BPA appears to increase the proliferation of breast cancer cells, reduce the effectiveness of treatments

BPA appears to increase the proliferation of breast cancer cells, reduce the effectiveness of treatments -

Bisphenol A (BPA), a chemical used in plastics, seems increase the proliferation of breast cancer cells, according to researchers with Duke Medicine at the annual meeting of the endocrine scientists.

researchers found that the chemical, at generally found in human blood levels could also affect the growth of an aggressive subtype of hormone-independent breast cancer cells called cancer inflammatory breast and decrease the effectiveness of treatment for the disease.

"We sought to determine whether the routine exposure to common chemicals such as those in plastics, pesticides and insecticides could influence the effectiveness of breastfeeding cancer treatments" said corresponding author Gayatri Devi, Ph.D., associate professor of surgery at Duke University. "BPA has been one of the best chemicals to show growth promoting effects in the breast cancer cells."

Devi and her colleagues reported their findings in a summary featured at the joint annual meeting of the International Society of Endocrinology and the Endocrine Society in Chicago on June 23, 2014.

use of new screening strategies, the researchers evaluated a group of compounds available through a public library of chemicals managed by the environmental protection Agency.

researchers have focused on markers in breast cancer cells, especially those of inflammatory breast cancer, a rare and aggressive form of the disease that is difficult to treat.

Screenings identified several agents appeared to increase cell proliferation of inflammatory breast cancer. Among the most active was BPA, a chemical known to disrupt hormones. The researchers found that this caused breast cancer cells to grow at a faster pace in both positive breast cancer cells and estrogen receptor negative estrogen receptors.

The researchers also found that BPA doses in the range observed in human blood reduces the effectiveness of anti-cancer drugs approved by the FDA used to treat breast cancer, including lapatinib.

"These studies are the basis for further research to develop tools that can be used to identify patients who may be at greater risk of developing resistance to the treatment," said Devi. "The results could also lead to biomarkers that identify patients who have a high exposure to compounds that may decrease the effectiveness of treatment against cancer. "