While this doesn't prove cause-and-effect, it adds to growing concern about human plastic consumption
NYU Langone Health / NYU Grossman School of Medicine
A new study has found tiny plastic particles in nine out of
10 men diagnosed with prostate cancer. Researchers also discovered that these
microplastics were present at higher concentrations in cancerous tumors than in
nearby noncancerous prostate tissue.
The investigation was carried out at NYU Langone Health,
including its Perlmutter Cancer Center and Center for the Investigation of
Environmental Hazards. The research team set out to explore whether exposure to
microplastics could contribute to the development of prostate cancer, which the
American Cancer Society identifies as the most common cancer among men in the
United States.
How Microplastics Enter the Human Body
Plastic materials used in food packaging, cosmetics, and
many everyday products can break down into microscopic fragments when heated,
worn down, or chemically processed. These particles can enter the body through
food, breathing contaminated air, or contact with the skin. Previous research
has detected microplastics in nearly every organ, as well as in bodily fluids
and even the placenta. Despite their widespread presence, scientists still do
not fully understand how these particles may affect human health.
Higher Plastic Levels in Cancerous Tissue
The researchers examined prostate tissue collected from 10
patients undergoing surgery to remove the gland. Plastic particles were
identified in 90% of tumor samples and in 70% of benign prostate tissue
samples.
The difference in concentration was notable. On average,
tumor samples contained about 2.5 times more plastic than healthy tissue (about
40 micrograms of plastic per gram of tissue compared with 16 micrograms per
gram).
"Our pilot study provides important evidence that
microplastic exposure may be a risk factor for prostate cancer," said
study lead author Stacy Loeb, MD, a professor in the NYU Grossman School of
Medicine's Departments of Urology and Population Health.
Loeb noted that earlier research had suggested possible
links between microplastics and conditions such as heart disease and dementia,
but there had been little direct evidence tying them specifically to prostate
cancer.
The findings will be presented on Feb. 26 at the American
Society of Clinical Oncology's Genitourinary Cancers Symposium. According to
Loeb, this is the first Western study to measure microplastic levels in
prostate tumors and compare them directly with levels in noncancerous prostate
tissue.
Rigorous Testing to Prevent Contamination
To conduct the analysis, scientists first reviewed tumor and
benign tissue samples under visual inspection. They then used specialized
instruments to measure the quantity, chemical composition, and structure of
microplastic particles. The team focused on 12 of the most common plastic
molecules.
Because plastic is widely used in medical and laboratory
equipment, researchers took extra precautions to prevent contamination. They
replaced plastic tools with alternatives made from aluminum, cotton, and other
non-plastic materials. All testing was performed in controlled clean rooms
designed specifically for microplastic analysis.
Possible Role of Inflammation in Cancer Development
"By uncovering yet another potential health concern
posed by plastic, our findings highlight the need for stricter regulatory
measures to limit the public's exposure to these substances, which are
everywhere in the environment," said study senior author Vittorio
Albergamo, PhD.
Albergamo, an assistant professor in the NYU Grossman School
of Medicine's Department of Pediatrics, said the team plans to further
investigate how microplastics behave inside the body and whether they may
contribute to cancer formation. One possibility under consideration is that the
particles trigger a prolonged immune response (inflammation) within prostate
tissue. Over time, chronic inflammation can damage cells and cause genetic
changes that lead to cancer.
He emphasized that the study involved a small group of
patients and that larger studies will be necessary to confirm the findings.
Prostate Cancer Statistics and Study Support
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
about one in eight men in the U.S. will be diagnosed with prostate cancer
during their lifetime.
The research was funded by the U.S. Department of Defense.
In addition to Loeb and Albergamo, the NYU Langone team
included Leonardo Trasande, MD, MPP; Trevor Johnson, PhD; Fang-Ming Deng, MD,
PhD; Mark Strong, DO; David Wise, MD, PhD; José Alemán, MD, PhD; Zixuan Mo, BS;
Mariana Rangel Camacho, BS; Nataliya Byrne, BA; Tatiana Sanchez Nolasco, MPH;
Adrian Rivera, MPH; William Huang, MD; Herbert Lepor, MD; Wei Phin Tan, MD; and
James Wysock, MD. Samir Taneja, MD, of Northwell Health in New York City also
contributed to the study.
Loeb has consulted for pharmaceutical company Astellas,
digital health company Savor Health, and men's health organization Movember,
and has received research support from Endo USA Inc. She also participated in
advisory boards for Endo USA, Blue Earth Diagnostics, Pfizer, Sumitomo Pharma,
and Doceree. Wysock has consulted for medical equipment manufacturers Edap --
Focal One, and URO-1 Medical. Wise is a paid consultant for Pfizer, Bayer, K36,
OncoC4, AstraZeneca, and Janssen Pharmaceuticals, and is an expert witness for
Exxon Mobil. None of these activities are related to the current study. NYU
Langone Health is managing the terms and conditions of these relationships in
accordance with its policies and procedures.
