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Microplastics as both a driver of genitourinary cancers and a deliverer of treatments
Summary
Tiny plastic particles have been found lurking in prostate and bladder tumors, and this review (which pulls together existing research rather than presenting new experiments) explores whether they might contribute to cancers of the urinary and reproductive systems by causing inflammation, cell damage, and hormone disruption. The evidence isn't strong enough yet to say microplastics *cause* these cancers, but interestingly, scientists are also finding ways to use similar plastic-based particles to deliver cancer drugs more precisely — meaning the same materials raising concern could eventually help treat the disease.
Microplastics and nanoplastics (MNPs) are environmental contaminants increasingly detected in human tissues, raising public health concerns. Although evidence is still insufficient to directly link MNPs to genitourinary cancers (GU), this Review examines their potential role in prostate, bladder, and renal cell carcinoma. Proposed mechanisms include chronic inflammation, oxidative stress, genotoxicity, and endocrine disruption driven by plastic-associated additives. Emerging studies report quantitative detection of MNPs within human prostate and bladder tumors, with higher burdens associated with dietary habits such as frequent take-out food consumption. The Review also highlights their role in cancer therapy: MNPs may alter antineoplastic drug pharmacokinetics and promote resistance, yet polymer-based nanoparticles can be engineered as advanced drug delivery platforms. Materials such as PLGA and PEG may improve targeted delivery of chemotherapies and immunotherapies, supporting more effective and personalized treatment strategies in GU oncology.