Cellular and Molecular Events of Phthalates in Normal Breast Cells

Project: National Science and Technology CouncilNational Science and Technology Council Academic Grants

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
StatusFinished
Effective start/end date01/08/1631/07/17

Keywords

  • phthalates
  • normal breast cells
  • proliferation
  • apoptosis
  • genotoxicity
  • endocrine disruption

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