Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals and Endometrial Cancer: An Overview of Recent Laboratory Evidence and Epidemiological Studies

Maddalena Mallozzi, Chiara Leone, Francesca Manurita, Filippo Bellati and Donatella Caserta
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Maddalena Mallozzi: Surgical and Medical Department of Translational Medicine, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Psycology, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Via di Grottarossa n° 1035, 00139 Rome, Italy
Chiara Leone: Surgical and Medical Department of Translational Medicine, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Psycology, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Via di Grottarossa n° 1035, 00139 Rome, Italy
Francesca Manurita: Surgical and Medical Department of Translational Medicine, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Psycology, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Via di Grottarossa n° 1035, 00139 Rome, Italy
Filippo Bellati: Surgical and Medical Department of Translational Medicine, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Psycology, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Via di Grottarossa n° 1035, 00139 Rome, Italy
Donatella Caserta: Surgical and Medical Department of Translational Medicine, Sant’Andrea Hospital, Faculty of Medicine and Psycology, University of Rome “Sapienza”, Via di Grottarossa n° 1035, 00139 Rome, Italy

IJERPH, 2017, vol. 14, issue 3, 1-23

Abstract: Background : Although exposure to endocrine disruptor compounds (EDCs) has been suggested as a contributing factor to a range of women’s health disorders including infertility, polycystic ovaries and the early onset of puberty, considerable challenges remain in attributing cause and effect on gynaecological cancer. Until recently, there were relatively few epidemiological studies examining the relationship between EDCs and endometrial cancer, however, in the last years the number of these studies has increased. Methods : A systematic MEDLINE (PubMed) search was performed and relevant articles published in the last 23 years (from 1992 to 2016) were selected. Results : Human studies and animal experiments are confirming a carcinogenic effect due to the EDC exposure and its carcinogenesis process result to be complex, multifactorial and long standing, thus, it is extremely difficult to obtain the epidemiological proof of a carcinogenic effect of EDCs for the high number of confusing factors. Conclusions : The carcinogenic effects of endocrine disruptors are plausible, although additional studies are needed to clarify their mechanisms and responsible entities. Neverthless, to reduce endocrine disruptors (ED) exposure is mandatory to implement necessary measures to limit exposure, particularly during those periods of life most vulnerable to the impact of oncogenic environmental causes, such as embryonic period and puberty.

Keywords: endocrine disruptors; endometrial cancer; bisphenol A; polychlorinated biphenyls; dioxin; cadmium (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2017
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (4)

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