] [Accepted: 08/29/2017] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Many common environmental chemicals are mammary gland carcinogens in animal studies, activate relevant hormonal pathways, or enhance mammary gland susceptibility to carcinogenesis. Breast cancer's long latency and multifactorial etiology make evaluation of these chemicals in humans challenging. OBJECTIVE For chemicals previously identified as mammary gland toxicants, we evaluated epidemiologic studies published since our 2007 review. We assessed whether study designs captured relevant exposures and disease features suggested by toxicological and biological evidence of genotoxicity, endocrine disruption, tumor promotion, or disruption of mammary gland development. METHODS We systematically searched the PubMed database for articles with breast cancer outcomes published in 2006-2016 using terms for 134 environmental chemicals, sources, or biomarkers of exposure. We critically reviewed the articles. RESULTS We identified 158 articles. Consistent with experimental evidence, a few key studies suggested higher risk for exposures during breast development to dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane (DDT), dioxins, perfluorooctane-sulfonamide (PFOSA), and air pollution (risk estimates ranged from 2.14 to 5.0), and for occupational exposure to solvents and other mammary carcinogens, such as gasoline components (risk estimates ranged from 1.42 to 3.31). Notably, one 50-year cohort study captured exposure to DDT during several critical windows for breast development (in utero, adolescence, pregnancy) and when this chemical was still in use. Most other studies did not assess exposure during a biologically relevant window or specify the timing of exposure. Few studies considered genetic variation, but the Long Island Breast Cancer Study Project reported higher breast cancer risk for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in women with certain genetic variations, especially in DNA repair genes. CONCLUSIONS New studies that targeted toxicologically relevant chemicals and captured biological hypotheses about genetic variants or windows of breast susceptibility added to evidence of links between environmental chemicals and breast cancer. However, many biologically relevant chemicals, including current-use consumer product chemicals, have not been adequately studied in humans. Studies are challenged to reconstruct exposures that occurred decades before diagnosis or access biological samples stored that long. Other problems include measuring rapidly metabolized chemicals and evaluating exposure to mixtures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kathryn M Rodgers
- Silent Spring Institute, 320 Nevada Street, Newton, MA 02460, United States.
| | - Julia O Udesky
- Silent Spring Institute, 320 Nevada Street, Newton, MA 02460, United States.
| | - Ruthann A Rudel
- Silent Spring Institute, 320 Nevada Street, Newton, MA 02460, United States.
| | - Julia Green Brody
- Silent Spring Institute, 320 Nevada Street, Newton, MA 02460, United States.
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Changes in the total effective xenoestrogen burden (TEXB) of breast cancer patients during an 18-month post-surgical follow-up. Reprod Toxicol 2017; 69:212-220. [DOI: 10.1016/j.reprotox.2017.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2016] [Revised: 02/06/2017] [Accepted: 03/09/2017] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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Wagner M. Know thy unknowns: why we need to widen our view on endocrine disruptors. J Epidemiol Community Health 2016; 71:209-212. [DOI: 10.1136/jech-2016-207259] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2016] [Revised: 11/09/2016] [Accepted: 11/10/2016] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
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