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Application of an in Vitro Assay to Identify Chemicals That Increase Estradiol and Progesterone Synthesis and Are Potential Breast Cancer Risk Factors

BACKGROUND: Established breast cancer risk factors, such as hormone replacement therapy and reproductive history, are thought to act by increasing estrogen and progesterone (P4) activity. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to use in vitro screening data to identify chemicals that increase the synthesis of estradio...

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Autores principales: Cardona, Bethsaida, Rudel, Ruthann A.
Formato: Online Artículo Texto
Lenguaje:English
Publicado: Environmental Health Perspectives 2021
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8293912/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34287026
http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP8608
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author Cardona, Bethsaida
Rudel, Ruthann A.
author_facet Cardona, Bethsaida
Rudel, Ruthann A.
author_sort Cardona, Bethsaida
collection PubMed
description BACKGROUND: Established breast cancer risk factors, such as hormone replacement therapy and reproductive history, are thought to act by increasing estrogen and progesterone (P4) activity. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to use in vitro screening data to identify chemicals that increase the synthesis of estradiol (E2) or P4 and evaluate potential risks. METHOD: Using data from a high-throughput (HT) in vitro steroidogenesis assay developed for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ToxCast program, we identified chemicals that increased estradiol (E2-up) or progesterone (P4-up) in human H295R adrenocortical carcinoma cells. We prioritized chemicals by their activity. We compiled in vivo studies and assessments about carcinogenicity and reproductive/developmental (repro/dev) toxicity. We identified exposure sources and predicted intakes from the U.S. EPA’s ExpoCast. RESULTS: We found 296 chemicals increased E2 (182) or P4 (185), with 71 chemicals increasing both. In vivo data often showed effects consistent with this mechanism. Of the E2- and P4-up chemicals, about 30% were likely repro/dev toxicants or carcinogens, whereas only 5–13% were classified as unlikely. However, most of the chemicals had insufficient in vivo data to evaluate their effects. Of 45 chemicals associated with mammary gland effects, and also tested in the H294R assay, 29 increased E2 or P4, including the well-known mammary carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene. E2- and P4-up chemicals include pesticides, consumer product ingredients, food additives, and drinking water contaminants. DISCUSSION: The U.S. EPA’s in vitro screening data identified several hundred chemicals that should be considered as potential risk factors for breast cancer because they increased E2 or P4 synthesis. In vitro data is a helpful addition to current toxicity assessments, which are not sensitive to mammary gland effects. Relevant effects on the mammary gland are often not noticed or are dismissed, including for 2,4-dichlorophenol and cyfluthrin. Fifty-three active E2-up and 59 active P4-up chemicals that are in consumer products, food, pesticides, or drugs have not been evaluated for carcinogenic potential and are priorities for study and exposure reduction. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP8608
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spelling pubmed-82939122021-07-23 Application of an in Vitro Assay to Identify Chemicals That Increase Estradiol and Progesterone Synthesis and Are Potential Breast Cancer Risk Factors Cardona, Bethsaida Rudel, Ruthann A. Environ Health Perspect Research BACKGROUND: Established breast cancer risk factors, such as hormone replacement therapy and reproductive history, are thought to act by increasing estrogen and progesterone (P4) activity. OBJECTIVE: We aimed to use in vitro screening data to identify chemicals that increase the synthesis of estradiol (E2) or P4 and evaluate potential risks. METHOD: Using data from a high-throughput (HT) in vitro steroidogenesis assay developed for the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) ToxCast program, we identified chemicals that increased estradiol (E2-up) or progesterone (P4-up) in human H295R adrenocortical carcinoma cells. We prioritized chemicals by their activity. We compiled in vivo studies and assessments about carcinogenicity and reproductive/developmental (repro/dev) toxicity. We identified exposure sources and predicted intakes from the U.S. EPA’s ExpoCast. RESULTS: We found 296 chemicals increased E2 (182) or P4 (185), with 71 chemicals increasing both. In vivo data often showed effects consistent with this mechanism. Of the E2- and P4-up chemicals, about 30% were likely repro/dev toxicants or carcinogens, whereas only 5–13% were classified as unlikely. However, most of the chemicals had insufficient in vivo data to evaluate their effects. Of 45 chemicals associated with mammary gland effects, and also tested in the H294R assay, 29 increased E2 or P4, including the well-known mammary carcinogen 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene. E2- and P4-up chemicals include pesticides, consumer product ingredients, food additives, and drinking water contaminants. DISCUSSION: The U.S. EPA’s in vitro screening data identified several hundred chemicals that should be considered as potential risk factors for breast cancer because they increased E2 or P4 synthesis. In vitro data is a helpful addition to current toxicity assessments, which are not sensitive to mammary gland effects. Relevant effects on the mammary gland are often not noticed or are dismissed, including for 2,4-dichlorophenol and cyfluthrin. Fifty-three active E2-up and 59 active P4-up chemicals that are in consumer products, food, pesticides, or drugs have not been evaluated for carcinogenic potential and are priorities for study and exposure reduction. https://doi.org/10.1289/EHP8608 Environmental Health Perspectives 2021-07-21 /pmc/articles/PMC8293912/ /pubmed/34287026 http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP8608 Text en https://ehp.niehs.nih.gov/about-ehp/licenseEHP is an open-access journal published with support from the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health. All content is public domain unless otherwise noted.
spellingShingle Research
Cardona, Bethsaida
Rudel, Ruthann A.
Application of an in Vitro Assay to Identify Chemicals That Increase Estradiol and Progesterone Synthesis and Are Potential Breast Cancer Risk Factors
title Application of an in Vitro Assay to Identify Chemicals That Increase Estradiol and Progesterone Synthesis and Are Potential Breast Cancer Risk Factors
title_full Application of an in Vitro Assay to Identify Chemicals That Increase Estradiol and Progesterone Synthesis and Are Potential Breast Cancer Risk Factors
title_fullStr Application of an in Vitro Assay to Identify Chemicals That Increase Estradiol and Progesterone Synthesis and Are Potential Breast Cancer Risk Factors
title_full_unstemmed Application of an in Vitro Assay to Identify Chemicals That Increase Estradiol and Progesterone Synthesis and Are Potential Breast Cancer Risk Factors
title_short Application of an in Vitro Assay to Identify Chemicals That Increase Estradiol and Progesterone Synthesis and Are Potential Breast Cancer Risk Factors
title_sort application of an in vitro assay to identify chemicals that increase estradiol and progesterone synthesis and are potential breast cancer risk factors
topic Research
url https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8293912/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/34287026
http://dx.doi.org/10.1289/EHP8608
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