Investigating the Role of Bisphenol A in the Prevalence of Breast Cancer in Pakistani Population

Abstract

Abstract Breast cancer is an abnormal division of breast cells. Bisphenol A (BPA), an environmental toxicant is identified as an emerging risk factor for breast cancer development. However, to the best of our knowledge no previous study has investigated the BPA levels in breast cancer patients in Pakistan. The present study sought to explore the role of BPA in tumor growth among the Pakistani population. As an endocrine disrupting chemical (EDC), BPA has greater potential to initiate tumorigenic events in breast tissue by the generation of oxidative stress. The level of BPA in the serum samples of breast cancer patients was significantly (p ≤ 0.01) high as compared to normal control. Histological analysis of breast cancer tissue samples revealed distinct subtypes of tumor such as ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS)) and invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). There was a significant (p ≤ 0.01) increase in ROS level while significant (p ≤ 0.01) decrease in the levels of superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) enzymes in malignant breast tissue samples as compared to normal tissue samples. We found upregulated expression of p53, ZEB1 and WNT1 genes at mRNA level in malignant breast tissue samples by 17 folds, 328 folds and 35 folds respectively. p53 protein expression in malignant breast tissue samples was also enhanced at the translational level. Conclusively, the current findings suggest a relationship between BPA and the progression of breast cancer among the Pakistani population.