05 Apr Exposure to BPA Substitute, BPS, Multiplies Breast Cancer Cells

Dr. Sumi Dinda

MedicalResearch.com Interview with:
Sumi Dinda, PhD, NRP, IC.
Associate Professor
Biomedical Diagnostic and Therapeutic Sciences,
School of Health Sciences and
Adjunct Associate Professor
Department of Biological Sciences
School of Health Sciences
Oakland University
Rochester, MI 48309.

MedicalResearch.com: What is the background for this study? What are the main findings?

Response: Bisphenol-S (BPS), a substitute for bisphenol-A (BPA), has been suggested to be an endocrine disrupting compound interfering with normal hormonal activity. This bisphenol analogue is found in plastic substitutes, paper currency, and most products marked “BPA free.” Endocrine disrupting compounds interfere with the normal hormonal activity in the body.

Bisphenols, specifically, disrupt the proper functioning of estrogen receptors, such as ERα causing interference with the normal activity of the hormone estrogen. Studies suggest BPS induces ERα pathways via its estrogen-mimicking properties in the body causing increased cell proliferation resulting in increased breast cancer risk. Despite the hope of a safer substitute, studies have shown that BPS exhibits similar estrogenic activity compared to its analogue BPA, due to their structural commonalities.

BRCA1 is a commonly mutated gene in breast cancer; therefore, it is also important to study the effects of BPS on the expression of this protein. The potency of the endocrine disrupting abilities of BPS compared to BPA could show whether BPS is a suitable alternative to BPA in many everyday products.

The results of this study may contribute to the understanding of the relationship between ERα, BRCA1 expression and Bisphenol-S in breast cancer treatment and prevention.

MedicalResearch.com: What should readers take away from your report?

• BPS treatment comparable to estrogen treatment in ERα and BRCA1 expression
• Increased breast cancer cell growth with BPS
• Estrogenic-like effects of BPS blocked with anti-estrogens
Final statement: Our studies show BPS displays estrogen-like behavior in breast cancer cells, suggesting it may not be a safer BPA alternative.

MedicalResearch.com: What recommendations do you have for future research as a result of this study?

Response: We have presented the preliminary results of our study at ENDO 2017 and further studies currently underway in our laboratory with BPS on breast cancer cells.

MedicalResearch.com: Is there anything else you would like to add?

Response: Clinicians specially who are dealing with breast cancer patients should be knowledgeable about the potential health risk of BPS since it may cause the cancer to be aggressive due to its interaction with estrogen receptor and BRCA1 genes. Authors have nothing to disclose.

MedicalResearch.com: Thank you for your contribution to the MedicalResearch.com community.

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Last Updated on April 5, 2017 by Marie Benz MD FAAD