A review recently published in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences explores the role that heavy metals may play in the development of reproductive cancers such as endometrial cancer (EC).
Heavy metals, which can be found in air, water and food, can build up in tissues throughout the body and are linked to multiple types of cancer, neurodegenerative diseases and cardiovascular diseases, among other health issues.
Previous studies have established that heavy metals have the ability to damage DNA and disrupt cellular function. With the increase in industrial activities over the past several decades, the potential toxic effects of heavy metal exposure are a growing concern.
Although the health effects of heavy metals have been studied extensively, some gaps remain in our understanding of their mechanistic role in the development of cancer. The goal of the review was to summarize existing research on the molecular pathways that may be influenced by heavy metals.
Read more about EC causes and risk factors
Cadmium, lead, chromium and nickel are believed to be metalloestrogens, meaning that they can mimic estrogen in the body and may disrupt hormonal balances. Because cadmium has been shown to activate the estrogen receptor alpha, which is expressed at high levels in the endometrial tissue, it has been hypothesized that cadmium exposure could trigger cancer cell growth.
A study of patients with a variety of endometrial disorders found that individuals with EC had the highest levels of cadmium. Elevated blood cadmium levels, but not lead levels, were also identified as a risk factor for EC. Similarly, a study of the effect of metalloestrogens on the endometrium showed that mercury levels were four times higher in patients with EC than in healthy individuals.
Research has also been conducted to elucidate the biochemical basis of these observations. This work has shown that heavy metals may increase production of markers of oxidative stress, a process that can promote cancer development, in EC cell lines. Although certain signaling pathways have been identified in lung cells exposed to cadmium, the process has not been heavily investigated in EC cells.
“Overall, this research underscores the need for further studies on the effects of heavy metals on EC, with a particular focus on understanding the molecular mechanisms involved in oxidative stress and tumor transformation,” the study concluded.
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