Project Details
Abstract
Phthalates are widely used as plasticizers in, medical products, toys, adhesives, plastic coating, and
cosmetic formulations. Moreover, they are generally recognized as an endocrine disrupter due to their
estrogenic and anti-androgenic activities which may prolong menstrual cycles and may increase the
proportion of premature menopause as seen in animal models. Therefore, whether phthalates play an
important role in steroid hormone-dependent cancers, such as breast cancer, or not has been strongly
considered.
Although the association between phthalates exposure and the risk of breast cancer is still controversial,
epidemiological evidence suggests that the risk of breast cancer increases following exposure to diethyl
phthalate in the environment. A Canadian case-control study revealed that women working in the automotive
and food-canning industries have nearly a fivefold increase in risk for premenopausal breast cancer, likely
due to their exposure to phthalates. Thus, exposure to phthalates becomes an important issue for whom
exposure might induce higher risk for breast cancer.
Phthalates, including Butyl benzyl phthalate (BBP), di(n-butyl) phthalate (DBP), and di(20ethylhexyl)
phthalate (DEHP), are synthetic xenoestrogens that are commonly used in consumer products and are capable
of binding to estrogen receptors (ER). Female sex hormones are linked to the etiopathogenesis of breast
cancer in which estrogen regulates cellular responses by binding to estrogen receptors, regulating
transcription of target genes in the nucleus, and activating a signaling pathway in the cytoplasm. Therefore,
the potential effects that may be induced or modulated as a result of these phthalates and their ER binding
capabilities should be a cause for concern.
This project is designed for one year to accomplish the following specific objectives: to investigate the
effects of phthalates (BBP, DB P, and DEHP), estradiol (E2) and a combination of E2 and one of these three
phthalates on cell cycle changes, mutagenesis, and endocrine disruption of normal breast cells. From the
results of these studies, we may not only realize the possible effects of phthalates on the development of
breast cancer, but also provide possible information for public health policy, including environmental and
medication control.
Project IDs
Project ID:PC10507-0632
External Project ID:MOST105-2314-B182-058
External Project ID:MOST105-2314-B182-058
Status | Finished |
---|---|
Effective start/end date | 01/08/16 → 31/07/17 |
Keywords
- phthalates
- normal breast cells
- proliferation
- apoptosis
- genotoxicity
- endocrine disruption
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